...more collaboration further enhances our client relationships through greater productivity, quality control, consistency, and efficiencies, thus lowering client costs.

Kilpatrick Townsend’s strong tradition of collaborating with clients — and with each other — has created a firmwide culture that fosters productivity, innovation, and efficiencies. With that in mind, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton recently transformed its San Francisco office, the firm’s oldest and second largest, from a three-floor traditional law firm setting into a two-floor high-tech, open-space environment to create a more collaborative workplace that reflects the offices of its many technology clients. Working with architect Brian Parker of Cooper Carry, San Francisco Office Managing Partner Mehrnaz Boroumand Smith spearheaded the dramatic glass-inspired design to meet the needs of the office’s 70 attorneys and 80 staff members. Mehrnaz explains:

Q: What prompted the office makeover?

Boroumand Smith: With the San Francisco lease up for renewal, we decided to step back and reimagine the 21st century law firm by creating an innovative, flexible space that better suits our collaborative spirit. Putting that collaboration message to work, our first step entailed forming a large, inclusive design committee of staff and attorneys. By facilitating numerous focus group sessions, we harvested diverse viewpoints and feedback central to crafting a future-thinking space that can evolve over time.

Since our new space occupied the same building, we consolidated three floors into two and created same-size offices that increased efficiencies; reduced the necessity of storage and paper by converting almost all hardcopy documents into electronic files; and offset the increased costs of renting space in San Francisco. Signature features of the space include reflective use of floor-to-ceiling glass throughout the space and a centrally-located community hub — our 21st century watercooler — to encourage more interaction and collaboration with colleagues and clients.

Q: Tell us more about the community hub.

Boroumand Smith: The 3,000 square-foot community hub encourages interpersonal connections both personally and professionally, providing a more organic and relaxed environment conducive to collaboration. The hub comes complete with conversation zones, state-of-the-art lunch and gourmet snack area, private focus rooms, hoteling space, a strategically located dartboard, and space for foosball and table tennis tournaments — all the necessities for formal and informal meetings, attorney coaching, team building, friendly competitions, and of course casual conversation. And finally the pulse of the community hub — our own built-in barista in the form of a Nespresso Aguila. This sleek machine takes coffee to a new level providing perfect frothy drinks for clients, visiting colleagues, and our attorneys and staff.

The 3,000 square-foot community hub encourages interpersonal connections both personally and professionally...

Q: How has more collaboration benefited clients?

Boroumand Smith: A more inclusive environment allows both attorneys and staff to learn more about each other’s practice areas, skillsets, and experience through interpersonal connections that inevitably increase professional chemistry, inspire innovation, and build trust and confidence. This, in turn, prompts more cross-practice conversations, which leads to a deeper understanding of client issues and business goals — thus creating more holistic and sophisticated advice to address complex issues and the ability to quickly assemble the right teams to perform the work. Also, more collaboration further enhances our client relationships through greater productivity, quality control, consistency, and efficiencies, thus lowering client costs.

Q: Tell us about some other key features of the office design.

Boroumand Smith: The design is very future forward. All the interior walls collapse to accommodate our evolving workforce and business needs, and every workstation — attorney and staff — has a sit-stand desk to promote better health and productivity. Also, we built aspects of the local geography into artwork. The space invites more natural light and presents a truly inspiring panoramic view of San Francisco. 

Q: How have the attorneys and staff adjusted to more open space and smaller offices?

Boroumand Smith: Much easier than anticipated. Both our attorneys and staff have quickly embraced the change, with many commending the increased light and openness and eagerly volunteering to give visitor tours. Also by incorporating glass into the design and choosing functional, size-appropriate furniture, the smaller offices seem more spacious than expected. Some of our attorneys have even expressed a sense of liberation after purging their hardcopy materials for electronic counterparts, and are working to find even more ways to incorporate new technology into their practices. 

Q: In the never-ending quest for great talent, has the new office had an impact?

Boroumand Smith: Our recruiting team recently held a call-back weekend for prospective Kilpatrick attorneys in the new office. The spacious design not only enhanced our ability to stage this sizable event, but it also afforded majestic scenery second to none. In addition to our recruiting efforts, since we moved, the new space has provided the forum of many successful events involving clients, delegations from Asia, and pro bono partners from the local community.  

Q: Any final words?

Boroumand Smith: Overall, the new design has exceeded expectations and given the San Francisco office new life. Our old space, which served us well for just over 20 years, lacked the same vitality as our new space and made organic interaction a challenge. By contrast, the new space is more inviting and interactive, creating a real sense of community and a great environment for collaboration. Clients hoteling in the new space have also praised the look and usefulness of the design.

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