Miles & Stockbridge, a leading business law firm in the mid-Atlantic region, announced today that it has signed a lease in Washington, D.C. for 26,000 square feet of office space at 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, a newly renovated, Class-A office building well positioned between the White House and the United States Capitol Building. With this move, the law firm will grow significantly from its current 16,500 square feet of space at 1500 K Street. The firm expects to move in April 2019.
Thirty-one Miles & Stockbridge lawyers and 12 staff colleagues currently work full time in the firm’s D.C. office. Several lawyers work at least one day per week there as well. The new space initially will have offices for 55 lawyers and room for a total of 80 employees.
“Miles & Stockbridge was considered a new player in a crowded space seven years ago and now we are growing at a nice clip,” said Nancy Greene, chairman of the firm. “We are working in close proximity to our D.C. clients and their interests. We are cultivating new relationships, engaging with civic life, and recruiting well-regarded lawyers for whom Washington has been their home base and practice. Given our success to date, we are boldly pursuing further growth in the Greater Washington area.”
Greene said the D.C. space will be the only other Miles & Stockbridge office outside of its Baltimore office to accommodate firm-wide principals meetings and events.
“We expect our newly-designed space to resonate with the generational shift of our lawyers and to support our anticipated growth and continued evolution in the market,” said Greene.
Miles & Stockbridge’s new space has been designed by D.C.-based architecture firm Alliance. It will have a window line that surrounds the building’s triangular interior atrium, providing significant light for all offices. Each lawyer office will be the same size with glass fronts and ergonomic, technology-based furnishings. A bright palette will be carried throughout the space, which includes five conference rooms, a centralized gathering place, and a treadmill room with a view of the Capitol.
“We considered many spaces in the central business district and in the West End, and 1201 Penn is the best location for our firm and our client relationships,” said John Stalfort, managing director of Miles & Stockbridge’s Washington office. “Being close to Metro Center, public transportation and CityCenterDC is important to our lawyers and staff colleagues. Having the opportunity to design a light-filled, modern space with a footprint of under 500 square feet per lawyer should make us one of the most efficient law firms in the Washington Metro area. Our new offices will not be a traditional build out.”
A recent $15 million renovation of the 1201 Penn building includes a redesigned two-story lobby and conference facilities, fitness center and rooftop deck overlooking D.C. landmarks. Additionally, the ownership recently completed an elevator replacement program and installed new HVAC equipment with digital controls.
With the firm’s move, the building is now over 50% leased. Miles & Stockbridge was represented by Scott Leachman, managing partner of The Tenant Agency. Landlord Sentinel Real Estate Corp was represented by Doug Mueller, a managing director of JLL.
The D.C. office of Miles & Stockbridge focuses on financial services, public finance, real estate development, construction, environmental, nonprofit, government contracts, intellectual property, and manufacturing industries. Additionally, specific lawyer strengths in international family law and international child abduction matters, energy, education, and consumer product safety have been a good fit in the region.
The firm is involved in civic, leadership and industry associations in the area. Stalfort currently serves on the executive committee of and as general counsel for the Greater Washington Board of Trade (GWBT) and on the boards of Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, as immediate past chair, and the Federal City Council. He also is a member of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and serves on the executive committee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Gala. Lawyers and staff colleagues are also involved in the GWBT, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Commercial Real Estate Women, African American Real Estate Professionals, D.C. Central Kitchen, and various bar associations.
“Miles & Stockbridge’s expansion is proof that new entries can thrive in Greater Washington,” said Jack McDougle, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. “The firm’s leadership engaged in our business community early on, took on leadership roles, and is now an established presence here.”
About Miles & Stockbridge in Greater Washington
Miles & Stockbridge has worked in the Greater Washington area for decades. It has more than 60 lawyers in its Washington, D.C., Rockville, Maryland, and Tysons Corner, Virginia offices and 240 lawyers across these offices and four others in Maryland.
The firm has recently added 14 lawyers in the metropolitan D.C. area with the following practices: affordable housing and tax credit, corporate, government contracts, litigation, environmental, export control, and employment.
