20 June 2005
Brisbane, 20 June 2005: Clayton Utz in Brisbane has moved to a new home - and into a new era.
After more than 20 years at 215 Adelaide Street, the firm's 293 staff walked into their new offices today on Levels 26-30 of the premium Riparian Plaza development in Eagle Street.
Brisbane Partner-in-Charge Mr Geoff Harley said the move had long been on the cards. "After you have been in premises for that length of time, it is necessary to consider the future," Mr Harley said.
"We actually started planning a move in 2000 but there was a shortage of new buildings in Brisbane at that time. We started looking again in 2001 and the Riparian was the first quality premium building to come onto the market. We signed an agreement for lease around the end of 2001."
Mr Harley said the firm had signed a 12-year lease with leasing agents CB Richard Ellis for five floors of the Riparian, comprising 6200m² of space, with options to renew and rights of extension to the floor above and below. Geyer Corporate Environments was responsible for the office fit-out.
Mr Harley said the move to the Riparian would make the Brisbane office a far more efficient business. "Only four of our eight floors at 215 Adelaide Street were contiguous so we had people in lifts going up and down all day. In the Riparian, we have five floors all joined by an internal staircase," he said.
"We also have better cabling and technology arrangements, more functional floors, a better floor plan in terms of shape, offices with internal ceiling to floor glass windows, better lighting -- not to mention great views."
The move, carried out by Goals Office Relocations, began at 3pm last Friday 17 June, with most of it completed by the end of the following day. Partners and staff were given access to the floors on Sunday 19 June to prepare for the first day of business.
Mr Harley thanked all staff for helping to make the move as smooth as possible, but reserved special praise for the Operations and IT staff for their "outstanding" contribution.
"To move offices after 20 years in the one location involves a high level of logistical and operational planning. The move would not have been as successful without the complete co-operation and hard work of all our staff but particularly Operations and IT."
One of the features of the new office will be the Clayton Utz 'History Wall', which traces the firm's evolution from a small Brisbane operation to one of Queensland's largest and most respected law firms. The wall takes on a special significance in light of the recent passing of Clayton Utz senior consultant and one of its longest-serving partners, Alex ('Alec') Freeleagus. Alec became a consultant to the firm in 1994 after 39 years as a partner, 23 as a senior partner.
"Alec's memory will live on in that written record and in the stories each of us have to tell about him," Mr Harley said. "Alec had a profound influence on all he met. He was a warm, kind and generous friend to staff, a wise counsellor to partners and was imbued through and through with a love for and pride in Clayton Utz."
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