Covington & Burling will use the space for continued expansion. The firm will occupy floors 39 through 43 of the building 41st Street. Covington & Burling signed a 20-year lease with options for additional space. They are expected to be in the space during spring of 2007.

This is the second lease signed for the NYT site. Last month, another law firm, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, inked a deal for 100,000 sf at the under-construction site. The firm inked a 17-year deal and expects to be housed at the site when it opens in the second quarter of 2007.

Stuart C. Stock, chair of Covington & Burling's Management Committee, says the new space "reflects the firm's commitment to the continued growth of our New York practice." Building developer Forest City Ratner Cos. was represented by a team led by Mary Ann Tighe, including Howard Fiddle, Tim Dempsey, Pete Turchin, Matt Preotle and Jason Pollen of CB Richard Ellis. Covington was represented by Studley, led by Mitchell S. Steir along with Michael Colacino, David J. Goldstein, Matthew Barlow and Daniel Horowitz.