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A&O Shearman moves to new London office at 2 Broadgate

A&O Shearman moves to new London office at 2 Broadgate
Published Date
Oct 12, 2026
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Image of Denise Gibson
Denise GibsonPartner, London
Image of Jonathan Bevan
Jonathan BevanPartner, London
New space is a long-term investment in the firm’s people and clients, designed around collaboration, client experience and sustainability.

A&O Shearman is relocating its London office to 2 Broadgate this month, moving from One Bishops Square to the Broadgate campus beside Liverpool Street station. The firm will occupy approximately 360,000 square feet across eight floors, with the move completing at the end of October.

Purpose-built around how the firm and its clients work, 2 Broadgate combines flexible team neighborhoods with shared spaces, collaboration zones and focus rooms. Its activity-based working approach enables people to choose the setting best suited to the task, from focused work to collaboration and informal connection. Staircases linking practice groups and business teams help reduce physical and organizational barriers, making it easier for people to work together across teams, roles and levels.

The design was shaped by the people who will use the building and tested before it was built: a full-scale trial floor at One Bishops Square was in use for more than eighteen months, with teams rotating through it, and their feedback helped shape the final design. 

A dedicated client entrance and client floor bring meeting, event and dining space together on a single level, including a presentation suite and auditorium. Training and knowledge facilities are brought together around a research and information hub. 

Well-being, accessibility and inclusive design have been integral to the new office. Openable windows give people control over ventilation, every working floor features outside space in the form of a balcony or terrace, and sit-stand desks and ergonomic workstation design are standard. The building houses a fitness and well-being center alongside on-site GP, nurse, physiotherapy and nutrition services. 

Sustainability has shaped both the building and its fit-out. Around 1,500 items of furniture are being reused from One Bishops Square. Furniture not making the move was offered to colleagues to purchase, with all proceeds going to the firm’s global charity partner, United for Global Mental Health, and remaining items are being prioritized for donation, resale or recycling, with the aim of sending nothing to landfill. The firm expects the move to reduce its annual London office carbon emissions by around 90%. The building is targeting WELL Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding ratings. 

“This office is designed for the decades ahead and it reflects the ambitions we hold for the firm here. ”

“This is a significant moment for our London office,” said Denise Gibson, A&O Shearman's UK managing partner. “Our clients' work draws on people from across our practices, sectors and markets. 2 Broadgate will make that easier, bringing our teams and our clients closer together. This office is designed for the decades ahead and it reflects the ambitions we hold for the firm here. I am looking forward to seeing our people and clients make the most of it.”

“We set out to build something that works for everyone, with accessibility and inclusive design considered from the outset.”

Jonathan Bevan, UK chief operations partner, added: “Our people helped shape a workplace that supports collaboration, connection and the way we work. We set out to build something that works for everyone, with accessibility and inclusive design considered from the outset. Sustainability was approached the same way: wherever we could reuse rather than replace, we did. The result is a workplace that is better for the people who work in it, and one that we expect to cut our London carbon emissions by around 90%.”

Further detail on 2 Broadgate

  • Around 61% lower energy use per square meter than the previous office
  • A Nuffield-operated fitness and well-being center, including a gym, a bike studio and reformer Pilates classes
  • More than 550 cycle spaces
  • Consistent meeting-room technology set-up across the building and improved facilities for hybrid collaboration
  • A restaurant and café bar, alongside well-being, relaxation and parent rooms available on the working floors
  • Step-free access throughout, accessible routes between key destinations, hearing loops in key spaces, and quieter areas supporting different working styles and sensory needs – developed with specialist consultants
  • A full life-cycle assessment completed in line with RICS methodology and UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard fit-out targets, and filtered water throughout, reducing reliance on single-use plastics 

London is A&O Shearman's largest office, with more than 1,800 lawyers and business professionals, including nearly 200 partners. The firm has been at One Bishops Square since 2006.