Stroock downsizes to 60K SF in Midtown

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan will be crowding into tighter quarters for at least the next month, driven by storm damage at its Financial District headquarters. The law firm, which has a noted New York real estate practice, will be moving from its 200,000-square-foot office at 180 Maiden Lane for a 60,000-square-foot sublease at 601 Lexington Avenue, Crain’s reported.

Stroock plans to sublease the space — which occupies two full floors on the 59-story building between East 53rd and East 54th streets — from fellow law firm Kirkland & Ellis. At the end of November, Stroock may continue leasing the space directly from the building’s landlord, Boston Properties.

Senior partner Leonard Boxer told Crain’s that it was unclear when 180 Maiden Lane would be up and running again.

“They’re working on it desperately, but I don’t think it’s clear yet just when the problems will be fixed,” Boxer said, referring to the building’s landlord, SL Green Realty. “Everyone is doing the best they can but we can’t gamble; we need a place to work.”

SL Green released a statement saying that 180 Maiden Lane – which still lacks power and elevator service – was “the most impacted property” of its Downtown portfolio, but noted that most of its buildings in the area did not suffer extensive damage.–Leigh Kamping-Carder