NEW YORK CITY—James Nelson is leaving his position as vice chair at Cushman & Wakefield to become the principal and head of New York Metro Area Investment Sales at Avison Young on Feb. 5, 2018. He will be based in the firm's New York City office.

Nelson led an investment sales team at Cushman & Wakefield that brokered more than $1 billion worth of deals in the past two years alone, and brings 20 years of commercial real estate experience.

“We are underscoring our commitment to building a team of top players in this market. He is the ideal choice to oversee our investment sales platform and expand our capital markets footprint throughout the New York City area,” says Mitti Liebersohn, principal and president of Avison Young's New York City office. “We are confident that his exceptional abilities will continue the already substantial growth trajectory of our investment sales service line and will also boost the recruitment of new talent as we expand our team of industry-leading producers.”

While managing the day-to-day operations of the New York metro area investment sales practice, Nelson will work closely with Liebersohn and Arthur Mirante, Avison Young principal and president of the firm's tri-state region.

In 2016, Nelson was Cushman & Wakefield's top investment sales producer in the US. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, he was a partner and top producer for Massey Knakal for six of the organization's last eight years and was named the company's youngest partner in 2004. While at Massey Knakal, he was involved in the sale of approximately 400 properties and loans with an aggregate value of more than $3.8 billion.

Cushman & Wakefield acquired Massey Knakal for $100 million, in 2014.

The Commercial Observer reported that Nelson's decision came soon after he and the other former partners at Massey Knakal received the remaining $25 million from the Cushman & Wakefield acquisition.

“I am grateful to Cushman & Wakefield and hold the firm in the highest regard. I am especially thankful to Paul Massey and Bob Knakal for all they have done throughout my career. I look forward to this next great opportunity that lies ahead,” states Nelson.

A Cushman & Wakefield spokesperson provided the following comment to GlobeSt.com: “James Nelson has decided to leave Cushman & Wakefield to pursue other opportunities. We appreciate his contributions to the firm and wish him success in his future endeavors.”

Nelson currently sits as chair of the Real Estate Board of New York commercial board of directors and is a panelist and instructor for the organization. He also co-founded The Colgate Real Estate Council and Real Estate Services Alliance. In addition, Nelson has been a guest lecturer and adjunct professor in New York University's Schack Institute of Real Estate.

He produces the Nelson Report, a Real Estate Weekly video series featuring trends in the market and timely topics and he writes a regular column for GlobeSt.com.

He has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including being named one of New York's Top Brokers by Real Estate Forum, one of the Top 35 and Under New York City Real Estate Players by The Real Deal, and the No. 1 New York City Deal Maker by LoopNet, an online commercial real estate publication.

In the community, Nelson founded Rising Realty Stars, which secures job opportunities for disadvantaged youth. His other volunteer activities include being a past board member of the Catalog For Giving. Nelson is a licensed New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts real estate broker and has a salesperson's license in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Colgate University.

Instant Insights /

James Nelson Leaves Cushman & Wakefield to Join Avison Young

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