DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has relocated its Edinburgh team – which includes four new senior hires – to Grade A office space in the heart of Edinburgh.
The legal business has moved from No. 2 Lochrin Square to 2 Semple Street in the city’s business district.
DWF has leased the second floor at 2 Semple Street, which is now home to the team of circa 70 legal and support professionals, most of whom work in a hybrid way between home and the office.
Colleagues have been involved in the design from concept to completion, contributing to focus groups to help shape the design of the new office to ensure it is collegiate, sociable and flexible to meet their working needs.
Consideration has also been given to creating a space which will help to improve colleague wellbeing with smart and functional work and social areas. Environmentally low impact materials have been selected in the fit-out. The building itself also has sustainability credentials including a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’, an EPC rating of A and a Platinum CyclingScore.
Caroline Colliston, executive partner for DWF in Scotland, said: “This is the latest phase of our Future Workplace programme to ensure our offices work in the best way for our teams. With this move in Edinburgh, we’re reducing the floor space but making that space work so much better for our needs.
“In 2021, our Glasgow team relocated to The Sentinel and I’m delighted that our Edinburgh colleagues will now benefit from the fantastic ‘destination workplace’ that has been created at 2 Semple Street.”
The new Edinburgh office has comfortable and collaborative workspaces to accommodate different ways of working. There are a variety of focus areas, break out seats, a quiet working lounge, collaboration spaces and enclosed meeting areas as well as social spaces for informal meetings and gatherings.
The new design also incorporates living and preserved real planting, including a real moss feature wall, to improve wellbeing and productivity. The use of natural light in the design and the choice of material and paint colours have been carefully selected to enhance wellbeing and boost creativity.
The move coincides with further growth in the teams in DWF’s two Scottish offices with the arrival of four senior hires to the Edinburgh office of DWF in recent weeks. Specialist construction lawyer and former DWF director, Jonathan Gaskell has re-joined the business as a partner. Meanwhile Lauren Rae has joined as a director in Dispute Resolution; Liana Di Ciacca is a new director in Finance and Restructuring and Michael Gilmartin is a new director in our Public Sector/Commercial team.
Caroline adds: “This is an exciting time for our business in Scotland and our new Edinburgh office space is symbolic of the direction we’re taking, aligning with our values and our purpose, and the culture we want to foster.
“We are delighted that this move into our fantastic new DWF home in Edinburgh coincides with the recent arrival of Jonathan, Lauren, Liana and Michael and I’m thrilled they’ve chosen to join us.”
