Law firm Shipman & Goodwin LLP announced Thursday it will relocate its downtown Hartford headquarters to the Gold Building in the second half of 2027.
The firm will relocate from its longtime offices at One Constitution Plaza to One Financial Plaza, commonly known as the Gold Building. Shipman said it will remain in its current space until the transition is completed.
Financial terms of the new lease were not disclosed. However, Shipman will occupy 69,801 square feet across three full floors in the Gold Building, according to the landlord. That will be less space than the firm occupies in Constitution Plaza. The firm has 225 employees in its Hartford office.
Managing Partner Leander Dolphin said the relocation is intended to support the firm’s expansion while maintaining its presence in Hartford’s central business district.
“Our future move to the Gold Building reflects more than a new office location — it represents a continued investment in our clients, our colleagues, and the city of Hartford,” Dolphin said in a statement.
Additional details on the office design and build-out will be announced as planning progresses, Shipman said. The firm said the new space will emphasize collaboration, flexibility and technology while remaining accessible to clients.
Among Connecticut’s largest law firms, Shipman & Goodwin has long occupied a major footprint at One Constitution Plaza, where it currently leases about 110,145 square feet. However, Shipman in 2024 sued its Constitution Plaza landlord, alleging unresolved building problems breached its lease and interfered with its operations and client access.
That case was withdrawn last December, court records show.
Constitution Plaza has been in foreclosure for years after its owner defaulted on a $55 million loan. A Hartford Superior Court judge approved the foreclosure last year, but the process has been delayed while the lender and owner pursue a potential sale.
Court-appointed receiver reports filed this year show Shipman signed a one-year lease extension at Constitution Plaza through July 31, 2027, while planning to reduce its office footprint there beginning Aug. 1, 2026, as the parties continued addressing building infrastructure concerns.
Shipman’s move comes as Hartford’s downtown office market continues to struggle following the pandemic, with employers reassessing their office footprints while seeking higher-quality space that can better support hybrid work arrangements.
However, the 621,830-square-foot Gold Building has attracted several major tenants in recent years, including Sun Life, as building owners have sought to reposition the property.
Jane Davey, director of asset management and acquisitions for LAZ Investments, which co-owns the building, said Shipman’s decision reinforces confidence in downtown Hartford. She noted that over 80% of the Gold Building’s office space will be occupied once Shipman moves in.
Shipman & Goodwin was represented in the lease deal by CBRE brokers John McCormick, Anna Kocsondy and Jeff Dunne. Turner & Townsend will serve as project manager, while The S/L/A/M Collaborative will design the new office, the firm said.
HBJ Editor Greg Bordonaro contributed to this story.
