Pinsent Masons moves to flexible-themed Edinburgh base

International law firm Pinsent Masons has moved its Edinburgh office into brand new premises.

More than 200 lawyers and business operations colleagues will have access to the 25,000 sq ft premises in Capital Square, Morrison Street, a base designed to support Pinsent Masons' "agile" approach to promote hybrid working.

Specifications were factored into the office design to take into account changing working practices since the coronavirus pandemic, promote wellbeing and meet the firm’s environmental objectives.

Partner and head of office Ewan Alexander explained: "We have long-established agile working practices across the firm’s international locations, but we felt it was necessary to review how the pandemic had changed staff attitudes to hybrid working and how we could best maximise the space available.

"As a result, we dialled down the number of physical workstations by more than 20% and freed up space to introduce more collaboration zones and meeting spaces within the new office. The design team put a lot of thought into the aesthetics, moving away from the older and colder office styles, to create a warmer, more welcoming environment.

"We also revised our technological needs in view of the lessons learned from working through the pandemic, and now have a single video technology which is accessible for every user, be that on a meeting room screen or on an individual laptop or mobile device."

Dedicated spaces for collaboration, wellbeing and focused work, as well as a café and social hub with multifunctional use, along with a vibrant colour scheme, aim to reinforce "Pinsent Masons’ commitment to becoming a purpose-led business with their people and wellbeing at its heart". Fabrics, materials and furniture have been chosen based on their sustainability credentials.

Mr Alexander added: "The initial response from our people who have so far seen the new offices has been overwhelmingly positive and it is widely recognised that we have attempted to strike a balance to suit those who prefer working most of their time in an office environment, and colleagues who have embraced hybrid working, including working from home."