New Brokerage Offices Debut in Region

Wasserman, whose firm is called Wasserman Commercial Real Estate, recently left Studley's West Los Angeles office, where he advised entertainment, law and health care tenants. At his new firm, he is advising several clients on considerations totaling approximately 200,000 square feet. He began his career representing landlords and tenants at Lee & Associates.

Wasserman says that too many tenants today "are burdened with occupancy costs that exceed current market rates." He is advising companies to "take another look at their real estate strategies and leverage the market to their benefit."

The new Sperry Van Ness office, which has relocated from a previous address in Woodland Hills, includes six advisers from the Woodland Hills office and has already closed several significant transactions. The six from the Woodland Hills office include Jeff Albee, Jeff Gould, Chris Itule, Chris Kim, and Blake Lichtig--a group that is know as the Corridor Investment Group and specializes in sales, leasing and real estate consulting in the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County markets.

Grace Bartsch, a senior adviser specializing in multifamily, development and leasing, will also continue working with the company at its new location. In addition to these veterans, the company recently recruited Nurit Petri to join the Calabasas team.

Albee and Gould recently closed two owner/user transactions in the West San Fernando Valley totaling close to $10 million. They sold a 37,000-square-foot office building at 26010 Mureau Rd. in Calabasas and an 11,500-square-foot office building at 9040 Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Canoga Park. In addition, Bartsch just closed an office building lease in Beverly Hills.

David Rich, managing director of Sperry Van Ness Real Estate Services Inc., calls the relocation of the San Fernando Valley office "a positive indicator of growth." He points out that the San Fernando Valley is a strategically important market where the firm historically has had great success.