Page Mill Road, south of Stanford’s campus, has long been a go-to destination for Silicon Valley venture capitalists in search of legal representation. Home to a number of key law firms such as Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Morrison Foerster, Perkins Coie, and others, this is a road that holds great significance in the world of big law. Among these firms, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher had been a longstanding resident, originally opening its Bay Area office on Page Mill Road back in 1979.
However, recent developments point to a shift from this traditional setup. In October, Gibson Dunn translocated to a mixed-use retail/commercial building in downtown Palo Alto. This move marks their transition from an office park environment to a location that is much more central and accessible, situated just down the block from a Starbucks, and within walking distance of Palo Alto’s Caltrain high-speed rail stop.
This relocation signals a potential trend for law firms to favor more urban, walkable environments. It embodies a vision for the post-pandemic law office, where engaged environments are given preference over traditional office parks. Exploring this shift, The Recorder lends further insight into the rationale behind Gibson Dunn’s move and discusses its implications for the broader legal sector in the future.