Capital move for international law firm Pinsent Masons

International law firm Pinsent Masons have completed a move into new offices in the centre of Edinburgh’s financial district.

More than 200 lawyers and business operations colleagues will have access to the 25,000 sq ft premises in Capital Square in Morrison Street where Pinsent Masons continues to adopt an “agile” approach to promote hybrid working.

Key specifications were factored into the office design to take into account changing working practices due to the coronavirus pandemic and to meet the company’s environmental objectives and to promote wellbeing.

Pinsent Mason partners, left to right, Julia Maguire, Ewan Alexander, Michael Watson, Jim Cormack and Jacqueline Harris at their new Capital Square office. Photo: Ian Georgeson

Partner and Head of Office Edinburgh, Ewan Alexander, said: “We have long-established agile working practices across the firm’s international locations, but we felt it was necessary to review how the pandemic had changed staff attitudes to hybrid working and how we could best maximise the space available.

“As a result, we dialled down the number of physical workstations by more than 20% and freed up space to introduce more collaboration zones and meeting spaces within the new office. The design team put a lot of thought into the aesthetics, moving away from the older and colder office styles, to create a warmer more welcoming environment.

“We also revised our technological needs in view of the lessons learned from working through the pandemic, and now have a single video technology which is accessible for every user, be that on a meeting room screen or on an individual laptop or mobile device.”

Dedicated spaces for collaboration, wellbeing and focused work, as well as a stylish café and social hub with multifunctional use, along with the vibrant colour scheme, reinforces Pinsent Masons’ commitment to becoming a purpose-led business with their people and wellbeing at its heart. Also, the range of fabrics, materials and furniture were all chosen based on their sustainability credentials.

Pinsent Mason have moved into new offices at Capital Square – left to right, partners Ewan Alexander, Jim Cormack, Jacqueline Harris, Michael Watson, and Louise Forster. Photo: Ian Georgeson

Ewan Alexander added: “We value being part of the Edinburgh business community and by investing in this flagship development we have underlined our commitment to Scottish businesses working across the UK and in international markets.

“The initial response from our people who have so far seen the new offices has been overwhelmingly positive and it is widely recognised that we have attempted to strike a balance to suit those who prefer working most of their time in an office environment, and colleagues who have embraced hybrid working, including working from home.”