Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is scaling up in the Loop, locking in a lease for roughly 40,000 square feet and pulling its downtown lawyers and staff together under one roof. After years of running two offices a few blocks apart on LaSalle and Wacker, the firm plans to consolidate into a single space and expects to move in this summer.
New space at 222 N. LaSalle
The firm has inked a deal for about 40,000 square feet on the fifth floor at 222 N. LaSalle Street, according to Crain's Chicago Business. The move bumps Croke Fairchild's downtown footprint from roughly 25,000 square feet, previously split between 180 N. LaSalle and 191 N. Wacker, up to about 40,000 square feet in one location.
The building itself was about 93% leased before the firm signed on, Crain's Chicago Business reported. The tower has roughly 1,000,000 rentable square feet and is owned by the Crown family through Henry Crown Holding Company, according to the outlet.
Firm growth and hiring push
The office upgrade tracks with a fast-growing headcount. Croke Fairchild noted that it reached roughly 100 attorneys in 2025 and has been steadily adding seasoned hires from both the public and private sectors. Among the higher-profile names are former Chicago Planning Commissioner David Reifman and other senior figures.
The firm also brought on former Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin, as reported by Reuters. Firm leaders say a larger, single-floor office should streamline operations, make collaboration easier, and give recruiting efforts a lift as they continue to build out litigation, real estate, and government affairs practices.
What it means for the Loop market
The lease lands in a downtown office market that is still trying to find its post-pandemic footing. Industry data cited by Crain's Chicago Business show the central business district finished 2025 with a net loss of roughly 370,000 square feet of occupied space compared with 2024, based on CBRE figures referenced in the report.
That backdrop helps explain why some tenants are consolidating into newer or amenity-rich properties while other buildings keep bleeding square footage. For the owner of 222 N. LaSalle, landing an institutional law firm tenant is a reassuring sign for a Loop office tower in a market still working through a reset.
Looking ahead
For Croke Fairchild, the consolidated address is expected to make client meetings, internal coordination, and day-to-day logistics less of a juggling act. The firm plans to move into the new space this summer and intends to maintain a robust downtown presence as it continues to pursue additional hires, according to statements on its site.
