Law Firms Taking Space in Irvine, Santa Ana
By CHRIS CZIBORR
A pair of Orange County law firms have struck office leases worth a combined $11.3 million.
Irvine law firm Jackson, DeMarco & Peckenpaugh plans to move in July from its current offices at 4 Park Plaza in Irvine’s Jamboree Center to 2030 Main St. in Irvine across from John Wayne Airport. The firm signed a 10-year, $7 million lease for 22,278 square feet, up from 20,000 square feet at its current office.
In the other deal, Hollins, Schecter & Condas moved to Xerox Centre in Santa Ana, signing an eight-year lease for 21,441 square feet. The firm had been in 14,605 square feet of space at 505 South Main St. in Orange.
Jim DeMarco, chief operating officer for Jackson, said his firm is expanding its litigation and real estate practices, as well as its corporate, labor, tax and estate planning practices.
“We decided we can no longer survive at the current space,” DeMarco said. “Office space prices have substantially decreased over the past few months, so this is an opportune time to move to a larger, more efficient space that will accommodate growth.”
The firm counts 31 OC attorneys, with plans to add another three within the next year. Jackson, DeMarco also has a smaller Westlake Village office with nine attorneys, and plans to add one or two more.
The firm has seen 10% to 15% growth in revenue each year for the past eight years, DeMarco said.
“And we expect that to continue,” he said.
Julien J. Studley Inc.’s Royce Sharf and Scott Granger represented Jackson, DeMarco. John Weiner of CB Richard Ellis Services Inc. represented landlord OTR.
“The lackluster leasing market is being helped by old-line law firms,” Sharf said. “Law firms have become the darlings again,they’re credit worthy and they pay their rent. They’re among the most active OC tenants right now.”
Officials at Hollins, Schecter weren’t available for comment. The firm has about 20 OC attorneys. Its chief practices include defense, commercial litigation and bad faith litigation.
Liz Hurley of the Irvine office of Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co. represented Xerox Centre landlord DL Cabrillo LLC in the $4.3 million lease.
