“We intend to design and build an office for the future, leveraging some of the key drivers for our clients and our lawyers – efficiency, flexibility and technology,” says Chadbourne managing partner Andrew Giaccia, in a statement. “We will create a state-of-the-art workspace for our clients, our lawyers and our staff.”

In the same statement, Giaccia describes the lease deal as a “complex transaction” that was completed “under attractive terms,” but a spokesman for Chadbourne did not return additional requests for comment to GlobeSt.com about the financial specifics of the deal in-time for press.

Sources close to the deal say that many locations were scouted -- not just One WTC -- in the real estate search for Chadbourne's new office. But overall, the transaction -- being a new lease and not a renewal -- is a sign that Midtown is holding steady amid difficult market conditions. According to data from CBRE, Midtown leasing is 6.93 million square feet year-to-date, and while that number is well-below the 2011 year-to-date level of 10.81 million square feet, asking rents remained stable at $64.46 per square foot.

Chadbourne has led its national and international practice from its principal office in New York City since 1902, and the New York office is the largest of its 12 offices around the world. Consistent with its emerging markets strategy, the firm has opened office in Sao Paulo and Istanbul in the past two years. Richard Sonkin, head of the firm’s Real Estate Committee, led the Chadbourne team that conducted the search for a new headquarters location and negotiated the lease. Moshe Sukenik, Chris Mongeluzo and Brian Cohen of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank represented Chadbourne & Parke LLP on the deal.