Law Firm Set to Relocate After Buying New $10 Million Office Building in Florida

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In a significant move for the legal community in Fort Lauderdale, Conrad & Scherer LLP is set to relocate its offices to a new location south of the New River. This comes after a company affiliate, managed by John J. Scherer, purchased a prime property for $10.2 million.

The deal involved three office buildings located at 604 and 614 S. Federal Highway, plus 608 and 614 S.E. Sixth St. Together, they offer a combined 26,300 square feet of space. The purchase was made by 614 S Federal Highway LLC and 1100 Ponce LLC, with financing provided by Fort Lauderdale-based Locality Bank, which issued a $6.21 million mortgage. The price tag of $388 per square foot reflects the rising value of real estate in the area—the site last sold for just $4.53 million in 2018, meaning it more than doubled in value in just a few years.

The buildings themselves have a bit of history, dating back to the 1950s and 1980s. Despite their age, the properties were described as “turnkey,” meaning they’re ready to go without needing significant renovations—a big plus for Conrad & Scherer. The law firm plans to occupy 10,000 to 12,000 square feet in the southern building, while the remaining space will be leased out to other tenants.

This move has been in the works for quite some time. Back in 2000, the Scherer family sold their previous office building at 633 S. Federal Highway to a Miami-based developer, Oko Group, with the understanding that the site would eventually be redeveloped. As that redevelopment looms closer, relocating became a necessity for the firm.

John Scherer, a partner at Conrad & Scherer and also the president and CEO of Gulf Building, is optimistic about the new location. “We are very bullish on Fort Lauderdale, south of the New River,” he said. “This building was turnkey, which we liked. It’s a really good fit for us.”

While the eastern part of the new site may see redevelopment in the future, Scherer noted that any changes are still a ways off. For now, the focus is on settling into the new office space and continuing to serve their clients from a fresh, strategically located headquarters in the heart of Fort Lauderdale.

It’s a big step for Conrad & Scherer, reflecting both their growth and their confidence in the booming Fort Lauderdale market.