Jeffrey Zell founded JM Zell Partners, Ltd in 1989, with a unique vision for
providing client-centered real estate consulting. Developed over his 30-year
career, Jeffrey’s innovative approach to delivering practical solutions while
fostering meaningful client relationships forms the core of JM Zell’s
value-added process.
Jeffrey believes that only by partnering with clients
and truly understanding their business as well as their real estate needs can
JM Zell provide long range, comprehensive, unbiased advice. By evaluating
factors including a client’s long-term needs, financial objectives, and
corporate culture, JM Zell is able to provide customized, proactive and fiscally
responsible solutions for major corporations, institutional investors,
professional firms, government institutions and not-for-profit organizations.
To fully realize his vision, Jeffrey attracted a diverse, multi-disciplinary
staff of seasoned professionals who share in his philosophy – and in the
profits of the company, based on client satisfaction and results. This
collective approach ensures that everyone at JM Zell works for the common good,
and that our client’s best interests are never compromised.
Jeff has provided strategic planning, investment, lease negotiation, development
consulting and project management services for award-winning projects for more
than 20 years. Jeff’s greatest strengths are his creative strategic thinking,
business acumen, transactional ability, marketing savvy and financial
expertise. A graduate of Syracuse University, Jeff is a licensed real estate
broker in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Additionally, he is
a member of the distinguished Counselors of Real Estate.
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Marc A. Sobel
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
msobel@jmzell.com
202.682.8735
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Marc Sobel is a founding partner of JM Zell as well as its general
counsel. His more than twenty-five years of real estate experience began as an
attorney with the law firm of Simpson Thacher Bartlett in New York and Sidley &
Austin in Washington, DC.
Since forming JM Zell in 1989, he has provided legal consulting and
strategic planning for a wide-range of clients. He advises on matters of
construction; ownership and structuring of real estate interests and
transactions; real estate financing; and negotiation of leases and purchase,
construction and architectural contracts.
He has honed his practical knowledge of construction as project manager for
significant commercial building projects in a number of geographic areas
including Washington, New York and Los Angeles. His legal background and
hands-on knowledge of real estate issues makes Marc invaluable to our clients.
Marc’s strengths include his creative legal problem solving, real estate law
expertise and project management skills.
Marc earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center following
completion of a MSc at the London School of Economics and undergraduate studies
at Georgetown University.
Scott Kaufmann is a founding partner of JM Zell Partners. He has an
exceptional knowledge of development, financing, business, planning, operations
and project management. With more than 20 years in the industry, Scott has
earned a reputation for developing and implementing practical real estate
strategies that support and enhance the client’s organizational, business,
operational and financial goals. His strengths also include evaluating
situations, analyzing approaches and options, devising creative solutions to
complex problems and presenting alternative strategies in a manner that
facilitates informed decision-making at every level.
In recent years, Scott has been responsible for all aspects of planning,
development, operations planning, construction oversight and commissioning of
nearly a million square feet of owner occupied and commercial property in the
Washington area. His experience extends to master planning for large mixed-use
developments and specialized uses for not-for profit organizations, museums and
cultural institutions.
He has successfully overseen all aspects and phases of a project from the
initial meeting with the client, planning and budgeting to working with the
architects, engineers, designers and contractors. He has also been very
effective in working with local governmental jurisdictions in the filing and
processing of building permits, zoning variances, code interpretation and
dispute resolution.
A graduate of The George Washington University with a degree in finance,
Scott’s strengths are his construction and development expertise, superb project
management skills, creative problem solving ability and financial aptitude.
Scott is a licensed real estate sales person in the District of Columbia,
Virginia and Maryland.
Scott was named a Counselor of Real Estate in 2006 and is also a member of
Urban Land Institute and the American Association of Museums.
Aida Downing is a founding partner of JM Zell, bringing over 25 years of
analytical skills and creative insight in the areas of strategic planning,
operations planning, marketing and project management. Of particular note is
her role in needs analysis for facilities, master planning and renovation or
redevelopment projects.
Her extensive background in marketing and communications gives her particular
insight into how an organization’s culture, values and brand translate into
approaches for enhancing operations and work environments. This approach results
in improved employee
effectiveness, collaboration, customer service, and other tangible and
intangible benefits.
