CSMM brings the “Desk Sharing Revolution” to the legal world

Munich – Frankfurt, 18 October 2022 – Is desk sharing the way forward for law firms? The model is currently being tested at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (NRF) in its iconic 14-storey listed high-rise in Hamburg’s “Springer Quartier”. Architecture and consulting firm CSMM developed an innovative workplace design for the global firm that – for the first time – does away with personalised workstations. Every member of staff, whether partner or associate, is free to choose where they work on a day-to-day basis, with shared desks, personal caddies and other tools designed to facilitate collaboration as well as concentration.

In an effort to establish more flexible and transparent workflows at Norton Rose Fulbright’s new Hamburg premises, the 1200-square-metre workplace mixes single and double private offices with open-plan spaces in a smart way. Higher rates of working from home and a smaller office footprint mean staff’s demands are changing, and the firm wanted the workplace to add value for all. “We are very excited about the move to the new premises,” explains Patrick Narr, Head of the firm’s Hamburg office. “It will provide an environment that goes beyond the traditional office and aligns perfectly with our new workplace strategy. We wanted to create a ‘Destination Office’ that gives everyone on staff space to work and interact socially. Thanks to the dynamic and adaptable space, staff as well as clients have room to concentrate, collaborate and build their networks. This is all possible thanks to the state-of-the-art Springer Quartier.”

CSMM’s workplace design, unlike the former office, makes every workstation available to every member of staff, who can reserve the desk they want via the booking app. For Norton Rose Fulbright, the objective of the new desk sharing policy is to optimise utilisation of the office space. “To better manage internal workflows, personal assistants are the only staff who still have a personalised desk in the new open-plan space,” explains CSMM Managing Partner Malte Tschörtner. “Our design with the desk sharing concept allows every other co-worker more flexibility in how they organise their day-to-day work. The freedom to choose where you work is also a deliberate rejection of traditional, hierarchy-driven room typologies. Desk sharing gives lawyers the opportunity to find the right work environment for novel workflows and communication models, which we have also included in our design.” In addition to the desk sharing concept, CSMM came up with additional spaces for the entire staff, from a library for deep-concentration tasks to collaborative workshops designed to foster creativity, and from closed telephone boxes to an elegant communal space that serves as the firm’s “social hub”.