He says the PILOT agreement afforded Skadden Arps stability in terms of its real estate tax commitments for most of its lease term at the Reckson Metro Center property. Skadden Arps will be occupying the entire third floor and a portion of the fifth floor at the downtown White Plains property.

Campofranco notes that the 12-story Reckson Metro Center, which totals approximately 380,000 sf, is currently about 85 percent leased.

The closing on the lease deal was a victory for the City of White Plains, the Westchester County Office of Economic Development and the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency who worked together to convince Skadden Arps to house the data center in White Plains.

"We worked cooperatively on the deal," says Teri Waivada, executive director of the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency. "We are very pleased we were able to convince them to lease space in White Plains. She noted that Skadden Arps was considering opening the data center office in Jersey City."

Waivada noted that the City of White Plains assisted in providing some parking concessions and other incentives. The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency induced an application by Skadden Arps in July that provided the law firm with approximately $1,081,125 in sales tax exemptions. Skadden Arps estimated the lease deal and necessary renovations at 360 Hamilton Ave. would cost approximately $21.9 million.

Commenting on the deal, White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino says, "I want to take this opportunity to welcome Skadden, Arps to the White Plains Central Business District. I also want to commend Reckson Metro Center on its ability to attract firms like Skadden, Arps to White Plains and contributing to a continually flourishing CBD."

Skadden Arps, which did not return phone calls for comment on the deal, is expected to initially have approximately 138 full-time employees at its White Plains office, which will serve as a general and executive office location as well as a data center, according to papers filed with the Westchester County IDA.

Skadden Arps has 23 offices around the world and employs approximately 1,700 lawyers who practice in more than 40 areas of law and industry specializations.

Skadden Arps is one of the nation's top law firms in the field of corporate mergers and acquisitions. The corporate law firm, whose New York City offices are housed at 4 Times Square, recently represented Merrill Lynch in its settlement with the New York State Attorney General over alleged conflicts in Merrill Lynch's stock research.