Beyond Closed Doors

As a designer, what about law firms can be challenging but exciting to work on? 

The main challenge is that traditional law firms require a lot of closed offices, while modern office buildings aren’t always designed for that. Partitions can’t be added freely, so we often have to find a compromise: fewer individual offices, but open spaces that integrate built-in confidentiality solutions. That means adding focus rooms, phone booths, screen walls, or tall storage units that help create micro-cocoons in an open space, anchoring people in their space and reinforcing confidentiality.  

It becomes a kind of creative puzzle, and solving it with thoughtful, well-crafted design is something I really enjoy. It’s also a chance to support law firms as they transition toward more modern ways of working, and to show that open spaces and flexible office models can work perfectly well in a legal environment. 

What makes law firms design in terms of confidentiality unique compared to other industries?

Confidentiality in law firms is very different from what we see in other sectors. In finance, for example, teams often work in large open spaces, with confidentiality and security designed mainly to protect information from external access. 

However, in law firms, confidentiality must be managed internally as well: between lawyers, between teams, and sometimes even between two lawyers from the same firm who might represent opposing parties. The density of the teams and their physical proximity make this internal confidentiality much more complex.  

Have you noticed a shift in how law firms prioritize their office spaces over the past few years? 

Yes, mentalities are clearly evolving. In the past, having your own individual office was something prestigious, almost a rite of passage in the profession. Today, in some regions like France or Italy, firms are opening more to collaborative spaces.  

This shift is partly driven by real estate pressures: scarcity of space, rising rents, and the need to optimize every square meter. 

While most firms are increasingly aware of broader workplace trends, a fully open-plan layout remains unrealistic for them due to confidentiality requirements. They still rely heavily on physical documents and handle sensitive calls frequently. 

As a result, we’re seeing more of a balance: closed offices for experienced lawyers and partners, paired with structured open areas for assistants, juniors, and interns, who are typically grouped together in dedicated zones. 

Can you share an example of a project where you had to creatively solve a security or privacy challenge?

For an international law firm moving into their new Parisian HQ  (in a Haussmannian historical building), we discovered through the technical plans that it was impossible to add the partitions we had initially envisioned because the building was equipped with radiant ceilings. That meant we couldn’t create the closed offices the client wanted, so we had to completely rethink the layout.  

We reorganized the open zones into smaller micro-spaces, using tall cupboards as physical separators, and integrating elements like screens, bookshelves, and focus rooms to introduce layers of privacy. We also multiplied acoustic solutions to compensate for the lack of full-height walls.  

The idea was really to recreate the atmosphere and functionality of a closed office, even though we couldn’t technically build one, and still maintain the level of confidentiality required in a law firm. 

In your view, how does design influence trust between a law firm and its clients?

Design plays a major role in how diligence and confidentiality are perceived in a law firm. The reception area is essential because it serves as the first point of contact with the client; it immediately conveys the firm’s identity, the quality of their service, and the level of professionalism clients can expect.  

Often, the entire client area is designed to be isolated from staff zones, and their pathway should be fluid and kept as separate as possible from the internal life of the firm. Clients may briefly cross paths with collaborators in a shared reception, but they should never feel like they are entering operational areas. 

Meeting rooms must be impeccable in terms of acoustics, equipment, and discretion, and treated as real hospitality spaces: coffee, refreshments, everything required for comfort. In general, the materials in the client zone are more refined as well, with high-end finishes, natural light, and quality furniture so that clients feel both privileged and protected.  

Ultimately, the goal is for clients to feel they are treated with special attention and that sharing sensitive information within these spaces is completely secure. Design plays a direct role in creating that sense of trust.