Baker Botts Snubs Uptown to Stay in Dallas' Downtown Crow Center

Not all of Dallas' big law firms are headed to Uptown.Baker Botts LLP - a 176-year-old firm with several hundred people downtown - has decided to stay in the Trammell Crow Center tower on Ross Avenue.The law firm's decision to stay in the 50-story tower comes as the skyscraper's owners are starting a $135 million renovation of the 1980s office tower.The project will add new retail, parking and other amenities to the Trammell Crow Center."Downtown Dallas and the Arts District are evolving and we want to continue to be at the forefront of that change," Tim Durst, partner in charge of Baker Botts' Dallas office, said in a statement. "Lawyers are attracted to high-quality and agile work environments."Our new office design, together with Trammell Crow Center's planned redesign, underscores our commitment to providing workspace that matches the quality of our clients and our people.Baker Botts lease more than 104,000 square feet in Trammell Crow Center. The firm has been in the tower since it opened in 1985.Stream Realty Partner's Ramsey March, Sara Terry and Scott Sowanick negotiated the new lease agreement with Phil Puckett and Harlan Davis of CBRE,"The firm's long-term commitment sends a strong message about the future of the building and Ross Avenue," said March. "We look forward to watching them transform their office space as we transform the building around them."While Baker Botts is staying downtown, several other large legal firms have are shifting their offices north to Uptown.Akin Gump just announced that it has rented a large block of offices in the new Union Dallas mixed-use project under construction at Field Street and Cedar Springs road just north of downtown.Law firm Vinson & Elkins has also rented space at the Union.Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP and Sidley Austin LLP recent relocated to the new McKinney & Olive tower on McKinney Avenue.And Baker McKenzie is moving to the new 1900 Pearl tower under construction in downtown's Arts District at Pearl Street and Woodall Rodgers Freeway.  Continue reading...