Macfarlanes has taken a lease out on new office next door to its current City headquarters. 

Moving into the new development, which will not be ready for occupation until 2017, will help consolidate the firm's offices around one location. It currently has a number of smaller offices close to its main Norwich Street base.

The 57,000 square feet of new space at 98 Fetter Lane will be directly linked internally to the Norwich Street office.

When the move takes place, Macfarlanes will have a total of 90,000 square feet of space in one building. The firm will also retain some office space at 20 Norwich Street and 5 Norwich Street which it currently occupies.

Macfarlanes' senior partner Charles Martin said: "This is an important step for the firm. It means that we can benefit from remaining substantially in the same location for many years to come, minimising cost and disruption.

"A firm's brand becomes tied up with its premises and this location and configuration works very well for us in that regard. We want to continue to keep the internal workings of the business simple and tightly managed. That means we can focus externally on the other pressing key business decisions that face both our clients and us in these times of change. The new space gives us flexible, efficient space and scope for growth."