The international law firm CMS will move to the tallest skyscraper in the European Union – Varso Tower. The new office of the law firm will reach the clouds and will be the highest located office on the office market in Poland. The law firm has leased 7,000 sq m. office space from 39 to 43 floors. In addition, CMS employees will have exclusive use of a terrace located at a height of 177 meters. JLL advised on the search for a new location and negotiation of a lease agreement, as well as is responsible for project management of the CMS new working environment.
An international law firm with more than 70 offices in over 40 countries across the world and more than 5,000 lawyers worldwide, CMS has had a presence in Poland since 1995, where it currently employs around 300 people and is the second-largest law firm in the country. Its decision to lease a new office in this prime location, and the announcement that it will design all its functionalities and décor to a level not seen before in the legal services industry, is a model of innovation in the law firm environment and an important stimulus for the office market.
“The greatest asset of any organisation are the people who make it up. It is our team that builds the firm's position in the market. Strengthening our organisational culture, at the centre of which is the creation of development opportunities for our team, is the best possible way to increase value for our clients. When planning the move to the new office, we decided to choose the best building on the market and to work with partners who will provide us with the highest possible standard of design and services. Together, we will create a cultureplace - a space for developing relationships within the team and with our clients, not just a workplace", says Andrzej Pośniak, Managing Partner of CMS law firm in Poland
CMS has decided to lease 7,000 sqm of top-class office space in the highest building in the EU. According to the date of signing the agreement, it is the highest located office in Poland. The firm will occupy space between the 39th and 43rd floors. The office space will support CMS’s organisational culture, so all floors will be connected by a specially designed staircase, around which there will be spacious communal areas for formal and informal meetings. A unique part of the office is the over 450 sqm terrace located at the height of 177 metres.
„We have made an ambitious move and are looking to the future. We want to invest in innovation and attract the best talent in the legal services market. Until now, we rented an office of 4,500 sqm, and we decided to go for almost twice as much space. However, given the goal of providing the best conditions for growth, we planned an office that will provide comfortable common spaces for the entire CMS team of more than 300 people. We want it to be one vibrant organism which takes into account our style of work and our culture,'' emphasises Andrzej Pośniak.
Varso Tower is the final showpiece of Varso Place mixed-use development by HB Reavis consisting of offices, a hotel, an innovation hub, and retail ground floor. Designed by Foster + Partners studio the skyscraper is the tallest building in the European Union. It is situated in the heart of Warsaw near the Warsaw Central Station. Construction is to be completed in 2022.
“CMS's decision to move its office to Varso Tower proves that leading organizations regard offices, their comfort and quality, to be an important element in attracting new talents and maintaining a motivated team. It is especially true in industries where relationships and teamwork are key. We are very glad that CMS chose our Varso Tower, a well-connected and friendly place known for its focus on sustainability and user wellbeing. Such a centrally located workplace means easy access to work and meetings as well as many amenities available nearby,” adds Marcin Klammer, President of the Management Board of HB Reavis in Poland.
Creating a workplace to meet CMS's aspirations requires a holistic site selection and an innovative approach to space creation. The firm is advised in this by JLL. The consulting agency is responsible for negotiating the contract terms, workplace advisory and finding optimal solutions for the office's functions that would fit in with the firm's culture. In addition, JLL coordinates the implementation of the detailed design project.
The lease transaction between CMS and HB Reavis marks the next stage in the development of the office market in Poland. CMS's approach to redefining a work environment is built around people’s needs and was done with the team's participation. It will be a benchmark for many companies who are about to decide on a workplace strategy that supports their employees in achieving their career goals. It is also a great example of how complex the process of creating a new work environment is – from analysing the specifics of the organisation and its long-term development plans; through change management, to designing and developing the space. Of all the buildings we analysed, Varso Tower offers the most opportunities to shape a space that supports the creation of company culture and matches the vision of CMS. For our client nurturing relationships is a crucial part of business, as all parties involved have seen during the transaction process.
JLL's workplace experts are advising CMS in the process of finally defining the necessary functions and solutions needed by the law firm's employees and business partners. The CMS law firm plans to move into the new space in late 2022/early 2023.
“We are proud to be part of such a unique project for one of the largest law firms in Poland and the world. The CMS office in Varso Tower will be one of the highest located offices in Poland, and visitors and employees will enjoy access to the largest and highest located office tenant's terrace. The view from the office windows is undoubtedly impressive, best exemplified by the fact that there is a clock placed on the Palace of Culture and Science at the eye level of a visitor entering the reception area,” notes Bartosz Trzop, founder and CEO of Trzop Architekci architectural studio.