Distinguished commercial real estate executive Melissa Copley is bringing 26 years of experience in representing top law firms and corporations to Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) as vice chairman of tenant representation. Her corporate services background combined with her expertise in negotiating large, complex transactions strengthens NGKF’s already robust Chicago office and will further enhance the firm’s extensive client services capabilities.
“Melissa is a highly skilled business advisor and lead negotiator who develops unique strategies to define and exceed her clients’ financial and occupancy objectives,” said Michael Sheinkop, executive vice president and regional managing director in NGKF’s Chicago office. “Her expertise locally will naturally benefit our national pursuits as NGKF continues to land more marquee multi-market accounts.”
Formerly a managing partner of Mohr Partners’ Chicago office and leader of its law firm practice, Ms. Copley most recently represented Seyfarth Shaw LLP, an Am Law 100 firm, in its leasing of 200,000 square feet at the iconic Willis Tower. Prior to Mohr, Ms. Copley successfully founded her own firm, Copley Advisors, which completed multiple lease and sublease transactions, including a 125,000-square-foot downtown Chicago headquarters relocation for GATX Corporation. She began her commercial real estate career in 1988 with LaSalle Partners, now JLL, where she became chairman of its law firm practice, an international director and leader of the firm’s largest tenant representation team during her 17 years there.
“The significant consolidation that is occurring within the real estate services industry is driven by the need for increasingly sophisticated, multi-disciplined teams and technology to advise a client across its business and real estate portfolio,” said Mr. Sheinkop. “NGKF is having unrivaled success attracting many of the industry’s best CRE specialists, like Melissa, who will use the bandwidth of our entire platform to set us apart in a progressively more competitive field.”
