Designing the Future Legal Workplace JMW Solicitors at 125 Deansgate

Reception area of JMW Solicitors’ new Manchester HQ at 125 Deansgate

SpaceInvader has been appointed to lead the interior design for JMW Solicitors LLP’s new Manchester headquarters at 125 Deansgate, a strategic relocation that brings over 600 team members together under one roof for the first time in more than a decade.

JMW, one of the UK’s leading independent law firms, will occupy four upper floors in this landmark city-centre building, making a clear statement about its continued growth and future-facing mindset. Our role is to translate that vision into a workplace that reflects the firm’s identity while supporting the dynamic nature of modern legal work.

The brief: create a flexible, high-performance environment that encourages collaboration, supports hybrid working, and promotes wellbeing. That means carefully balancing spaces for focus and interaction, embedding JMW’s culture into the details, and ensuring the workplace is as adaptable as the people who use it.

Legal workplaces are evolving and this project represents a shift from the traditional to the transformative. With move-in scheduled for 2026, our design will shape how JMW works, connects and grows in the years ahead.

“Our design approach is centred on connecting people, purpose and place,” said John Williams, Founding Director at SpaceInvader.

“Legal workplaces are evolving rapidly, and JMW is leading by example. We’re shaping a workspace that reflects their identity while embracing the flexibility and wellbeing priorities of a modern workforce.”

Located opposite the historic John Rylands Library, 125 Deansgate offers top-tier credentials, including BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings, making it an iconic base for the firm’s next chapter.

Read more about our workplace transformation projects here.