The law firm, which provides legal services to educational institutions, colleges, municipalities and local governments, signed a long-term lease to occupy nearly 19,000 sf. The firm will relocate to 55 W. Monroe from its current location at 20 N. Clark St. in February 2009. Lombardia will begin occupying almost 2,000 sf in the building in December in another long-term lease.

Nikki Krohn and Gary Kostecki, both with Jones Lang LaSalle, represented building owner LaSalle Investment Management in the transaction. Ben Azulay and Laurence Elbaum, of Bradford Allen, represented the law firm, while Chris O'Leary with Grubb & Ellis represented Lombardia Capital. "We are very pleased that these two tenants have selected 55 W. Monroe for their office needs," Kostecki said.

The asking lease rate in the building ranges between $18 per sf and $22 per sf net. The 803,000-sf building was designed by Helmut Jahn in 1981 and renovated in 2002 with work on the lobby, elevator cabs and common corridors. Major tenants include FINRA, the law firm Ross, Dixon & Bell LLP, and consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal.