As it celebrates twenty years of being part of the Buffalo legal community, one of the region’s premier law firms is preparing to take on a prominent new address.
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP announced plans today to relocate its Buffalo office to 50 Fountain Plaza in downtown Buffalo. The law firm has signed a lease with Key Success, LLC to occupy approximately 15,000 square feet on the 10th floor of the building. The firm expects to move into its new offices in mid-2016.
“While this is certainly a good business decision, it goes far beyond dollars and cents,” said John G. Horn, partner in charge of Harter Secrest & Emery’s Buffalo office. “As a Western New York firm, we are honored and excited to play a role in the region’s economic renaissance by recommitting to the City of Buffalo and particularly the rejuvenated Fountain Plaza neighborhood.”
According to Horn, the firm began exploring its needs and space options almost two years ago and looked at several potential locations. The 435,000-square-foot, two-tower, 50 Fountain Plaza was situated perfectly, in terms of geography and opportunity.
“Key Center hit on all of our priorities,” he said. “Not only is the location right, but we will be creating a dynamic physical presence in our new space that simultaneously honors our firm culture, creates a first-rate professional environment for our people and our clients, and allows for our continued growth.”
Harter Secrest & Emery launched its Buffalo office in 1995 with three attorneys. For nearly 13 years, the firm has occupied the 4th floor at Twelve Fountain Plaza. Today, the Buffalo office includes a team of approximately 30 attorneys and legal professionals. The firm provides a full range of corporate legal services to a long list of local, regional, national and international clients.
Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation, which manages and leases the property on behalf of owners Key Success, LLC, secured the 15-year lease with Harter Secrest & Emery.
“Harter Secrest & Emery is a tremendous addition to this complex,” said Robert G. McDonnell, senior vice president at Ciminelli. “The firm’s employees will be a large part of the renewed energy there, and we couldn’t be happier. There has been so much interest and activity in the Central Business District the last few years; all of the space recently vacated by Delaware North and Key Bank has been absorbed.