How Today’s Law Firms Are Making Tomorrow’s Real Estate Decisions: Survey Says…

How Today’s Law Firms Are Making Tomorrow’s Real Estate Decisions: Survey Says...

Each year, CBRE’s Law Firm Practice Group surveys its global client base to understand how firms are navigating an evolving real estate landscape. The 2026 survey — featuring leaders from Am Law, Global 200, Magic Circle, and boutique firms — highlights how hybrid work, workplace strategy, and technology are shaping today’s decisions.

We’re now more than five years removed from the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, and as a result, the survey findings show that while the hybrid model is stabilizing, firms are starting to push their employees for more in-office presence. While some firms mandate a more robust return to office, the survey shows firms are more likely to encourage in-office presence to strengthen workplace culture. Seventy-seven percent of firms report two or more days of in-office attendance per week, and 70% expect this to remain the status quo. Together, this suggests hybrid work has stabilized, with a clear expectation of consistent in-office engagement.

In an uncertain market, firms are prioritizing upgrades to existing space over relocation. Fifty-three percent of responding firms intend to renovate their existing spaces to accommodate needs instead of relocating to a new space. Moreover, 75% of respondents feel prioritizing their current footprint’s efficiency is a key building selection priority, even more so than access to public transportation and amenities.

Artificial intelligence continues to dominate business conversations, but law firms remain measured in their outlook. While technology and financial firms are the typical business lines impacted by evolving tech, law firms are still cautious of the prospects — 46% of law firm leaders remain unsure about the long-term impacts of AI on the industry, and only 21% believe it will lead to a reduction in headcount. But law firms are embracing technology in other ways. Eighty-three percent of firms are reducing physical file storage to gain square footage for headcount, and 72% of firms are moving toward implementing universal office sizes for lawyers to streamline flexibility.

You can access the survey highlights on the CBRE Global Insights page here: https://www.cbre.com/insights/reports/law-firm-benchmarking-survey-highlights-2026. There, you can sign up to access the full report and participate in future benchmarking surveys.

Law firms around the world trust CBRE to help them make informed real estate decisions, and our global experience can support smarter real estate operations in Columbus and across the country. CBRE combines global data with local market expertise to help firms align their workplace strategy for what’s next. With more than 60 years of experience exclusively representing tenants — never landlords — Dave McKee, Erin Sexton, and I are prepared to provide unbiased expertise to help your firm successfully navigate its next critical real estate decision. In addition, working with us supports the local legal community through our partnership and fee-sharing agreement with the Columbus Bar Association. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help your firm achieve its real estate goals.