Cozen O'Connor is sprawling upward in downtown Minneapolis, planning to more than double its local footprint with a move into significantly larger space at the Wells Fargo Center high-rise. The planned expansion follows the firm's recent combination with Minneapolis boutique Moss & Barnett and is designed to pull much of its Twin Cities roster together under one roof. The firm says the new build-out should wrap in 2027, with staff shifting into the fresh space once it is completed.
According to the Twin Cities Business Journal, Cozen has agreed to take the 30th and 31st floors of the 57-story Wells Fargo Center in the heart of downtown. That move would effectively double the firm's current Minneapolis square footage and place the majority of its Minnesota attorneys at a single, highly visible address.
Merger, Temporary Move And Timing
In a firm announcement, Cozen O'Connor confirmed that it completed its combination with Moss & Barnett earlier this year and noted that it will make a pit stop at Moss & Barnett’s office at 150 South Fifth Street while its permanent space is being built out. The firm is targeting the second quarter of 2027 for the official opening of the consolidated Minneapolis office. "This merger marks yet another major step in our plan to significantly expand our transactional and commercial practices across key Midwest markets," the firm's chairman said in the release.
Why Wells Fargo Center?
Wells Fargo Center has been turning into a bit of a legal neighborhood. Recently, Husch Blackwell announced its own relocation to the tower, pointing to upgraded collaboration space and building amenities as key selling points. With a central address at 90 South Seventh Street and a Class-A profile, the building offers the kind of high-end setup that makes sense for a national firm looking to consolidate a growing Minnesota team.
What It Signals For Downtown Leasing
Local market data indicate that even as overall central business district vacancy remains elevated, tenants are increasingly clustering in top-tier buildings - the exact category Wells Fargo Center falls into. Cushman & Wakefield's Q1 2026 MarketBeat notes that Class A assets have captured a large share of recent leasing activity, suggesting national firms are still willing to sign on for premium downtown space while the broader office market continues to reset. That backdrop helps explain why Cozen is committing to two full floors in a marquee tower as it builds out its Minnesota platform.
