Lawyers return downtown taking 44,000 s/f on Wall.

In another positive boost for the Lower Manhattan business district, Cushman & Wakefield announced today law firm Harris Beach PLLC has leased 46,171 square feet at 100 Wall St., the class-A office tower located between Water and Front Streets in the Financial District.

Harris Beach, whose offices were in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center prior to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, plans to relocate from its current Midtown location at 805 Third Ave. in mid-2007. The law firm will move into the entire 23rd and 24th floors, as well as part of the 22nd floor, of 100 Wall St.

Cushman & Wakefield brokerage professionals Josh Kuriloff and Frank Cento are the exclusive leasing agents for 100 Wall St. The two represented the building's owner, an affiliate of Beacon Capital Partners, LLC, in lease negations with Harris Beach. Cushman & Wakefield's Mitch Konsker, Matthew Astrachan and Josh Glick represented Harris Beach.

"Downtown's best buildings will continue to draw tenants from Midtown," said Kuriloff, a Cushman & Wakefield executive vice president. "This most recent lease, which brings building occupancy to 97 percent, speaks to Beacon Capital's vision for 100 Wall St."

An affiliate of Beacon Capital Partners, LLC acquired 100 Wall St. from Reckson Associates in December 2005. Following its acquisition of the building, Beacon Capital named Cushman & Wakefield exclusive leasing and managing agent. Since the commencement of the leasing campaign in January, Kuriloff and Cento have represented Beacon Capital in the leasing of approximately 100,000 s/f.

"Harris Beach was eager to return to Lower Manhattan," said Konsker an executive vice president at Cushman & Wakefield. "With rebuilding efforts underway and the opportunity to lease space in a class-A tower the timing was right for the firm to make its move."

"This is a poignant moment for our firm," said James A. Spitz, Jr., CEO of Harris Beach. "Next year we will return to a Downtown that is quite different from the one we knew five years ago. There are exciting times ahead for Lower Manhattan, and we are proud to be a part of its new beginning."

In addition to Harris Beach, insurance firm Bollinger Inc., the Council of State Governments, trading-technology company NYFIX, financial services firm IDEAglobal, consulting firm Computer Merchant and Japan Telecom America have all recently committed to space in the 29-story high-rise.

The building is now 97 percent leased, with availabilities remaining on the sixth and seventh floors.

Built in 1968, 100 Wall St. was designed by architects Emery Roth & Sons. A major renovation of the building was completed in 1994, which included a new lobby, elevator cabs and controls, and upgraded electrical systems, HVAC and security systems.