She has significant experience in working with all aspects of
visitor-oriented, hospitality, and destination venues in which the facility must
support the overall guest experience through both front of house and back of
house functions by optimizing capacity, circulation flow, operating efficiency
and service delivery.
Aida’s strengths include her ability to process, manage and apply information to
strategic planning, problem solving, decision management and consensus
building. Clients range from major corporations to non-profit organizations,
government, museums and cultural institutions. She is a member of the American
Management Association, American Association of Museums and Mid-Atlantic
Association of Museums.
Principals
William D. Farrell, FRICS,
CRE,
Senior Principal
wfarrell@jmzell.com
202.218.4488
With more than three decades of real estate experience in
the United States, Ireland and Great Britain, Bill brings a uniquely global
perspective to JM Zell’s collective expertise. Having advised and represented
numerous private and public companies over the years, he possesses an
extraordinary depth of knowledge in virtually every aspect of real estate,
including project management, transaction strategy, lease, purchase and finance
negotiations, and valuations.
As a Partner and Project Team Leader at JM Zell, Bill’s
tireless dedication and perspective have earned him the respect of numerous
national and international clients, in industries as diverse as advertising,
finance, publishing, and fashion. Bill’s areas of specialization include site
selection and facility development, corporate relocations, property acquisition
and disposition, financing strategies, transaction structuring and negotiation
and project management. Among Bill’s clients are the National Academy of
Sciences, National Geographic School Publishing, The Textile Museum and Bates &
Carey, LLP. Recent projects have taken him across the U.S., and as far afield as
Johannesburg and Sidney.
A licensed Counselor of Real Estate (CRE designation) and
Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), Bill earned a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
Louis W. Kluger, CRE
Senior Principal
lkluger@jmzell.com
202.682.8749
With more than twenty years experience in commercial real
estate, Louis Kluger has a deep understanding of the real estate industry with
regards to finance, project management, financial analysis, brokerage and
marketing which has been invaluable in providing a broad range of services to a
variety of clients. Louis’s financial and analytical strengths complement
Louis’s abilities in crafting real estate strategies as well as performing site
selection, negotiation, litigation support and project management services.
Louis has experience lending his leadership and analytical
abilities to projects from not-for-profits clients to a wide range of large
international corporations and private investors. His depth of knowledge and
flexibility make him invaluable to the clients he serves. Such clients
include: sanofi-aventis, National Treasury Employees Union, International Union
of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, Alder Branch Realty, Fiduciary Counselors,
Potomac Asset Management, Keating Development Company, and United Association of
Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the
United States and Canada,
Louis is a licensed real estate broker in Washington, DC,
Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois and
Tennessee. He holds a Bachelor
of Arts in Economics from the Echols Scholar Program at The University of
Virginia.
Robert J. Neuman, Jr.
Senior Principal
bneuman@jmzell.com
202.682.8743
With his diversified background in various aspects of real
estate and depth of knowledge of markets across the country, Bob Neuman helps JM
Zell’s clients, from the largest not-for-profit, to the smallest high-tech
startup, find sound solutions to their real estate needs. For over fifteen
years, Bob has represented numerous tenants, skillfully guiding them through the
relocation process – from needs analysis and strategic planning through market
search, development leasing, design and construction, lease negotiation and
move-in.
Bob brings a deep understanding of every aspect of leasing
and brokerage combined with strong financial and analytical ability and highly
effective project management skills to the clients he serves.
Bob’s most recent projects include Development Alternatives
Inc., International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, The Shakespeare
Theatre, National Trust For Historic Preservation and Carlyle Plaza Development.
A licensed real estate broker in Washington, DC, Maryland
and Virginia, Bob is a graduate of American University with a BS in Finance with
a concentration in Real Estate and Urban Development
Directors
Christopher D. Bass, IIDA,
NCIDQ, LEED AP
Director, Design Services
cbass@jmzell.com
202.682.8737
Since joining JM Zell in 2001 as the company’s
architectural and interior design consultant, Christopher has provided strategic
planning and management services that leverage his expertise on architectural
issues as they relate to business, investment, and financial strategies.
