The Consulting Group
Depth. Breadth. Experience. The Consulting Group was formed over 30 years ago to address complex real estate and occupancy issues. Now a group of 45+ professionals, we work with clients to match occupancy strategies with their business performance and financial goals.
We take great pride in our ability to identify key drivers and deliver creative, cost-effective solutions. The best real estate solutions are those that are not readily apparent in the marketplace. Uncovering unique solutions takes a deep knowledge of our clients, markets, buildings, changing owners and neighborhoods. Our unique expertise in transaction structuring enables CBRE to execute on our clients’ aspirations.Our Capabilities
- Occupier representation
- Transaction structuring and negotiation
- Financial modeling across all reporting / accounting standards
- Review, abstraction and analysis of existing leases and other real estate documentation
- Market research and analysis
- Criteria development, executive interview / questionnaires
- Strategy development
- Scenario planning
- Employee demographic analysis
- Commutation impact study
- Identification of market alternatives
- Coordination and review of technical due diligence
- Consensus building
- Executive / board presentations
- Municipal incentive coordination
- RFP / proposal / term sheet preparation
- Coordination and review of transaction documentation
- Occupancy dispute / issue resolution
- Arbitration support and fair market rent analysis
The Consulting Group rose to meet the challenges the global health crisis placed on our clients. With commercial real estate markets in a period of historic dislocation, we pivoted to:
- Advising
our clients regarding access rights, force majeure and other economic relief structures in the face of state- and municipal-driven office closures - Preparing and Navigating
the dynamic operating expense and real estate tax landscape as well as return-to-work and excess space recovery approaches - Setting New Standards
for pandemic-era occupancy protections
Partnering with its preeminent brokerage colleagues, The Consulting Group utilizes its time-tested methodology to lay the foundation for identifying issues, developing strategies, gaining consensus and implementing effectively on behalf of our clients.
CBRE’s proven approach to helping our clients formulate and implement comprehensive real estate strategies can be broadly divided into three phases:
Throughout the course of each engagement, the coordination of a vast array of disciplines (including facilities planning, building technology, design and construction, engineering, legal, workplace strategy, finance) is critical to seamless implementation. We coordinate these activities to assure project continuity and adherence to our clients’ objectives.
Financial Analysis and Deal Structuring
One of The Consulting Group’s core competencies is identifying and optimizing the financial implications associated with pursuing various real estate strategies.For each potential occupancy scenario, we develop a comprehensive financial model to determine the year-by-year and all-in occupancy costs associated with pursuing that strategy. The models enable our clients to:
- Determine the implications of any given transaction on a cash and P&L (GAAP) or IFRS basis
- Make “real-time” changes in assumptions as to timing, capital, economics, growth rates, depreciation periods, financing assumptions, discount rates, etc.
- Examine capital budgets, including variations on renovation schemes
- Detail building operating expense information and other potential occupancy expenses such as overtime services, freight elevator charges and cleaning
Partnering with its preeminent brokerage colleagues, The Consulting Group utilizes its time-tested methodology to lay the foundation for identifying issues, developing strategies, gaining consensus and implementing effectively on behalf of our clients.
CBRE’s proven approach to helping our clients formulate and implement comprehensive real estate strategies can be broadly divided into three phases:
Throughout the course of each engagement, the coordination of a vast array of disciplines (including facilities planning, building technology, design and construction, engineering, legal, workplace strategy, finance) is critical to seamless implementation. We coordinate these activities to assure project continuity and adherence to our clients’ objectives.
Financial Analysis and Deal Structuring
One of The Consulting Group’s core competencies is identifying and optimizing the financial implications associated with pursuing various real estate strategies.For each potential occupancy scenario, we develop a comprehensive financial model to determine the year-by-year and all-in occupancy costs associated with pursuing that strategy. The models enable our clients to:
- Determine the implications of any given transaction on a cash and P&L (GAAP) or IFRS basis
- Make “real-time” changes in assumptions as to timing, capital, economics, growth rates, depreciation periods, financing assumptions, discount rates, etc.
