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"Less is more" – the case for staying: how strategic consulting drove transformation at Linklaters Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main, 24 March 2026. Sometimes transformation begins with a fundamental question: is relocation truly necessary – or can an existing site be developed further to meet the long-term needs of an international law firm? Around ten years after moving into its Frankfurt office, Linklaters asked itself exactly that. Together with CSMM, the firm first conducted a strategic assessment to determine which option made the most long-term sense for the location – moving to a new site or further developing the existing premises. The analysis went beyond a purely real-estate decision and served as a strategic foundation for shaping the firm’s future client and conference space strategy.
Strategy before architecture
In a structured process, CSMM first analysed future requirements for organisation, space utilisation and typologies independently of the current building. Based on this, a range of scenarios – retention, consolidation, or relocation – were systematically evaluated. Criteria such as space efficiency, investment needs, sustainability, client impression and long-term flexibility were considered within a transparent comparison matrix. The outcome: staying put proved to be the most economical, ecological and functional solution. Instead of relocating, the firm opted for a targeted redevelopment and modernisation of selected areas – minimal intervention, maximum effect.
Focused adjustments instead of fundamental reorganisation
Linklaters occupies around 12,000 square metres as the anchor tenant in the building completed in 2016, which the firm moved into immediately upon completion. Technically, there was no urgent need for action – though some functional adjustments had become necessary.
The main focus of the redevelopment was the client and conference areas. In recent years, the way meetings, workshops and internal coordination take place has changed significantly: digital formats, hybrid meetings and project-based collaboration now call for different spatial concepts than the classic conference room layout. The premium client area has been modernised and given a more representative design.
At its heart is a flexible multi-purpose room with direct access to the terrace. Mobile partitions and modular furniture make it possible to host a wide range of activities – from client meetings and internal workshops to seminars and events. The revitalised roof terraces complement this with versatile working and break areas of high spatial quality, reinforcing the role of the space as a welcoming environment without changing the building’s overall character. For employees, the fundamental structure of the working day remained largely unchanged – no radical reorganisation, just targeted improvements where they would make a tangible difference.
Sustainability as a guiding principle
A key theme of the project was the responsible treatment of the existing building. Existing furniture, materials and surfaces were consciously retained and integrated. New elements reference the original architectural identity without copying it – resulting not in disruption, but in a precise “refresh”.
“We entered into an open decision-making process with Linklaters from an early stage – we examined everything from complete relocation to an on-site transformation,” says Malte Tschörtner, Managing Partner at CSMM. “In the end, staying proved to be the strategic and economic right choice. For us, sustainability in this context means preserving what works and selectively developing what needs to change.”
Transformation during ongoing operations
The implementation took place while day-to-day operations continued – a particular challenge in itself. “Working within an occupied building made the process even more demanding,” explains Danny Tran, Project Lead at CSMM. “But thanks to close communication, we were able to respond quickly to unexpected challenges – success was only possible because everyone pulled together.”
The project demonstrates that the true measure of scale lies not in the volume of construction, but in the quality of decisions. The real effort went into the thinking, weighing and structuring – into handling the existing environment with precision. The outcome is not a new office, but a better one: a workspace that has been carefully transformed for the 2020s – economically sound, sustainably responsible and architecturally coherent.
“Successful transformation begins with clear conceptual decisions. We have redeveloped our Frankfurt offices in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner so that they best support our daily work and collaboration with clients,” says Wolfram Krüger, Partner at Linklaters.
Contact CSMM
Nina Eisenbrand, Head of Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 (0)89 960 15 99-0
E-Mail: marketing@cs-mm.com
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