Regional law firm Foot Anstey is to become the latest professional services firm to relocate its Bristol office, moving the short distance from 100 Victoria Street to the city’s expanding Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
The move to the showpiece 2 Glass Wharf office, pictured, at Temple Quay comes less than six years after the firm opened in Bristol. Having launched with just 10 employees, it now has more than 120. 
The firm has signed a 15-year lease on 17,000 sq ft grade A office space in 2 Glass Wharf, which also houses the regional offices of accountancy group PwC and global building consultancy group Arcadis.
The move is planned for early this summer. Details of the rent have not been disclosed but PwC is paying £28 per sq ft – just under Bristol city centre’s record high rent of £28.50.
Foot Anstey said its move would support the delivery of an enhanced client experience and a greater move towards agile and progressive working.
Managing partner John Westwell said: “Our new Bristol space will support our strategy to provide a client-centric service. It is built on a period of sustained growth, particularly within our core sectors, and will facilitate further expansion.”
The firm’s turnover increased by 60% to £36m over the five years to April 2016, with continued growth in the current year.
In total it now employs 500 people across its seven locations, with the most recent office opening in Southampton taking place last September.
Its growth and prominence in the local market has earned it the title of Law Firm of the Year from Bristol Law Society twice in the past three years.
Ian Wills, director at property consultancy JLL who represented Foot Anstey in the office deal, said: “This strategic move will provide Foot Anstey with an excellent platform for continued growth, as well as access to a growing range of public transport and leisure amenities within close walking distance.”
Bristol-based chartered surveying firm Alder King acted for 2 Glass Wharf developer Salmon Harvester/NFUM, which had speculatively built the 100,000 sq ft, £40m scheme.
The building is now nearly full with PwC occupying 28,000 sq ft, Arcadis almost 17,000 sq ft, and Foot Anstey 17,000 sq ft. A further 10,000 sq ft on the ground floor has been reserved for retail use.
Other recent high-profile moves among Bristol’s professional services firms include accountants KPMG’s relocation from 100 Temple Street to 66 Queen Square, law firm VWV’s move from St Augustine’s Court to Narrow Quay House, Barclays relocation from Queen Square to Bridgewater House, and property consultancy JLL move from Berkeley Square to 31 Great George Street.