- Examine capital budgets, including variations on renovation schemes
- Detail building operating expense information and other potential occupancy expenses such as overtime services, freight elevator charges and cleaning
The Consulting Group will ensure that every strategy is investigated and every opportunity quantified – all while arming our clients with the market intelligence and insight required to respond comprehensively to every question.
Over the past 30+ years, we have built the best team in Commercial Real Estate. Our clients benefit from the collective expertise of over 45 professionals with extensive experience working on a myriad of large, complex strategic planning assignments.
The key to success is knowledge, diligence and judgement. The Consulting Group excels at all three; it is ingrained in our DNA.
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Be Creative
Use our data, tools and minds to increase alternatives and solve problems.
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Use Judgement
Use our information and collective experience to provide sound advice to our clients.
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Be Diligent
Think hard. Work hard. No shortcuts.
We work hard. We value teamwork and collegiality. This openness promotes sharing of ideas and intel. We learn from one another. We encourage our team members to push the envelope and drive clients to explore – creating more opportunities. And it makes our job even more interesting.
The depth of our resources permits for redundancy within an engagement. Staffing multiple consultants on each assignment helps to ensure that we not only get the details right, but provide our clients with timely insight and perspective.
The depth of our resources permits for redundancy within an engagement. Staffing multiple consultants on each assignment helps to ensure that we not only get the details right, but provide our clients with timely insight and perspective.
It has taken foresight, investment, perseverance and drive to become the market leader.
For decades, The Consulting Group has honed the ability to synthesize relevant market, financial and operational information into coherent strategies for our clients. Our successful and creative occupancy solutions on behalf of our clients distinguishes us from other consulting groups, leading to significant industry recognition: The Consulting Group has earned 19 awards for creativity by the Real Estate Board of New York.
The Consulting Group’s depth, tenure, experience, access to information and work ethic enable our clients to outmaneuver the market. We bring to the table a seamless combination of both traditional brokerage skills and a consultative approach.
The senior members of the Consulting Group have risen through the ranks at CBRE, performing the work and growing in responsibility. At the same time, we have focused on developing promising young talent, mentoring and engaging them in every phase of a project. It is this involvement in all aspects of the project by team members at every level that allows CBRE to bring unmatched service, focus and energy to each client.
The Consulting Group’s depth, tenure, experience, access to information and work ethic enable our clients to outmaneuver the market. We bring to the table a seamless combination of both traditional brokerage skills and a consultative approach.
The senior members of the Consulting Group have risen through the ranks at CBRE, performing the work and growing in responsibility. At the same time, we have focused on developing promising young talent, mentoring and engaging them in every phase of a project. It is this involvement in all aspects of the project by team members at every level that allows CBRE to bring unmatched service, focus and energy to each client.
Our proven ability to synthesize relevant market, financial and operational information into a coherent strategy that leads to successful and creative occupancy solutions on behalf of our clients distinguishes us from other consulting groups.
No matter the industry, transaction structure, size, location or product type, we have demonstrated our ability to deliver.
Our proven ability to synthesize, strategize, create and implement on behalf of varied client types and situations gives our clients confidence that we will succeed together.
A Bulletproof Headquarter Renewal in a Turbulent Capital Markets Environment
FOX and News Corp Go Big and Go Long at 1211 Avenue of the Americas
A transformative post-COVID occupancy that resulted in a 40% reduction in their space envelope and a relocation to Manhattan’s newest development
Capitalizing on the new post-COVID market and a relatively new tax-exempt leasehold condominium structure for a 115-year old organization
A Belief in NYC Manifests with a Headquarters Commitment
CBRE negotiated a “building within a building” tax-exempt 30-year leasehold condominium with “turn-key” office installation.
Anchoring New Construction in Hudson Yards
How CBRE Inspired an Icon to Innovate for Technology’s Most Innovative Company
Finding a Home to Service 400,000 Union Members
