Fenwick, the Silicon Valley law firm known for its work with tech and life-sciences companies, has quietly more than doubled its Boston team in roughly a year, growing from about 17 people at launch to 37 now, and partners say the office has already run out of room. The firm planted its Boston flag in April 2025 and has steadily added patent, corporate and support staff as it builds local capacity. The rapid expansion underscores how competitive Boston remains for intellectual-property and life-sciences legal talent.
Those figures, including that Fenwick now occupies roughly 13,400 square feet at One International Place, were reported by the Boston Business Journal, which said partners told the paper the office is essentially out of space at its International Place location.
Fenwick’s entry to Boston began with a high-profile hire last spring. The firm opened the office in April 2025 when three IP partners left Cooley to form the nucleus of the new practice, according to reporting by Law360. That initial team set a life-sciences and patent focus that Fenwick has continued to build on.
Fenwick's hiring push
Since launch the firm has kept adding local capability. Fenwick announced the arrival of corporate partner David Horne in August 2025 as part of its Boston growth plan, saying his experience will deepen the firm’s startup and venture capital coverage for regional clients. In a press release via Fenwick, leaders framed the hires as deliberate moves to match Boston’s innovation ecosystem.
What it means for downtown office demand
Fenwick’s quick buildout lands as International Place and the broader Financial District see renewed landlord activity and big tenant commitments. Local reporting notes recent large leases into the complex, including a roughly 47,466-square-foot commitment by another law firm. Those deals, along with major moves by financial and private-equity tenants, are being read by brokers as signs that upgraded downtown product is drawing back professional services tenants. CityBiz has flagged the cluster of recent commitments at International Place.
Fenwick lists its Boston address at One International Place (Suite 850) on its site and has active Boston job postings on local boards, signaling hiring will continue as the office matures. See Fenwick’s office listing and recent company announcements on Fenwick and job listings on Built In Boston.
For now, the takeaway for local clients and job seekers is straightforward. Fenwick has made a fast, targeted bet on Boston’s tech and life-sciences economy, and partners told the Boston Business Journal that further hiring or additional space will likely follow as the office outgrows its current footprint.
