National law firm Stone King is making its mark in Manchester after almost tripling the size of its office space to accommodate its growing team.
Since opening in the city centre in 2023, the number of colleagues has grown from three to 24 and as its rapid expansion continues, the firm has moved to larger premises to match.
The new office, which measures almost 1,500 sq ft, is based at 100 Barbirolli Square in the Koba building, which uses 100 per cent renewable energy and has been rated excellent by BREEAM, a globally recognised standard for assessing a building’s sustainability.
In 2024, it also became the first in the world to achieve the WELL Coworking Rating, a pioneering benchmark for flexible workspaces developed by the International WELL Building Institute and based on features such as air and water quality, and to what degree the environment supports fitness and good mental health.
Jamie Otter (pictured), partner and head of the Manchester office at Stone King, says: “When we launched in Manchester, we believed there was a real opportunity to build something special and, three years later, what we’ve achieved has exceeded our expectations.
“With further growth expected, it is important we have an office that supports that ambition, but it is not simply about accommodating our expanding team. The move also reflects our confidence in and commitment to Manchester, the North West, and the individuals and organisations we are proud to support.”
People director Sam Cook adds: “We recognise that office environments play a significant role in employee wellbeing and, as such, have established a new set of minimum standards for Stone King’s offices focused on wellbeing, accessibility, technology, sustainability, and future growth.
“As well as our commitment to the communities and clients we serve, we want our workplaces to reflect our values as a responsible employer and purpose-led business, and we found that the Koba building’s credentials simply couldn’t be beaten.”
The new office, which is a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly, has 32 desks, with portable monitors for hot-desking, as well as meeting rooms, spaces to support collaborative working, and access to a wellbeing studio, cycle spaces, showers and changing facilities.
The move follows a string of recent, high-profile hires for the firm including Laura McHugh, an experienced employment partner from Forbes Solicitors who joined in Manchester in June.
