Law Firm Signs 29,000-Square-Foot Deal to Move Operations to Arts District Office

Why It Matters

The deal signals a shift in LA’s office market toward lower‑rise, cost‑effective campuses, with law firms continuing to be a key source of leasing demand.

Key Takeaways

• Goodwin leases 29,000 sf at At Mateo, Arts District.
• Moves from 30,400 sf downtown tower to low‑rise campus.
• Over 75 lawyers will occupy the new second‑floor space.
• Law firms account for >10% of U.S. office leasing.
• Arts District emerging as affordable hub for growth firms.

Pulse Analysis

Goodwin’s transition from a high‑rise tower to the At Mateo campus illustrates a changing calculus among professional services firms. While prestige once anchored firms to iconic skyscrapers, today’s legal practices prioritize flexibility, employee experience, and proximity to industry clusters. The Arts District, once an industrial backwater, now offers modern loft‑style spaces, shorter commutes, and a vibrant urban fabric that aligns with the firm’s focus on aerospace, life sciences, and SaaS sectors spreading across Southern California’s innovation corridor.

Law firms have become a pivotal engine of office leasing activity nationwide, accounting for more than ten percent of total U.S. leases last year. Goodwin’s move joins recent transactions by Wilson Elser and Gordon Rees in downtown LA, underscoring the sector’s confidence in the market despite broader economic headwinds. These deals highlight a pattern: firms are consolidating space to support collaboration while avoiding the premium rents of legacy towers, favoring mid‑size campuses that can scale with growth.

For landlords and investors, the Arts District’s ascent presents a compelling opportunity. The area’s relatively lower acquisition costs, combined with a pipeline of tech and creative tenants, create a diversified tenant mix that can stabilize cash flows. As more firms like Goodwin expand into the district, demand for high‑quality, amenity‑rich office environments is likely to intensify, prompting developers to re‑imagine industrial parcels as modern work hubs. This trend not only reshapes Los Angeles’ commercial real estate landscape but also reinforces the city’s reputation as a multifaceted innovation hub.