3 of the Best Areas for Legal Scale-Up Companies in London 2021

The UK legal sector generates over £60bn each year and employs over half a million people. There is no doubt that the UK hosts a world-leading legal industry with five of the world’s top 15 law firms having their main HQ in the UK. Legal services are one of the UK’s most requested exports and the legal framework plays a significant role in attracting business to these shores.

The historic success of London as the legal capital is down to a combination of factors – its legal heritage, English language, global talent pool, time zone and London’s status as a global financial hub. Businesses the world over choose to use the law of England and Wales as the basis for their international commercial agreements, making London Europe’s capital for law and legal practice.

London – Europe’s Capital for Law and Legal Practice

The preeminent status of London as a legal capital is evidenced by the legal institutions that can be found there, including Royal Courts of Justice, Inns of Court, Courts of Appeal, Prisons, The Old Bailey, Archbishop’s Court at St. Mary le Bow, The Law Society, the Bridewell and the Metropolitan Police.

For legal companies transitioning from the start-up into the scale-up phase, having a well-located London office that fosters growth and embraces agile working is essential.

In this article we look at why legal scale-up companies have chosen London as their base, which areas attract them and the sorts of office space they choose.

1. Chancery Lane and High Holborn – a focal point for the legal profession

The area around Chancery Lane has been a focal point for the legal profession since the middle of the 12^th Century, when the Knights Templar created New Street as a route from their old headquarters in High Holborn and the “New Temple”. In the years that followed the area witnessed the creation of the Inns of Chancery and extensive urban residential development, creating homes for lawyers, wig makers, strongbox makers, booksellers and law stationers.

The Public Record Office, The Patent Office and The Law Society were all located around Chancery Lane and attracted law firms and spin-off services to their surrounds.

Office space in Chancery Lane

For legal scale-up businesses looking for a Central London base, Chancery Lane is an obvious choice. Chancery Lane has excellent access and transport links to the rest of the capital and has a thriving professional community. It has its own underground station and is conveniently situated near to Blackfriars and Holborn. Farringdon stations and City Thameslink trains are also in easy reach.

Businesses located in Chancery Lane have a wide choice of office space available to them. Flexible workspaces in the area range from large, secure private offices through to coworking and hot desk space for more collaborative working. Many contemporary offices are set behind renaissance exteriors which disguise their internal state-of-the-art design and facilities.

This fully serviced office on Chancery Lane offers private offices on flexible terms, so your office space can grow with your business. It’s fully equipped with high-speed internet, dedicated phone lines and cool break out space.

For those legal scale-up businesses wishing to make the ultimate impression, this splendid flexible office adjoining Holborn’s Inns of Court offers grandeur inside and out, with a bright internal space subdivided by polished glass partitioning walls.

The local area is awash with executive amenities, prestigious educational and financial centres and a host of convenient transport links.

View a selection of serviced offices in Chancery Lane here.

2. Temple and Blackfriars – Home to solicitors, chambers and the Old Bailey

The area around Temple towards Blackfriars is a hub for the legal community. Temple is a district which lies within the City of London, albeit its western tip belongs to the City of Westminster. The area takes its name from Temple Church, the historical meeting place for the Knights Templar. The Inner Temple and Middle Temple represent two of the four Inns of Court and the Royal Courts of Justice (aka The Old Bailey) can also be found here.

Temple’s reputation as a legal stronghold dates to the 12^th Century. Today’s serviced offices in Temple are home to solicitors, advocates, legal consultants, barristers and businesses providing a variety of legal services.

Office space in Temple

Legal scale-up companies are drawn to Temple to be at the very heart of the legal profession in London. Fortunately, there is a wide choice of flexible office space available throughout the area.

Temple is the main tube station for the district. Blackfriars, Embankment and Holborn tube stations are all easily accessible, providing connections to the Circle and District lines. You can also access the mainline rail network via Blackfriars and City Thameslink railway stations.

This affordable fully serviced office in Temple Avenue is just four minutes’ walk from Temple tube and provides a contemporary workspace within a characterful Grade II listed building. The property offers private flexible offices suitable for any growing business and a prime riverside location.

If you are looking for a fully featured serviced office near Temple, this flexible workspace in Aldwych is a short walk from Temple tube and is a contemporary workspace in a chic, historic setting. It’s packed with all the amenities a legal scale-up business would need and includes private office, coworking and hot desk options plus a flexible membership programme. Here you can enjoy event and outdoor spaces, bike storage and a working environment which puts wellness front and centre.

View a selection of serviced offices in Temple here.

3. Liverpool Street – City lawyers with great connections

Liverpool Street is well known as part of London’s main financial district housing several main banking and financial institutions. However, the scale and value of business conducted in the area means there is strong demand for City law firms and their supporting legal services. Consequently, a cluster of law firms can be found around the Liverpool Street area and it’s an ideal location for a legal scale-up company.

Aside from the major corporations to be found in the area, it is Liverpool Street’s connectivity that makes it such an attractive location. Liverpool Street enjoys a convenient relationship to other important locations (Shoreditch, The City, and Whitechapel), great for networking and expanding modern businesses.

Liverpool Street mainline rail station is used by over 123M people each year and is the third busiest station in London. The tube station connects to four underground lines affording great access to the wider London Underground network.

Office space in Liverpool Street

The Liverpool Street area has a wealth of serviced offices to choose from and compared to Chancery Lane and Temple, average workstation prices are around 15% lower.

This affordable fully serviced office in The Broadgate Tower offers terrific value and is ready to move in. Offices are available for medium- or short-term rental and private office and coworking options are offered. Conference suites and meeting rooms are available to book and the building’s full-length windows offer beautiful panoramic views of the city.

For legal scale up companies looking for a private office that makes a lasting impression, this flexible serviced office in Old Broad Street oozes calm sophistication. The re-developed 17 storey building offers 4 floors of refined flexible office space and versatile break out space. The office is furnished to the highest standard and offers dedicated break out areas with a mix of soft seating, long brainstorming tables, high benches and private booths. It’s the perfect space for legal scale up companies to thrive.

View a selection of serviced offices in Liverpool Street here.