The firm joins Spotify as a tenant at a nearby Arts District office campus
By Greg Cornfield March 27, 2026 5:50 pm
reprintsGlobal law firm Goodwin announced it will move from its Los Angeles office in a 52-story tower downtown to the nearby Arts District about two miles away, which is almost exclusively defined by low-rise or industrial-style developments.
The law firm will relocate from its current 30,400 square feet of space on the 41st and 42nd floors at Uncommon Developers’ 601 South Figueroa Street, where it has been for almost 20 years, to about 29,000 square feet on the second-floor office campus at 555 Mateo Street, known as At Mateo. More than 75 lawyers will eventually use the office campus, which also counts Spotify as a tenant and which ASB Real Estate Investments owns.
A representative for Goodwin declined to disclose terms of the lease.
“Our move to At Mateo reflects our long-term commitment to Los Angeles and our broader strategy to be deeply immersed in the industries we serve,” David Pendergast, chair of Goodwin’s Los Angeles office and a partner at the firm, said in a statement. “Southern California has become a powerful innovation corridor spanning Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Orange County and San Diego. From aerospace, space and defense to life sciences, SaaS and consumer products, this region is driving transformative growth.”
The Arts District has seen steady redevelopment the past decade and a half, and it has become an affordable alternative for growing businesses compared to Silicon Beach or markets on L.A.’s Westside.
“Our expanded presence positions us alongside the founders, investors and companies leading that momentum and allows us to deliver strategic, industry-focused counsel at every stage of their development,” Pendergast added.
Pete Collins and Mike Condon with Cushman & Wakefield represented ASB Real Estate on the new lease. Mike Catalano and Steve Barker at Savills represented Goodwin.
Law firms remain perhaps the most important driver of activity for office space. U.S. law firms accounted for more than 10 percent of total office leasing across the country last year, and the trend is continuing this year in Southern California.
For one, Goodwin announced earlier this month that it’s also opening a new office in Newport Beach, and will open a San Diego office this summer. Also, law firm Wilson Elser signed a nearly 25,000-square-foot lease at Silverstein’s U.S. Bank Tower in Downtown L.A., and Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani signed a roughly 26,000-square-foot relocation deal for the 42-story 1 Cal Plaza nearby.
Gregory Cornfield can be reached at gcornfield@commercialobserver.com.
Facts Only
Goodwin Law Firm is moving from its Los Angeles office at 601 South Figueroa Street to 555 Mateo Street in the Arts District.
The firm has occupied 30,400 square feet on the 41st and 42nd floors of the downtown tower for nearly 20 years.
The new location at At Mateo will provide about 29,000 square feet on the second floor.
Spotify is also a tenant at the At Mateo office campus, which is owned by ASB Real Estate Investments.
Over 75 lawyers will use the new office space.
The move was announced on March 27, 2026.
Goodwin is also opening new offices in Newport Beach and San Diego.
Wilson Elser signed a 25,000-square-foot lease at U.S. Bank Tower in downtown L.A.
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani signed a 26,000-square-foot lease at 1 Cal Plaza.
Cushman & Wakefield represented ASB Real Estate, while Savills represented Goodwin in the lease negotiation.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative highlights Goodwin’s strategic alignment with Southern California’s innovation economy, positioning the firm as a forward-thinking player in high-growth sectors. The move to the Arts District underscores a broader trend of businesses seeking affordable, dynamic spaces outside traditional downtown hubs. However, the narrative leans heavily on the firm’s self-described commitment to "industry-focused counsel," which could be interpreted as a marketing strategy rather than a substantive shift in legal practice. The emphasis on law firms driving office leasing activity might also reflect a broader real estate industry push to frame legal tenants as stabilizers in a volatile market.
Patterns detected: ARC-0024 Ambiguity (vague claims about "transformative growth" without specific metrics), ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey (firm’s "commitment" could be either strategic or performative, depending on interpretation).
Root cause: The narrative assumes that physical proximity to innovation hubs directly enhances legal service quality—a claim that lacks empirical support. It also echoes the post-pandemic real estate playbook, where firms justify relocations as "strategic" rather than cost-driven.
Implications: For human agency, this move could benefit Goodwin’s lawyers by placing them closer to clients in creative industries, but it may also signal a broader shift in urban office dynamics, where prestige addresses matter less than functional, collaborative spaces. The cost-benefit analysis remains unclear: who truly gains—lawyers, clients, or landlords?
Bridge questions: How does Goodwin’s relocation compare to other firms’ moves in terms of long-term ROI? What evidence exists that the Arts District fosters better legal outcomes than downtown? Would this narrative change if the firm’s client base weren’t concentrated in tech and life sciences?
Counterstrike scan: A coordinated influence campaign would frame this as a "revitalization" story, downplaying cost pressures and overhyping the Arts District’s appeal. The actual content aligns with this pattern but stops short of outright manipulation—it’s a standard corporate relocation narrative with mild promotional framing.