In his years of work for leading architectural and interior
design firms, Christopher applied his managerial and design talents to dozens of
commercial interior renovations and new construction projects for clients across
the country. A design wunderkind, he began his career as director of a $30
million residence hall renovation for American University.
Christopher’s recent JM Zell projects include design work
for the National Gallery of Art, The Textile Museum, National Geographic
Society, National Treasury Employee Union, International Union of Bricklayers
and Allied Craftworkers, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the USDA
Graduate School and United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the
Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada.
Christopher received a B.S. in Interior Design from
Virginia Tech. He is a Professional Member of the International Interior Design
Association (IIDA), a Certified Interior Designer, and a Licensed Interior
Designer in the District of Columbia, NCIDQ.
Sharon V. Dougherty
Director of Marketing
sdougherty@jmzell.com
202.218.4494
Sharon Dougherty joined JM Zell in October 2004 as the
Director of Marketing. Sharon’s primary responsibilities include managing all
of the marketing and design direction for JM Zell as well as for client
projects. Sharon’s main area of focus is providing collateral material for
client projects in order to increase the awareness and value of the property.
Other areas of responsibilities include overseeing JM Zell’s public relations
and organizing special events for both JM Zell and client projects.
Sharon’s creativity and attention to detail has contributed
to the successful completion of projects for JM Zell clients including;
sanofi~aventis, Shakespeare Theatre Company, International Union of Bricklayers
and Allied Craftworkers, National Trust For Historic Preservation, and Carlyle
Plaza Development.
Sharon’s broad knowledge of marketing comes with several
years experience in the fashion and interior design industries. Prior to
joining JM Zell, Sharon spent many years in New York and London where she
managed the marketing for Calvin Klein.
Sharon attended the University of Georgia and The Fashion
Institute of Technology in New York where she studied fashion merchandising and
business.
Jennifer Tantum, LEED AP
Director of Construction Services
jtantum@jmzell.com
202.218.4484
Jennifer joined Zell in 1999 and has over 15 years of
project management experience specifically related to construction management,
property management and facilities operations. In addition, Jennifer has
expertise in security, telephone and data technologies.
Her incredible focus and attention to detail has served her
well as she has worked on several challenging base building construction and
interior fit-out and renovation projects. Her extensive experience includes The
Phillips Collection, sanofi~aventis headquarters in Bridgewater, NJ and regional
sales offices, the Smithsonian’s administrative offices and new American Art
library facility; a post production television studio and sound stage for Black
Entertainment Television in Burbank, CA and in the District; DAI and the
National Quality Forum in Washington, DC.
Prior to joining JM Zell, Jennifer worked at Datawatch
Systems and Lincoln Property Company. Jennifer attended Randolph – Macon
College and graduated from the University of Maryland, with a B.A. from the
College of Arts and Humanities. She recently received a Master’s Certification
in Project Management from The George Washington University and is completing
studies for Certification as a Project Management Professional from the Project
Management Institute (PMI) and is working to complete her RPA certification from
Building Owners and Maintenance Association (BOMA).
Elizabeth Wilcox, LEED AP
Director of Land Planning Services
ewilcox@jmzell.com
202.682.8726
Prior to becoming JM Zell’s Director of Land Planning
Services, Elizabeth made a name for herself as one of the most innovative urban
planners in the Washington D.C. metro area. She was instrumental in planning for
both Charles County, Maryland and the City of Alexandria, Virginia during the
high-growth period of the 1990’s.
As a planner for both private and government agencies,
Elizabeth is uniquely qualified to facilitate incredibly complex planning
processes involving land planners, engineers, architects, and civic
associations. Her comprehensive knowledge of zoning regulations, land
disposition, and governmental regulations inform her reports on a wide-range of
topics from market and feasibility studies to land valuation.
Recently Elizabeth has contributed to the successful
completion of projects for several JM Zell clients, including: sanofi~aventis,
United Association, Carlyle Plaza, Smithsonian Institution, The Washington Club,
National Academy of Science, American Foreign Service, and NPR California.
Elizabeth attended the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, receiving a BA in Political Science, before earning a Master of
Planning degree from the University of Virginia.
