Downtown San Jose’s sluggish office scene just landed a sizeable win: Berliner Cohen, a homegrown law firm, has signed a 10-year lease for roughly 43,400 square feet at Ten Almaden, significantly expanding its footprint in the city’s core even as vacancies linger.
According to the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the firm outgrew its previous setup and locked in the long-term deal at 10 Almaden to support a local practice that has grown by roughly 20% over the past five years. Berliner Cohen is expected to fill out the larger space as it continues ramping up its San Jose operations.
Downtown vacancy remains a drag
The lease arrives at a time when downtown office towers are still wrestling with empty space. Cushman & Wakefield puts the district’s office vacancy at about 30.8% in its Q1 2026 MarketBeat report, a level that has given tenants leverage to push for concessions and left landlords hungry for exactly the kind of decade-long commitment Berliner Cohen just made.
Ten Almaden’s pull
Ten Almaden is a LEED Gold, Class A office tower owned and managed through KBS entities, according to property listings and building brochures. Marketing materials highlight perks such as a tenant lounge, a fitness center with a pool, multi-level parking and close proximity to transit and downtown courthouses, which helps explain why professional services firms still gravitate to the address. LoopNet and the building guide outline those features.
What it means for the firm
Berliner Cohen already lists a San Jose office at 10 Almaden and appears to be both consolidating and expanding its downtown presence. The larger footprint gives the firm more room for attorneys and support staff while keeping everyone close to state and federal courthouses. The firm’s website notes that its San Jose office is just steps from the courts, and Berliner Cohen lists the 10 Almaden address as its local base.
One lease is not going to flip downtown’s vacancy statistics overnight, but it is a concrete signal that some professional tenants still see value in planting a flag in central San Jose. Landlords and city economic planners will be watching closely to see whether other firms follow Berliner Cohen’s lead as they negotiate new space or renew existing leases.
