Manatt, which provides legal and consulting services, plans to occupy the Costa Mesa space by early September. Seven Manatt lawyers, including the firm's co-founder Thomas D. Phelps, will base their practices in Orange County.

"Opening the Orange County office is a significant step in our growth plans," says Paul H. Irving, chief executive and managing partner of Manatt. "The lease provides multiple options to expand and we project substantial growth there by mid-2002," he adds. The lease term, including extensions, is 7 years and 6 months.

Manatt will take space on the 12th floor of Center Tower, which stands at 650 Town Center Dr. The 21-story building is located in The Offices of South Coast Plaza, which includes around 1.4 million sf of landmark office properties. "Our dynamic location as Orange County's Central Business District combines the finest business, cultural, restaurant, shopping, hospitality and fitness amenities," says John Barganski, who brokered the deal.