Houston-based law firm Gray Reed & McGraw LLP relocates to Uptown Dallas, joining trend of law firms seeking premium office spaces

Dallas, Texas – Reflecting more general patterns in the Dallas office market, Houston-based law firm Gray Reed & McGraw LLP has announced their forthcoming shift from downtown Dallas to the premium Uptown area. The company just signed a lease for almost 50,000 square feet at 1845 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, directly adjacent to the well-known Klyde Warren Park, therefore indicating a change in the legal scene of the city.

Gray Reed intends to move to its new site in early 2026; currently headquartered in the famous 50-story Santander Tower. This movement is considered as a strategic action to fit the expansion of the company and changing needs. Owned by Woodbine Commercial, the 1845 Woodall Rodgers building will give Gray Reed more than two floors, allowing for the company’s growing workforce and activities.

Alexis Martinez, who managed the leasing negotiations on behalf of Woodbine and First United Bank, expressed enthusiasm about the new tenant. “While this deal would be significant in any cycle or season, we are very encouraged to see it during a period of more modest growth for our industry,” he said in a statement as WFAA reported.

First United Bank, together with Woodbine, occupies about 40,000 square feet in the building, which encompasses over 150,000 square feet and houses other notable tenants such as Advancial Credit Union and law firm O’Neil Wysocki. The new owners of the property, who bought it in 2019, have made notable improvements including office space upgrades and lobby makeovers.

Gray Reed’s choice to relocate next to Klyde Warren Park emphasizes the building’s exceptional location at the crossroads of Dallas’s Uptown and downtown. The park itself is five acres of green space that attracts both companies and visitors, therefore enhancing the attraction of the neighborhood.

Representing Gray Reed in the lease discussions, John Beach and Jay Magness of Newmark underlined the company’s forward-looking orientation. Gray Reed’s action is about future orientation; the new area will not only meet present needs but also enable future expansion.

This move fits a larger trend of law firms moving from classic downtown locations to Uptown. Recent changes include Fisher Phillips relocating from Lincoln Plaza into The Crescent and Greenberg Traurig scheduling a 2026 relocation from the Dallas Arts Tower to a new Uptown high-rise.

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As noted in a recent JLL report, despite the slow pace of new building in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, office leases are still signed, mostly by law firms looking for modern facilities in prime locations. The report highlighted that no major office buildings broke ground last quarter—a rare occurrence over the past decade—which might benefit building owners due to reduced competition from new developments.

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Gray Reed, formerly Looper Reed & McGraw, is to begin building its office interior after July 2025. About 150 staff members are expected by the company to be moved to the new Uptown headquarters. Renowned for its comprehensive legal services, Gray Reed has lately handled important cases including representing the chain of restaurants Buca di Beppo in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

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As part of the continuous improvements, the new office will also have top-floor Gray Reed signage; completion is expected early 2026. Dallas managing partner Darrell Armer of the business stressed the strategic aspect of the relocation.

“After an extensive search for the ideal location, 1845 Woodall Rodgers emerged as the clear choice,” Armer said. “The quality of the building and the location are reflective of our firm’s continued growth, commitment to redefining professional services for mid-sized law firms, and provision of exceptional service to our clients.”