Colliers International Further Expands Platform with Addition of Clarus Properties in Charlotte Market

-Combination Attracts Two High-Powered Professionals to Sign On-

SEATTLE and CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Colliers International has bolstered the unprecedented growth of its U.S. platform with the addition of one of Charlotte's most highly regarded commercial real estate firms, Clarus Properties Inc. The firm also announced that two of Charlotte's top commercial real estate professionals will join the organization.

As Colliers International, Clarus Properties will transition from being a regional player into a key component of one of the world's leading real estate brands, with 15,000 employees operating out of more than 480 offices in 61 countries and with revenues of nearly $2 billion.  

"We remain committed to our goal that Colliers International becomes the unparalleled market leader in the U.S.," said Dylan Taylor, chief executive officer of Colliers International in the U.S.  "In every recent instance where we've expanded our platform, it has been the most client-centric and culturally aligned firms in those markets that have combined forces with us.  Clarus Properties is only the latest example of how Colliers International continues to attract the best that the industry has to offer."

This latest arrival to the Colliers International platform brings the number of markets added in 2010 to nine.

Greg Copps, SIOR principal and cofounder of Clarus Properties, said: "After serving our clients under the Clarus Properties brand since 2005, we are excited to have joined global industry leader Colliers International.  We're also thrilled to have two of our market's top professionals joining us as we embark upon this new era.

Lawrence Shaw. SIOR, also a principal and cofounder said:  "As part of Colliers we will leverage our ongoing commitment to deliver the highest quality commercial real estate services in the region.  Our clients will continue to rely on our local market expertise and relationships, while benefiting from the national and international growth opportunities and resources of Colliers International." 

The two brokerage professionals who have joined Colliers International's new Charlotte office as partners are Brad Grow and Brent Royall. In addition, Edward "Teddy" Chapman, SIOR has been promoted internally to partner. Grant Miller rounds out the organization's brokerage team.

Brad Grow most recently worked for Cassidy Turley, where he served as a senior vice president/principal in the firm's Charlotte office. While working there, Grow was actively involved in leasing up projects owned by both institutional and regional developers. In 2008, the Charlotte Commercial Board of Realtors selected Grow as the second highest office leasing producer in the Charlotte market. Among the many clients that Grow has assisted are Lennar Homes, UBS, Pizzagalli Properties and Lord Baltimore Properties. Grow holds a SIOR designation.

Prior to entering the commercial real estate industry, Grow served as a Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service, working on both protection-focused and investigative assignments.  

Brent Royall has thirteen years of corporate real estate experience where his primary focus has been on office tenant representation. He most recently served as a Senior Vice President and office tenant broker at Keystone Partners, a Charlotte-based full service commercial real estate firm. Before Keystone, Royall also worked previously as an office tenant broker for both The Staubach Company and Lincoln Harris. Among the many clients that Royall has assisted are Wachovia, Doosan, Cisco Systems, Duke Energy, Koch Industries, and State Farm Automobile Insurance. 

Royall is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He also holds an MBA in Real Estate Finance and Development from The Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Royall also holds designations from both SIOR and CCIM.

As a partner at Colliers International's new Charlotte office, Teddy Chapman, SIOR will continue to specialize in industrial property transactions and assist his clients with a range of services including landlord and tenant representation, lease negotiations, site searches and acquisition/disposition assignments. Chapman has more than 10 years of experience working with industrial properties in multiple markets around the country.

Greg Copps and Lawrence Shaw – whose working relationship spans 17 years – along with Kirsten Patterson established Clarus Properties in 2005. The team has more than 80 years of combined commercial real estate experience representing both tenants and landlords in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Notable clients include Lord Baltimore Properties, Service Express, Arvato Services (formerly BMG Music), Weston, Verus Partners, Ross Stores and Home Depot.

Earlier this year, Colliers International announced that it combined operations and global real estate services platforms with FirstService Real Estate Advisors.  Since then, the organization has embarked on an extensive rebranding effort in which all its local operations have adopted the Colliers International name and branding.  Clarus Properties will do the same.

Colliers International has expanded its platform in eight other markets in addition to Charlotte this year alone, including Raleigh-Durham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Long Island and Nashville.

About Colliers International

Colliers International is the third largest commercial real estate services company in the world with 15,000 professionals operating out of more than 480 offices in 61 countries.  A subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (Nasdaq: FSRV; TSX: FSV and FSV.PR.U), it focuses on accelerating success for its clients by seamlessly providing a full range of services to real estate users, owners and investors worldwide, including global corporate solutions, brokerage, property and asset management, hotel investment sales and consulting, valuation, consulting and appraisal services, mortgage banking and research.  The latest annual survey by the Lipsey Company ranked Colliers International as the second most recognized commercial real estate firm in the world.  

SOURCE Colliers International