Law Firm Gallet Dreyer & Berkey Inks 14K SF at BGO’s 685 Third Avenue

Why It Matters

Securing a full‑floor, long‑term lease signals strong confidence in Manhattan’s office market and positions the firm for future growth in a key legal hub. It also highlights BGO’s success in attracting anchor tenants amid competitive leasing dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• Gallet Dreyer & Berkey signed 14,000 sf, 12‑year lease on 28th floor.
• Lease adds to BGO’s growing Midtown portfolio after Council Advisors renewal.
• Midtown office market average rent $84.77 sf in April, per CBRE.
• Legal sector leasing rose 9% Q4 2025, reaching 4.3 m sf nationwide.
• Full‑floor occupancy signals confidence in Manhattan’s Third Avenue corridor.

Pulse Analysis

The New York‑based firm Gallet Dreyer & Berkey has secured a full‑floor, 14,000‑square‑foot space on the 28th floor of 685 Third Avenue, committing to a twelve‑year term. The deal places the firm in a prime Midtown East location just steps from Grand Central, a corridor that has attracted a wave of professional services tenants seeking proximity to transportation hubs and corporate clients. By locking in an entire floor, the firm gains flexibility for future growth and reinforces its long‑standing presence in the city’s legal market.

Landlord BGO, a global real‑estate asset manager, continues to build momentum in Manhattan after recently extending Council Advisors’ lease for an additional ten years. The twin transactions highlight BGO’s focus on securing anchor tenants in high‑visibility towers, a strategy that stabilizes cash flow amid a competitive leasing environment. Midtown office rents averaged $84.77 per square foot in April, according to CBRE, suggesting that premium locations still command strong pricing despite a broader market softening.

Nationally, legal‑sector office leasing grew 9 percent in Q4 2025, reaching 4.3 million square feet, a sign that law firms are re‑evaluating space needs after the pandemic. The Gallet Dreyer & Berkey lease exemplifies this trend, as firms prioritize larger, contiguous footprints to accommodate hybrid work models and client‑facing functions. Continued investment in Manhattan’s office inventory signals confidence in the city’s economic resilience and may spur further development of boutique office products tailored to the legal and professional services community.