Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff is spreading out in the Loop, tacking on roughly one full floor and about 33,000 square feet at its Chicago home base at 71 S. Wacker Drive. The deal pushes the firm's footprint in the tower past 130,000 square feet and caps a year of aggressive local hiring, with leaders saying the extra room is meant to keep up with attorney and staff growth and to handle climbing client demand.
According to Crain's Chicago Business, Cushman & Wakefield brokers Ari Klein, Scott Shelbourne and Jeff Skender negotiated the expansion, which adds about 33,000 square feet to Benesch's space in the 48-story tower. Crain's also reported that industry data had 71 S. Wacker at roughly 94% leased before the deal, so Benesch's decision amounts to a notable show of faith in the property.
Owner and leasing team at the tower
As outlined by Irvine Company, the Newport Beach-based owner has controlled 71 South Wacker since 2010 and promotes it as a signature Loop address. Listings for the Irvine portfolio identify CBRE executives Greg Tait and Maggie Brophy as the lead leasing contacts for the Chicago collection, highlighting the landlord's direct role in courting tenants. The tower's large floor plates and amenity package have helped it draw and keep law and financial firms even after earlier tenant reshuffling.
Growth at Benesch and what the space buys
Benesch has been climbing the local rankings in 2025 and recently landed on Crain's roster of the city's largest firms, with roughly 20 attorneys added year over year, according to firm materials and industry reporting. Managing partner Gregg Eisenberg told Crain's Chicago Business the expansion is designed to match steady increases in attorney and staff headcount and to support client needs. The additional floor will give the firm more room for conference facilities, client meetings and recruiting as Chicago remains a priority market for Benesch.
How the move fits downtown's split market
The Benesch deal is a reminder that some corners of downtown are still landing growth tenants even as others shed space. In 2025, Perkins Coie put more than 40,000 square feet up for sublease on Wacker Drive while other boutiques grabbed larger suites, underscoring a split market. Coverage by The Real Deal and other industry reports point to a mix of consolidation and expansion reshaping the Loop. For 71 S. Wacker, Benesch's added floor helps the owner keep occupancy elevated in a highly amenitized property.
For Benesch, the expansion creates breathing room for hiring, client-facing perks and future growth. For Irvine and its leasing team, the transaction trims vacancy and reinforces the tower's draw for professional services firms that want top-tier, riverfront office space in the Loop.
