iO Partners achieved client savings by negotiating space reduction without penalties
When the way of working changes, so should the lease
Syneos Health needed to bring their long-term lease commitments in line with a new hybrid working reality - without paying a penalty for the pivot. iO Partners negotiated early exits from two lease agreements, secured a meaningful tenant improvement allowance, and helped redesign the office footprint to fit how the team actually works today.
Locked Into a Lease Built for a Different Era
Like many global organisations, Syneos Health emerged from the pandemic with a fundamentally different view of how and where their people work. The hybrid model was no longer a temporary measure - it was the new operating reality. But their office commitments told a different story: long-term leases, a large fixed footprint, and limited flexibility baked into the contracts.
The challenge was not simply finding less space. It was untangling existing agreements without triggering costly penalties, while simultaneously reshaping the workplace to support a more agile, modern way of working.
Turning Inflexible Contracts Into Strategic Leverage
- Prepared a full market overview of suitable alternatives and initiated the renegotiation process for the existing space
- Conducted multi-round negotiations covering both financial and non-financial terms across all selected options
- Delivered capacity studies and detailed financial comparisons to guide the client's decision-making
- Structured a renegotiation strategy that enabled penalty-free early exits from two separate lease agreements
- Secured a substantial tenant improvement allowance to fund the redesign and footprint reduction
Freedom to Work Differently — Without the Bill
Two lease agreements exited one year early with zero financial penalties
Significant tenant improvement (TI) allowance secured to fund the workspace redesign
Office footprint reduced and reconfigured to match the hybrid working model
Enhanced lease flexibility embedded into the new agreement for long-term adaptability
Measurable cost savings achieved through proactive portfolio optimisation
"iO Partners transforms rigid lease structures into flexible, cost-efficient workplace solutions - aligned with how organisations actually operate today."
Nevena Martinovic • Head of Marketing & Research
If your real estate commitments no longer reflect how your team works, contact iO Partners to explore how a smarter lease strategy can turn flexibility into a competitive advantage.
Head of Marketing & Research
Senior Office Consultant