Incoming managing partner says the move marks "a new chapter" for the firm
Allens has officially opened its new Sydney premises at 33 Alfred Street, relocating to the top floors of the landmark Circular Quay building formerly known as the AMP Building.
The firm announced that it had moved into the top eight floors of the redeveloped tower, regarded as Sydney’s first skyscraper. The building has undergone a major refurbishment designed to modernise the site while preserving its architectural character and heritage features.
Allens said the new premises include workspaces for both collaboration and focus, outdoor terraces, a café and meeting rooms overlooking Sydney Harbour. The fit-out was completed in partnership with Hassell, CTPG, MPA and Aston Consulting.
Incoming managing partner Marc Kemp said the move marks “a new chapter” for the firm.
“Our new premises provide us with the infrastructure to collaborate with our clients, work together in interdisciplinary teams and bring focus, creativity and rigour to our clients’ most pressing challenges,” Kemp said in a statement.
He added that the relocation carried particular significance given the firm’s history in Sydney. “As Australia’s oldest law firm, having called Sydney home for more than 200 years, we are especially excited by our move to Australia’s first skyscraper,” Kemp said.
The move follows reporting by The Australian Financial Review in May 2024 that Allens would leave its offices at Deutsche Bank Place for the revamped Circular Quay development as part of a broader reshaping of Sydney’s legal district. Allens would join several other firms at 33 Alfred Street, including A&O Shearman, Lander & Rogers, Maddocks and Pinsent Masons.
According to the AFR, law firms were among the most active tenants in Sydney’s CBD office market, seeking upgraded workplaces and premium amenities to boost office attendance and strengthen recruitment efforts. The publication reported that law firms would occupy at least 75 per cent of the building’s tenancy.
Allens had secured approximately 10,000 square metres across levels 18 to 26 of the refurbished tower, including access to a large rooftop terrace overlooking the harbour.
