Browne Jacobson has strengthened its long-term commitment to Wales after moving into a new, larger office in Cardiff city centre.
The UK and Ireland law firm has signed a 10-year lease for 9,500 sq ft on the fourth floor of One Central Square – the 10-storey landmark building positioned between Cardiff Central railway station and the Principality Stadium.
The move follows a period of rapid growth for the firm’s Cardiff team, which launched in July 2023 with just seven people and has now expanded to 40 staff, including seven partners and three legal directors. The team delivers the firm’s full range of legal services in Wales.
The new space, built to BREEAM Excellent energy-efficiency standards, has capacity for more than 120 people and includes eight meeting rooms as well as a fully serviced client suite and boardroom with event space for up to 50 guests.
The relocation also creates two new front-of-house roles, with the firm confirming it is committed to working with local suppliers.
“An important milestone” for the firm in Wales
Tim Edds, Partner and Head of Cardiff, who co-founded the office, said the move reflects Browne Jacobson’s long-term ambitions in Wales.
“Moving into a permanent office at the heart of Cardiff’s business district is an important milestone in Browne Jacobson’s journey and signals our long-term commitment to the Welsh legal market, as well as our ambition for significant future growth,” he said.
He added that the firm’s client base in Wales includes market-leading organisations, fast-growth technology companies, private equity and venture capital investors, and high-net-worth entrepreneurs.
“One Central Square is a landmark building in Cardiff that perfectly suits our needs. With neighbours including the BBC, PwC and RBC Brewin Dolphin, and being within a stone’s throw of the railway station to provide travel connections nationally, this move will also help us to further cement our place within the business community not just in Cardiff but across Wales.”
Key appointments and major Welsh projects
Browne Jacobson’s Cardiff office now spans all departments and sectors, including public, planning and environmental law; health advisory litigation; corporate transactions; education; real estate; social housing; construction; insurance; regulatory matters and more.
The office is aligned with major Welsh economic drivers including technology, energy, green infrastructure, health, education, aerospace and devolution.
Key appointments in Cardiff have included corporate partners Tom Saunderson, Phil Pugh and Christian Farrow; real estate partner Rich MacPhail; education legal director Trish D’Souza (President of the Cardiff & District Law Society); and most recently Kate Howell as a legal director in the construction team.
The Cardiff team has also advised on major projects including the Celtic Freeport; Morlais — Europe’s largest consented tidal energy scheme off the coast of Anglesey; and Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, Wales’ renewable energy development company.
The firm was last year reappointed to the Welsh Government Commercial Division legal services panel, and has advised the Welsh Government on the Covid-19 Inquiry and reforms to Welsh primary healthcare.
Supporting the Cardiff business community
Browne Jacobson has also highlighted its work supporting the Welsh business and community landscape, including its award-winning FAIRE (Fairer Access into Real Experience) social mobility programme, which has run four times from the Cardiff office in the past year.
The Welsh Government has hosted participating students, including a day spent at the Senedd.
The firm has partnered with organisations including Team Wales, Chambers Wales and the CBI, and has supported the Law Society Wales campaign to introduce level 7 legal apprenticeships.
On 5 March, Browne Jacobson will sponsor the inaugural St David’s Day Dinner at the Cardiff Marriott Hotel, raising funds for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Wales.
Laura Hughes, Partner and Executive Lead for Wales, was recently named Partner of the Year at the British Legal Awards and was featured in The Lawyer Hot 100 2025 list.
“Alongside bringing our full suite of legal services to Wales, we’ve been very keen to create a legacy here via our social mobility initiatives,” she said.
“By signalling our long-term commitment to Cardiff and Wales more broadly, we’re excited about being able to offer more opportunities for some of the nation’s best legal and professional services talent to join a Top 50 law firm.”
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