Two Law Firms Take 20,000 SF at Bank of America Tower

SEATTLE-Two new leases by law firms have pushed occupancy at Bank of America Tower back up over 75%. Black Lowe & Graham, PLLC, an intellectual property law firm, and Abbott Davis Rothwell Mullin & Earle P.C., a litigation law firm, have signed on for a combined 19,800 sf at Equity Office Properties’ 1.5 million-sf landmark tower in Downtown Seattle.

The leases absorb about 10% of the vacancy created earlier this year when the Preston, Gates & Ellis law firm vacated 200,000 sf in the building in favor of Downtown’s newest skyscraper, IDX Tower. EOP Leasing Director John Hansen tells GlobeSt.com the building is now 76% occupied.

Black Lowe & Graham are taking the 14,495-sf 48th floor, one of several floors vacated by Preston, Gates & Ellis. Abbott Davis Rothwell Mullin & Earle P.C. will move into 5,282 sf on the 28th floor. Hansen would not discuss the negotiated lease rates on the transactions, but the asking rate for the spaces was about $30 per sf, full service, not including concessions, which as of late typically have included a substantial tenant improvement allowance and as much as one year of free rent. As well, EOP is giving away a full commission to the tenant’s broker and an extra $2,000 bonus to the procuring broker for each transaction completed before the end of the year.