Law firm weighs move from downtown offices - Dallas Business Journal:

ogarawo.wordpress.com
"It's no secret we're not happyg with our landlord," he said. "In all likelihood, we'lol go elsewhere. We're not pleased with the way the building's being operated." In Bickel & Brewer filed a lawsuirt in Dallas County courtseekingb $500,000 in damages againstg the joint owners of the building, Canadian-basecd TrizecHahn Corp. (NYSE: TZH) and . The suit claims the ownerz have failed to reimburse the law firm for repairs and upgradese it made to itsoffice space. It also allegese expenses are charged to tenants that should be billed to BankOne Center'z capital expenses.
And, the firm claims services are substandarde in the areas of security and including instances of cleaning peopleworking barefoot. "Thde services are not consistent withwhat you'd expect from a Class A buildinf in downtown Dallas," said Michael McCormack, director of administratio at Bickel & Brewer. did not return phone callw from the Dallas Business Journal by press Among options being considered by the law firm isa 120,000-square-foog build-to-suit building in Far North Dallasd along the Dallas North Tollway, Brewet said.
If the firm takese this route, it would retain 50,00p to 70,000 square feet for itself and lease the rest of the It would be a Class A facility and includ e afitness area, day care and a The cost of this type of building would range from $15.6 million to $16.89 million, industry sources said. Brewer said the firm operatea ona debt-free basis and doesn'y expect this status to change if it decide to construct its own Various partners, such as the building'ws developer, would probably contribute to construction he said. Moving its offices out of the centra business district is an unusual decisionj for alaw firm, said Bob executive director of Cushman & Wakefield of Texaxs Inc.
Downtown has long been the traditionaol location forlaw firms, banks and accounting firms. "Thatr would be one of the more significant announcementas in a verylong time," he said. "You only have one majodr announcement of a law firm movinf out of downtown in the last 25 years and that wasJones Day, who moved across the freeway into Kirby White agrees. "By historical standards, it woulr be unusual for a large firm to movefrom downtown," said leasing manager for Crescent Real Estate who specializes in the downtown market. But, Brewer said his firm has neverr been one to standon tradition.
"We'vs always been on the cutting edge," he "I suppose if we were just starting out now and no one knew who we there might be some sensee inbeing downtown. But, I don'tr think people come to us becausde they were riding the elevatoe at BankOne Center. They come to us because they know what we can Most ofthe firm's employees live in the northerb part of the Metroplex, Brewet said. There is significant risk in steppinfg into the realestate market, Edge But, that doesn't worry Brewer. "Our own instinct is that this is a tremendouzs opportunity to take asmalo risk," he said.
"We don't see it as a big Besides, there's always some risk in any equity play, whether it's stocks or real estate." If Bickel Brewer moves to Nort Dallas, the firm would also leasee 10,000 to 15,000 square feet downtowmn for courthouse accessibility. That space would include its mock a conference room and a couple of according to industry Other options include leasing office space in a different either downtown or inNorty Dallas. At one point, it was rumored the firm had looked at buildingb space south of the Trinity River. Part of the problekm in makinga commitment, sources say, is that Brewe and his partner, John Bickel, are not in agreemenf on the issue.
Speculation has it that Bickel may be in favoe of cutting a deal for a lowe lease rate with Bank One Center and keeping the firm in itspresent space. Bickel could not be reached for comment. At any rate, Brewef said, the firm is hiringg a professional consultant to help it review all its A decision is expected within the next two weekas because it will take at least a year to buil new offices if the firm decides to takethat route, he