Clarence or Servcorp: which suits a law practice?
Servcorp is a good operator. Founded in Sydney in 1978, listed on the ASX since 1999, and running 137 floors across 38 cities and 19 countries. If you want a global network and a Barangaroo address, they are the better answer. Clarence does one thing: workspace built by lawyers, for lawyers, in three Australian cities.
This page sets out the differences that are actually published, so you can check them yourself.
What is Servcorp?
An Australian success story, and worth saying plainly. Alf Moufarrige started it in 1978 by dividing up a corner office in the MLC Centre with a piece of chalk. He is still chief executive. The company listed on the ASX in 1999 and reported revenue of $367.5 million for the year ended 30 June 2026.
In Australia it runs 23 locations across seven cities: 11 in Sydney, four in Melbourne, two in Brisbane, and the rest in Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart.
Their buildings are genuinely premium, their global roaming network is real, and their IT is in-house. On those things they are strong and we are not pretending to compete.
Where do the two differ?
| Clarence | Servcorp | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Lawyers | “Entrepreneurs, startups, SME’s and large enterprises” |
| Locations | 6, across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane | 23 in Australia, 137 floors across 19 countries |
| Office pricing | Published on this site | Not published, enquiry form only |
| Meeting rooms | From $45 an hour, booked by the hour | Pay per use. “We do not provide free meeting space” |
| Court filing | Done by reception, at member rates | Not verified |
| CPD | Included with membership | Not verified |
| Legal support | Clarence Legal Services, on-site paralegals in all three cities | Not verified |
Every Servcorp entry in that table is from their own website or their ASX filings, accessed 28 August 2026.
Does Servcorp publish its office pricing?
No. Serviced office pricing is not published anywhere on their site. Every route to a price ends with a person, by enquiry form or by phone.
They do publish virtual office and meeting room rates. Their virtual office address packages start at $123.20 a month in Sydney, $131.20 in Brisbane and $139.20 in Melbourne, on a 12-month discounted rate their own page describes as “for new clients only”.
Their meeting rooms run from $78 to $132 an hour depending on the building, and their published rate card carries this line:
“A $84.00 booking fee will apply to all non-Servcorp clients.”
Servcorp published meeting room rate card, accessed 28 August 2026
We publish office pricing by building, because a lawyer working out whether to leave a firm needs a number, not a callback.
Serviced office costs in Sydney →
Serviced office costs in Melbourne →Serviced office costs in Brisbane →See Clarence pricing →See private offices →
What is included, and what is extra?
This is the biggest practical difference and it is worth being precise about.
At Servcorp, meeting rooms are pay-per-use. Their FAQ says “All optional services such as Meeting Rooms are pay-per-use, so you don’t pay for a service you never use”, and elsewhere, “We do not provide free meeting space”.
Coworking members receive a monthly voucher allowance instead, $50 for a hot desk and $125 for a dedicated desk, which must be used in the month of issue. Calls made from a coworking seat are charged separately. Printing, scanning and guest passes are extra.
That is a defensible model. It suits a business that rarely has visitors.
It suits a law practice less well, because a law practice has visitors constantly, and because filing, printing and phone answering are not optional extras in a legal week. They are the week.
“Court filing when I need it, a letter typed, my calls answered professionally. I don’t have to employ anyone, I get all the help I need.”
Does Servcorp cater for lawyers?
They have a page for lawyers, and it is worth reading before you decide what it means.
It claims VLAN segmentation, custom Wi-Fi and firewall security, encrypted fax and calling technology, and proximity to courts. Those are real things.
It is also one of six parallel sector pages. Startups and Consultants get the same treatment. It uses “attorneys” and “depositions”, which are American terms. One of its own section headings reads “Serviced Offices, Coworking Spaces & Virtual Offices for Startups”. Its list of locations contradicts itself four times on a single page and omits two sites that are live elsewhere on their own website.
So: segment marketing, rather than a business built around the segment. Lawyer-specific services, legal-sector staffing and professional-body relationships have not been verified for this comparison.
The difference shows up in small things. Reception that knows a filing deadline matters more than a meeting invitation. Someone who will take documents to the court because they know which counter. A floor where the person two doors down can witness an affidavit.
Which should you choose?
Choose Servcorp if you want a global footprint, roaming access across their international network, a trophy address in a premium tower, or you operate across several countries.
Choose Clarence if you are running or starting a legal practice in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, and you want the things a legal practice actually uses: reception trained in legal etiquette, court filing done for you at member rates, CPD included, paralegal support through Clarence Legal Services, and 600+ independent practices across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Neither is the right answer for everybody.
If a global network is what you need, we would rather you knew that now than after you moved.
All Servcorp information from servcorp.com.au and Servcorp ASX filings, accessed 28 August 2026. Their published details may change. Check their site for current terms.
Jurisdiction and legal sources
This page provides general information, not legal advice. It does not consider your circumstances. Check the current law and obtain advice from a qualified professional before making decisions about your rights or practice.
A workspace arrangement does not itself establish that a law practice complies with its professional obligations. Practising certificates, insurance, trust money, confidentiality and supervision must be checked separately for your jurisdiction.
NSW and Victoria
Queensland
Sources checked 11 September 2026. Laws, regulator requirements and commercial terms can change. The links above are selected sources for this page, not an exhaustive compliance checklist.