Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C., in conjunction with HPI and Stream Realty Partners, recently signed a new, 15-year office lease for its Dallas headquarters in Ross Tower at 500 N. Akard St. Located in the Dallas Arts District, Ross Tower is a 45-story, 1.1-million-square-foot, Class-A office building that has undergone a $20 million capital improvement project and features world-class amenities.
The commercial law firm, founded by Rick Kopf and Steve Harr, as well as the late Russ Munsch, signed its first lease with the office property in 2005, occupying floors 36, 38 and 39. Under its new lease, the firm will relocate to three consecutive floors, 40, 41 and 42.
Today, Munsch Hardt has 176 employees in Dallas, 50 percent more than when first committing to Ross Tower. Since current CEO Phil Appenzeller took over the reins, the firm has been focused on growth, adding notable litigation, corporate, and real estate attorneys over the past 10 years and earning record profits in 2021.
“As a firm which was founded in Dallas in 1985, the extension of Munsch Hardt’s lease underscores our long-standing commitment to this community,” said Appenzeller. “By offering top-quality offices at the intersection of Uptown and Downtown Dallas, we will continue to attract top-tier talent and serve our clients for many years to come.”
Stream Managing Directors Craig Wilson and Dan Harris, Vice Chairman Randy Cooper, and Executive Vice President and Partner Tim Terrell represented Munsch Hardt in the renewal. Stream is a national real estate services, development and investment firm headquartered in Dallas. Global architecture and design firm Gensler, which originally designed the firm’s current Dallas office—as well as the firm’s 2022 office space in Houston, Texas—is working on efficient architectural plans to allow Munsch Hardt continued growth. Pacific Builders has been retained as the general contractor on the project, with a projected move-in date of fall 2023.
“Our partnership is elated Munsch Hardt has chosen to renew its lease and recommit to Ross Tower on a long-term basis,” said Hunter Lee, Dallas Partner of HPI, the owner of Ross Tower. “The firm’s tenancy is a cornerstone of the list of fantastic tenants which make up our building, and we are proud to continue to serve them.”
“Munsch Hardt is one of the most preeminent law firms in Texas,” Wilson said. “Being able to assist them in creating their new corporate offices was a real honor for the Stream team. Starting this process in summer 2020 in the height of the pandemic required a lot of patience and creativity on all sides to ultimately develop what will be a very big win/win for both Munsch Hardt and Ross Tower.”