Matt Chapdelaine was hired as a senior advisor and will head thenew team, Maesel says. Chapdelaine, advisor Abe Salander andassociate advisor Nate Glaisner were brought over from Marcus &Millichap. Representatives from Marcus and Millichap declined tocomment on their departure. Kevin Baran, who was formerly withAlliance Realty, has also been hired as an advisor for officeinvestment sales.

Sperry Van Ness Chicago formed late last year, Maesel says. Thegroup's focus is on private equity transactions between $1 millionand $10 million. Multifamily property specialists Fisher/Sears andAssociates Inc., which had been based here, merged last month intoSperry Van Ness Chicago, as previously reported by GlobeSt.com.Maesel had previously formed the commercial division for Sussex& Reilly Residential and bought the commercial division, calledSR Commercial. Maesel was then approached by SVN about SRCommercial becoming a local Chicago office. Earlier this year, theChicago office of Sperry Van Ness hired Wayne Caplan as thedirector of investment and development services, as previouslyreported by GlobeSt.com. The office now has approximately 30 to 35employees, Maesel says.

SVN Chicago is currently in discussions to hire five brokers whospecialize in the industrial and land sector, Maesel tellsGlobeSt.com. The group also plans on opening a North Shore officeby the end of the year with a goal of having eight to 10 employeesin the North Shore office by the middle of 2009, he tellsGlobeSt.com.