R. Alan Higbee, Managing Partner of Shutts & Bowen LLP’s Tampa office, was quoted in the Business Observer’s recent coverage of evolving office space within the legal industry, commenting on the importance of flexibility and the proactive measures taken by the firm’s Tampa office to fully optimize their own real estate.

The article, titled “Law firms grapple with rapid changes in office environments,” features commentary from Alan and other leaders of Tampa Bay’s prominent law firms on the pandemic’s effect on office space, the evolution of such real estate over the years and ongoing cost assessments. The professionals note that while pandemic related challenges such as mentoring and building camaraderie within the office remain, the overall trend of law offices evolving to use less space more efficiently continues. “I think the key is going to be nimble and flexible and be able to roll with whatever comes at you,” said Alan.

At the Shutts Tampa office, maintaining a flexible mindset and planning for such workspace efficiencies began well before the pandemic, allowing for the recent completion of an innovative office renovation project. The project included a collaborative workspace with reconfigurable indoor space as well as a large outdoor terrace designed amid several towering oak trees, which has proved highly functional and enormously beneficial during the pandemic. “Because it’s so large and outdoors and private, event clients are enjoying it,” said Alan. “They love it because it’s outside.”

To read the article, click here.

About R. Alan Higbee

R. Alan Higbee is the Managing Partner of the Tampa office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Corporate Practice Group. Alan represents public and private domestic and international companies and entrepreneurs in all facets of general business, corporate and securities matters, including public and private equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, business contracts, business transactions, joint ventures, corporate governance, and franchise matters.  He has significant experience in the restaurant and hospitality, auto dealership, defense, homeland security, fertilizer, agricultural products, chemicals, metals, mining and manufacturing industries.