From acquisition to occupation: How Edwards helped create JMW Solicitors’ new Manchester headquarters,
Relocating a business is about far more than signing a lease.
For organisations experiencing sustained growth, a new workplace represents a strategic investment in people, culture and the future direction of the business. The right building can strengthen collaboration, attract talent, improve client experience and provide the platform for continued success.
That was exactly the challenge facing JMW Solicitors.
Having outgrown its long-standing offices in Spinningfields after almost two decades of significant expansion, the firm needed a new headquarters that could bring more than 600 Manchester colleagues together under one roof whilst providing capacity for future growth. The project wasn’t simply about finding more space, it was about creating a workplace that reflected JMW’s values, culture and long-term ambitions.
Finding the right home.
Edwards was initially appointed to advise JMW on its Manchester office search.
Working closely with the firm’s leadership team, we undertook a comprehensive review of the city’s most prominent office buildings, identifying and assessing a wide range of opportunities against JMW’s operational requirements, workplace strategy and future growth plans.
The brief extended well beyond square footage.
The new headquarters needed to:
- Bring previously separate teams together in one location.
- Support collaboration and flexible working.
- Enhance the experience for both colleagues and clients.
- Reflect the firm’s proud Manchester heritage.
- Provide sufficient capacity for continued growth over the coming years.
Following a detailed options appraisal, JMW selected approximately 43,000 sq ft at 125 Deansgate, securing a landmark 15-year lease in one of Manchester’s most prominent office buildings.
Beyond the property transaction.
For many advisers, that would have marked the end of the relationship.
For Edwards, it was only the beginning.
Having developed a strong understanding of JMW’s aspirations throughout the acquisition process, we were subsequently appointed as Project Manager and Employer’s Agent, overseeing the design, procurement and delivery of the firm’s new headquarters.
By remaining involved throughout the project, we were able to ensure the original workplace vision continued to shape every stage of delivery.
Designing around people.
From day one, the project was driven by people rather than process.
Working alongside JMW’s leadership team and professional consultants, we helped create a workplace that balanced premium client-facing environments with welcoming, collaborative spaces for colleagues.
Every design decision reflected the firm’s culture.
The brief centred around creating an environment where employees would feel focused, supported and connected, while clients would experience the professionalism, warmth and meticulous attention to detail that defines JMW’s approach.
Rather than creating an ostentatious corporate office, the aim was to deliver a headquarters that felt authentic to the business – sophisticated without being intimidating, contemporary whilst remaining rooted in Manchester’s rich architectural heritage.
Managing delivery.
Edwards assembled and coordinated the full consultant team, managing the project from concept through to completion.
A two-stage procurement strategy was adopted, allowing early contractor involvement to test buildability, programme and cost certainty before construction commenced. This collaborative approach helped mitigate risk, improve cost certainty and ensure the project remained aligned with JMW’s operational requirements throughout delivery.
Acting as both Project Manager and Employer’s Agent, Edwards oversaw every stage of the programme, coordinating design development, procurement and construction to deliver a workplace that met the firm’s ambitious objectives.
More than an office.
Today, 125 Deansgate has become the new home of Manchester’s largest law firm. More importantly, it provides an environment that reflects who JMW is as a business.
- A workplace designed to encourage collaboration.
- A premium experience for clients.
- A headquarters that supports future growth.
Most importantly, a space that enables more than 600 colleagues to come together under one roof, strengthening the collaborative culture that has underpinned JMW’s success for almost 50 years.
A complete occupier journey.
The JMW project demonstrates the value of integrating property consultancy with project delivery.
By supporting the client from initial property search through to workplace completion, Edwards provided continuity throughout one of the most significant decisions in the firm’s history.
Whether identifying the right building, negotiating the acquisition, managing complex workplace projects or delivering bespoke office environments, our focus remains the same: creating workplaces that enable businesses to thrive.
For occupiers, finding the right building is only the first step. Creating the right workplace is where the real value begins.
“Edwards hit the ground running with our new HQ requirement, from the confidential search and initial project advice we always felt we were being prioritised and received expert advice throughout the process.”
Thomas Pearson, Head of Real Estate Commercial, JMW
