– Leading global law firm to occupy 10-floors at iconic Rockefeller Center tower
Rockefeller Group has announced that leading global law firm Latham & Watkins LLP1 has leased 407,000 square feet at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, the 48-story skyscraper built in the modern expansion of Rockefeller Center to the west side of Sixth Avenue.
Latham & Watkins will occupy floors 25-34 in 1271 Avenue of the Americas, with anticipated move-in during the second half of 2020. The firm plans to relocate its largest office in the firm from 885 Third Ave. Latham & Watkins’ global platform spans 14 countries, including 11 U.S. offices. The firm’s internationally recognized practices advise clients across a wide spectrum of transactional, corporate, regulatory, and litigation areas.
1271 Avenue of the Americas is undergoing extensive renovations designed by the architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. The project commenced in 2016 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019. Major elements of the renovations include replacement of the building’s glass curtain wall, restoration of the building’s landmarked lobby, installation of new fan-coil units and interior HVAC fans, modernization of the elevators, and reimagining of the building entrances and plazas.
The lease with Latham & Watkins for space in 1271 Avenue of the Americas brings the 18-month leasing total to more than 1 million square feet of the 2.1 million square foot tower. Major League Baseball and Mizuho Americas have also signed leases for space in the building. Approximately 900,000 square feet is available for lease in the building’s tower floors, for which the building is experiencing a high level of demand.
“We are pleased to welcome Latham & Watkins to 1271 Avenue of the Americas,” said Ed Guiltinan, Senior Vice President and Head of Leasing in New York for Rockefeller Group. “Latham & Watkins is a preeminent and highly respected global law firm, and they are an outstanding addition to the building’s impressive tenant roster. Rockefeller Group is thrilled that such a prestigious law firm recognized the benefits of being a tenant in 1271 Avenue of the Americas.”
“We have a strong and vibrant practice in New York, and with more than 450 lawyers, it is our largest office in the firm. 1271 Avenue of the Americas is a historic building,” said Michèle Penzer, New York Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins. “Many factors informed our decision to move to 1271, including its central midtown location, architectural significance, and top quality renovations, coupled with the opportunity to design a new office. We are excited about relocating to our new building and look forward to our next chapter in New York City.”
First completed in 1959, 1271 Avenue of the Americas was originally designed by Harrison & Abramovitz & Harris, the architects for all of Rockefeller Center, and built by George A. Fuller Company, which was known for its construction of many other prominent New York buildings including the U.N. headquarters, Lever House and the Seagram Building. The 48-story building is within walking distance of Grand Central Station, Penn Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and more than a dozen subway lines.
The neighborhood’s amenities, within a five-block radius, include 10 parks, 10 museums, 65 hotels, 115 theaters and more than 400 restaurants and 2,000 retail stores. In-building amenities include well-known and established restaurants including Capital Grille, Ted’s Montana Grill and Le Pain Quotidien, as well as direct access to the B, D, F and M subway lines and the shops at Rockefeller Center.
Latham & Watkins was represented by Scott Gamber and Craig Reicher of CBRE. Building ownership was represented by a CBRE team including Mary Ann Tighe, Howard Fiddle, John Maher, Sarah Pontius, Evan Haskell and Dave Caperna, in coordination with an in-house Rockefeller Group leasing team including Ed Guiltinan and Jennifer Stein.
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About Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world’s largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.
About Rockefeller Group
Rockefeller Group is a leading real estate developer, owner and investor, known since the development of Rockefeller Center for pioneering large-scale urban mixed-use development. For nearly nine decades the company has been trusted for its financial strength, stability and vision, and today remains committed to the selective acquisition, management and development of innovative, high-quality office, industrial, residential and mixed-use properties in urban centers and strategic distribution markets. The company combines the global perspective and market access of a sophisticated development and investment management platform, through its partnership with Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd., and its strategic investments in independent property fund platforms in the United States and Europe.
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