As I reflect on the launch of Duane Morris’s New York flagship office at 22 Vanderbilt Avenue over the summer, I am optimistic about what lies ahead.

This move represents the joining together of two proud legacies, Duane Morris and Satterlee Stephens, in one of the world’s most competitive legal markets.

When Duane Morris finalized the merger with Satterlee Stephens in early 2020, both firms were excited to combine experience and capabilities, expanding our reach and client offerings in New York. Although we operated from two separate locations for five years because of the pandemic, we worked successfully to integrate which included lawyers regularly working from each other’s offices to foster face to face collaboration.

This summer, bringing all 136 of our New York attorneys (and a total of 200 legal professionals) together under one roof has sparked our vision for creativity, enhanced cross-practice synergies, and elevated our level of innovative client service.

Fostering a Culture of Collegiality and Growth

One of our primary goals with the new office was to fully immerse our Satterlee Stephens colleagues into our distinctive and collaborative Duane Morris culture, which has been rooted in open communication, mutual respect, and a drive for excellent client service since our founding in Philadelphia in 1904.

Having everyone together in one space accelerates this process and strengthens the collegial bonds throughout the firm.
Our New York office is now a magnet not just for client-facing work, but for professional development. Associates have a myriad of opportunities to learn alongside, and from our partners, gaining direct access to experience, mentorship, and training that remote or siloed working arrangements simply cannot replicate.

We’ve intentionally designed skill-sharing programs, multi-level training sessions, and mentorship opportunities that give every attorney—at every stage of their career—a platform for growth and advancement.

The cross-pollination of skills and expertise is clear: from complex commercial litigation to cutting-edge corporate and real estate deals, to strategizing for litigation, knowledge transfer happens in real time while fostering the next generation of legal talent.
Not surprisingly, we have seen that the professional development atmosphere in the new office has also been a big selling point for attracting talent.

A Destination Designed for the Future of Law

Our new custom-designed space at 22 Vanderbilt isn’t just “on brand” for Duane Morris; it’s an intentional redefinition of what the future of a legal workplace should be.

The new office was designed by the firm’s talented in-house design and facilities team, which is unique among law firms, and afforded us the opportunity to realize significant cost savings while creating a truly unique place to bring people together. To date, we have heard only positive feedback on the new design’s hospitality-driven features which merges boutique hotel aesthetics with a high-tech legal space including:

• A central, open staircase seamlessly connects our two floors which encourages movement and interaction.
• Flexible gathering spaces and huddle rooms to support spontaneous collaboration and focused work.
• Wellness and lactation rooms to prioritize holistic well-being.
• Advanced conferencing technology which ensures effortless connection with clients and colleagues globally.
• Uniform size attorney offices all with sit-to-stand desks, reflecting our goal to support not just the work, but the person doing it.

As we return to an in-office rhythm of four days per week starting in September 2025, our new 22 Vanderbilt location is more than premium office space—it is a proclamation that Duane Morris is taking bold steps to shape the future of legal practice and making in-person collaboration easier than ever.

Enhancing Client Service and Productivity

To be clear, our new office in New York was far more than a real estate decision. It was a strategic business move focused on delivering the best outcomes for our clients. By concentrating our resources, expertise, and talent in a single, state-of-the-art location, we can staff matters with greater agility, marshal the right skills for every engagement, and, ultimately, resolve client matters faster and more efficiently.

Our ability to retain and deepen client relationships extends as we demonstrate our commitment to service, creativity and innovation.
The enhanced administrative capability in terms of updated technology and best use of space also means that our professionals can focus on what matters most, unburdened by the inefficiencies of duplication or distance. Morale is up, productivity is up, and client satisfaction, I am confident, will follow suit.

I believe that the benefits being realized with our new office are nothing short of geometric. When talented people share space and collaborate, ideas multiply, knowledge is shared, and new perspectives emerge. The spontaneous interactions, quick meetings and conversations that I see happening in our new halls are already sparking creative solutions for our clients’ most complex legal and business issues.

For instance, I’ve seen newly formed teams across different practice areas and backgrounds tackle challenges with fresh energy and collective intelligence, proving that we are undeniably “better together.”

Looking Toward the Future

This move answers not only our strategic needs today but also positions us competitively for the growth we envision moving forward. Our unified space is a vibrant, forward-looking, centrally located base. It’s not just a physical merger—it’s a cultural and professional one, reinforcing our expanding market presence and launching us toward new heights.

The doors at 22 Vanderbilt are open. A new era for Duane Morris in New York has begun.

Reprinted with permission from New York Law Journal, © ALM Media Properties LLC. All rights reserved.