On Tuesday, August 26, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz greeted employees of international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges on the Brooklyn Bridge for a ceremonial walk into Brooklyn.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges has officially settled into its new Brooklyn office, occupying 35,000 square feet at 15 MetroTech, the newest building within the MetroTech Commons. The office houses several of the firm’s key staff groups, including employees in Information Systems, Finance, and Operations.

“Weil Gotshal has made this move to help us meet the challenge of planning for future growth by realizing new real estate efficiencies,” said Stephen Dannhauser, Chairman of Weil Gotshal. “MetroTech is an ideal location because it provides an inviting, productive working environment, great amenities and convenient commuting. At the same time, this choice reinforces our deep belief in the future of New York City.”

“Brooklyn is proud to add Weil Gotshal to the impressive roster of home-grown and international businesses that have chosen to headquarter in, or expand into, our borough,” said BP Markowitz. “This esteemed global law firm’s expansion to MetroTech helps diversify Brooklyn’s economic base and will, of course, only enhance Downtown Brooklyn’s growing reputation as the epicenter of New York City’s legal community.”

“Downtown Brooklyn offers us a distinctive mix of corporations, universities, retail shops, restaurants and cultural venues,” said Philip Rosen, co-head of Weil’s national real estate practice. “The MetroTech development is an ideal venue for our vital nerve center functions, such as the firm’s backup power source. More Manhattan-based businesses will soon realize what a desirable environment this is.”

“With nearly $10 billion in new investment in dozens of projects now underway, Downtown Brooklyn continues to grow as New York City’s third largest central business district,” said Robert Catell, Co-Chairman, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of National Grid. “Attracting a blue chip law firm to the mix of tenants here sends a strong signal that Brooklyn’s economy is strong.”

MetroTech Center spans ten blocks of Downtown Brooklyn between Flatbush Avenue and Jay Street and is located near many of the borough’s cultural institutions, including Brooklyn’s major commercial and civic center. Weil, Gotshal & Manges took space from WellPoint Inc. in a long-term sublease arranged by Glenn Markman and John Cefaly of Cushman & Wakefield, who represented Wellpoint, and Kirk A. Killian of Partners National, who represented Weil Gotshal.

“Downtown Brooklyn’s combination of demographics and economics has created the ultimate work environment,” said Glenn Markman, an executive director at Cushman & Wakefield. “Brooklyn has become a must-see, logical alternative to Manhattan for any company considering new office space thanks to the efforts of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.”

As a new occupant at MetroTech, Weil Gotshal joins a roster of first-class office tenants in Downtown Brooklyn, including AIG, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, National Grid (formerly Keyspan Energy), WellPoint, the New York City Fire Department Headquarters, Polytechnic University, New York Life, HSBC, Bank of New York and, soon, New York University’s College of Engineering. Nearby are several other emerging commercial and residential ventures including Pierrepont Plaza, the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, and Renaissance Plaza.