Law firms are 'still, by far, the most traditional of all' groups, says Scott E Spector of the Spector Group in the Commercial Observer. They tend to take up 300-plus rentable square feet per person "and even way above in some instances", according to Mr Spector. This is twice what social media and technology firms use. Hedge funds use only two thirds of the space of lawyers, although they are 'rapidly trending smaller', thanks largely to technology. The private equity sector gets only three quarters of the space usage of lawyers. 

Senior partners require more space

Talking of lawyers, Mr Spector says: 'Though some legal clients are planning open areas, there is often a major push-back among senior partnership who desire the larger conference spaces and workstations that are synonymous with law firms and feel they are essential to recruitment and retention.'