Two Canadian firms are taking a page from Australian architect Bill Dowzer, a specialist in reimagining the way lawyers work
A visit to Australia showed Marc-André Blanchard, CEO of Canadian law firm McCarthy Tétrault LLP, how dramatically different law offices could be. Here, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP workplace in Sydney.
These Australian offices were designed by Bill Dowzer, of the architecture firm BVN, who has become a specialist in reimagining the way lawyers work.
At the Herbert Smith Freehills workplace, partner-associate offices, that traditionally hogged the daylight, have been pulled away from the windows, letting light into interior spaces.
“A lot of traditional law firms have a siloed world. There are traditionally two groups of people, one who has the light, one who doesn’t,” said Mr. Dowzer, on a recent trip to Vancouver where he is now working with two Canadian firms.
He’s created café-like spaces where people can bring their laptops from their offices and work.
At Mallesons Stephens and Jacques LLP in Melbourne, Mr. Dowzer designed a large space where groups can gather to work on projects or just one or two can settle down and spread out all their papers.
An interior patio-like area at Mallesons Stephens and Jacques that gives lawyers and support workers informal space to gather – and take in the view.
Mr. Dowzer, the architect, says it’s difficult to bring change to the legal world, where hierarchy has been key. In his designs, offices for staff will all be the same size without a difference in furnishings – the typical status markers. Read full story at link below: New law space that works for the team.