Law firm to take large space at 18-story tower under construction in uptown

New York-based Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has preleased 72,000 square feet at the 650 South Tryon tower at Legacy Union. The 18-story, 358,000-square-foot building is under construction and expected to deliver by this fall.

It’s anchored by Deloitte, which has preleased 90,000 square feet on the top floors.

With the new deal, the building is about 44% preleased, according to Lincoln Harris. Project developers Lincoln Harris and Goldman Sachs sold the first building, Bank of America Tower, last year to Highwoods Properties for more than $440 million.

The 650 South Tryon building has average floorplates of 23,800 square feet, meaning Cadwalader has likely preleased three floors.

Both the Deloitte-anchored building and a third office tower that will serve as Honeywell’s headquarters are under construction today. Johno Harris, president of Lincoln Harris, said recently work will continue on both of those buildings amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cadwalader employed 89 attorneys here as of February, according to Charlotte Business Journal research, making it one of the largest local law firms. The Charlotte office, which opened in 1996, specializes in bank lending, fund and real estate finance, structured products and securitization.

Cadwalader currently leases space at the Carillon building on West Trade Street. Founded in 1792, it’s touted as one of the oldest law practices in the country.

Ridr Knowlton and Campbell Walker at Lincoln Harris represented the landlord in the lease transaction. Newmark Knight Frank represented the tenant.