How law firm Lewis Silkin secured a 10-Year Future in Manchester's 2% Grade A Vacancy Market
- Rico Naylor
- Mar 14
- 4 min read
In the Manchester legal scene, there is a clear distinction between being "in the city" and "of the city." For many firms, the expansion into the North starts with a serviced office and a handful of desks, a "test flight" to see if the market bites.
For Sally Hulston, Head of Manchester at Lewis Silkin, the test flight is over.
The firm has just landed an 8,000 sq ft anchor at John Dalton Street, signing a 10-year lease in a market where Grade A stock is almost non-existent.
From desks to a dedicated workspace
To understand Lewis Silkin, you have to understand the man behind the name.
Lewis Silkin himself was a politician with a relentless passion for "new towns"; he was a builder of communities. That legacy of development and growth still runs through the firm’s veins.
"We grew by osmosis," Sally says, describing a whirlwind three years.
The Manchester story began with just four people at a shared desk. Today, that team has swelled to 49, including a market-leading employment team and a burgeoning corporate and tech division.
"Stage 1 was about recruitment. Stage 2 is about growing in Manchester, not just as a satellite, but as a destination for corporate clients."
The Decision Matrix: Why This Office?
Moving from a cramped 2,000 sq ft space at Balloon Street (Orega) to 8,000 sq ft wasn't just about breathing room. It was a tactical move.
Sally spent a full day with Rhys Evans at Director of Tenant Representative JLL, touring 8 to 10 options across the city. The reality of the Manchester market hit home quickly: there were only a few options in that "Goldilocks" 7,000-8,000 sq ft bracket.
"We looked at options near the Town Hall that felt jaded and needed a total refresh. We also looked at The Island, but that would have meant a long construction lead time," Sally explains.
She was intentional about her choice.
As a partner and head of the office, she committed to finding the right space for her growing team. After a tiring day, she stumbled across the perfect plug-and-play. Trinity offered a high-spec, ready-to-go environment that allowed the firm to move from a September tour to a December lease signing, and finally to a February move-in.
ESG: A Message to the Market
One of the most striking points of the interview was Sally’s insistence on sustainability.
Lewis Silkin’s London HQ was the first carbon-neutral building in the city, and Sally felt a responsibility to mirror that sustainability standard in Manchester.
Lewis Silkin specialises in the Media, Entertainment, and Tech sectors, populated by global giants that have made public, legally binding commitments to Net Zero. These clients no longer just audit their own carbon footprints; they audit their Scope 3 emissions, which include the footprint of their professional service providers.
The ESG Insight: In Manchester's 2% Grade A market, the risk for an SME is signing a 10-year lease on a building that becomes "stranded", an asset that fails to meet evolving MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) or the expectations of future talent.
Sally’s decision to anchor in an institutional-grade, sustainable building de-risks the firm's largest overhead. She isn't just paying for desks; she is paying for a building that will still be compliant and prestigious in 2035.
Workplace as a ‘Home from Home’
Sally was clear that the firm’s values, bravery and kindness, had to be reflected in the physical space. A building that ignores the climate crisis is neither brave nor kind.
"Home from Home" Feel: High sustainability standards often correlate with better air quality, natural light, and thermal comfort.
Talent Attraction: When a high-level recruit walks into the office, they aren't just seeing a workspace; they are seeing a firm that puts its money where its mouth is. As Sally noted, this has already directly influenced the impression made on new hires.
"The feedback from the team is that it feels like home. A 'home from home' culture is what we wanted, somewhere relaxed but professional."
In a market where many firms have mandated four or five days in the office, Lewis Silkin has stuck to a hybrid model of two. This makes the quality of the space even more vital.
Commuter Hook: The location was chosen to capture every major artery into the city: Victoria for the West, Piccadilly for the South/London, and the tram to St Peter's Square.
Amenities that Matter: While post-Covid "office gyms" have largely become white elephants, Sally focused on what her team actually uses: client areas, booths, meeting rooms and high-quality social kitchens for monthly drinks and food tastings.
Lewis Silkin’s signing a 10- year lease at Trinity is a clear signal to clients and the market that they are committed to Manchester.
The Insider Take
Actionable Intelligence for the Scaling SME’s:
Desk to dedicated workspace: If you’re at 15–20 people, perhaps it’s time to stop outgrowing serviced space and start anchoring your identity.
Location is Recruitment: If your office isn't within a 15-minute walk of at least two major train stations, consider the impact on your talent pool.
The Identity Lease: A 10-year lease is a message. It tells your clients, your staff, and your competitors that you are a permanent fixture of the city's economy.
About Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin is an international law firm with a focus on what matters most to businesses - their ideas and people.
With a team of 850 people working across nine offices, their advice has set legal precedents and helped disrupt industries. Lewis Silkin is also known for reimagining important aspects of law firm culture, which results in richer, more tailored advice and better outcomes for clients.
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