Browne Jacobson moves into new Cardiff office at One Central Square

Browne Jacobson has cemented its position as a prominent pillar in the Welsh business community by moving into a new, larger Cardiff city centre office. 

The UK and Ireland law firm has signed a 10-year lease for 9,500 sq ft of space on the fourth floor at One Central Square, a 10-storey building located between Cardiff Central railway station and the Principality Stadium in the city’s premier business location, having previously been based in a temporary office at St Andrew’s Crescent.

This move represents another milestone in the firm’s continued growth trajectory, having reported a record £137m annual equivalent turnover in 2024/25 – a 16% increase from the previous year. 

Fast growth for Browne Jacobson’s Cardiff team

Its expansion in the Welsh legal market has been among the key drivers. Having launched a seventh office at 36 Park Place in July 2023 with a team of seven, the Cardiff team now comprises 40 people, including seven partners and three legal directors delivering Browne Jacobson’s full spectrum of legal services. 

The space at One Central Square, which is constructed to BREEAM Excellent energy efficiency, can accommodate more than 120 people, signalling future growth intentions. It is equipped with eight meeting rooms and a fully-serviced client suite and boardroom with events capacity for up to 50 people. 

Two new front of house jobs have been created and the firm is committed to working with local suppliers. 

Tim Edds, Partner and Head of Cardiff, co-founded the Cardiff office. He said: “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.

“When we opened our first Cardiff office in 2023 following 20 years of working with the Welsh public sector, we were excited about the possibilities that existed here for deepening our relationship with existing clients while expanding our offer to new sectors. We now have a client roster of market-leading Welsh businesses and organisations, fast-growth tech companies, private equity and venture capital investors, and high-net-worth entrepreneurs. 

“The incredible growth in clients and headcount we’ve experienced since then meant we have outgrown two offices, prompting our search for a permanent location that will accommodate our long-term ambitions while providing a space to host our clients and events.  

“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 projects in Cardiff 

Browne Jacobson’s Cardiff office now covers all its departments and sectors. Its service lines include public, planning and environmental law; health advisory litigation; corporate transactions; education; real estate; social housing; construction; insurance; and regulatory matters. 

It is also aligned with key Welsh economic drivers, with specialists in technology, energy, green infrastructure, health, education, aerospace and devolution.

Key Cardiff appointments have included corporate partners Tom Saunderson, Phil Pugh and Christian Farrow; real estate partner Rich MacPhail; education legal director Trish D’Souza, who is President of the Cardiff & District Law Society; and most recently Kate Howell as a legal director in the construction team.

Landmark projects the team has advised on include the Celtic Freeport; Morlais, Europe’s largest consented tidal energy scheme off the coast of Anglesey; and Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, the renewable energy development company for Wales.

Browne Jacobson, which was last year reappointed to the Welsh Government Commercial Division legal services panel, has also advised the Welsh Government on the Covid-19 Inquiry and on reforming Welsh primary healthcare. 

Supporting the Cardiff business community

The Welsh Government has also hosted students participating in the firm’s award-winning FAIRE (Fairer Access into Real Experience) social mobility programme, run four times out of the Cardiff office in the past 12 months, with a day spent at the Senedd. 

The firm has been a keen supporter of the local business community via attendance and sponsorship of various events across Wales. It has partnered with nationally-recognised organisations such as Team Wales, Chambers Wales and the CBI, while backing the Law Society Wales campaign to introduce level 7 legal apprenticeships.

On 5 March, the firm will sponsor the inaugural St David’s Day Dinner for businesses to mark the national celebration 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 featured in The Lawyer Hot 100 2025 listing of UK lawyers at the top of their game. 

She said: “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, which we believe can make a substantial difference to the perception of the legal profession and professional services among Welsh young people. 

“We know that Welsh people love living in Wales surrounded by their family and communities. 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.”