Alston & Bird is making a serious Midtown play, locking in roughly 170,000 square feet at 51 West 52nd Street, the landmark "Black Rock" tower in the heart of Manhattan. The global law firm is set to join a growing legal lineup in the storied skyscraper, which is owned by Harbor Group International.
Crain's New York Business reported on June 25, 2026, that the deal covers about 170,000 square feet at 51 W. 52nd Street, with Harbor Group International as the landlord. The report did not disclose how long the lease runs or when Alston & Bird plans to move in.
Harbor Group's Bet On Black Rock
Harbor Group bought the CBS Building at 51 West 52nd Street in 2021 and has been busy recasting it as a trophy Midtown address. ConnectCRE reported the roughly $760 million acquisition, the first time the tower had changed hands since it opened.
The new owner then poured roughly $128 million into an overhaul that refreshed lobbies, elevators and tenant amenities. CoStar News noted that the upgrades were crafted to lure large, high-end tenants, the kind of deep-pocketed users who want prestige, infrastructure and a polished front door all in one package.
Law Firms Help Power Midtown's Office Recovery
Alston & Bird's commitment slots neatly into a broader pattern: big law has been one of the few consistent engines in Manhattan's Class A office market. Colliers has reported that the legal sector accounted for millions of square feet of leasing activity in 2025, even as other industries pulled back or stayed cautious.
On top of that, Cushman & Wakefield has flagged law firm expansions and renewals as a material force in New York City's leasing market, noting that legal tenants have been among the most active players in premium submarkets.
Why Big Law Keeps Coming Back To 51W52
Black Rock is no stranger to marquee legal names. In 2024, Orrick renewed roughly 144,000 square feet at the tower, a move widely seen as a vote of confidence in Harbor Group's renovation campaign. Commercial Observer reported that Orrick's deal reflected the landlord's push to position 51W52 as a home base for large professional services tenants.
That track record likely helped make the building an obvious option for Alston & Bird as it maps out its New York footprint. The firm will be stepping into a tower that already reads like a who's who of institutional tenants, with the amenities and recent capital work to match.
Key details, including the lease term, asking rent and timing for relocating employees, were not made public when the transaction surfaced. Crain's New York Business provided the initial report and basic deal terms but did not include a floor-by-floor breakdown of the space.
