Bess Cooney

For more than 20 years I’ve guided many of Colliers International’s largest clients to develop and execute real estate strategies that maximize their short- and long-term business objectives. With expertise in the areas of strategic real estate planning and transaction management, I ensure my clients’ real estate remains an enabler, and not a constraint, to their success.

My team and I have successfully completed more than 30 million square feet of transactions for corporate clients globally, with a total value of more than $3 billion. Some of the clients who have benefited from my expertise include Schneider Electric, Scientific Games, Wells Fargo, ULTA, and Alstom Power, among others.

I began my career as a corporate attorney at Katten Muchin. The skills I used as an attorney, such as the relentless pursuit of my clients’ objectives and goals while delivering an experience far exceeding expectations, were foundational to my success in the commercial real estate industry.

I am active in the community as a member of the Board of Directors of Communities in Schools of Chicago, and I enjoy spending time in Chicago with my wife, Laura, and two sons, Cameron and Daniel.

Many of Colliers International’s largest clients partner with me to develop and execute real estate strategies that maximize economic outcomes and ensure their real estate remains aligned with their short- and long-term business operating objectives. As a tenant representative focused on providing full-service commercial real estate counsel, I work with a diverse set of clients including office, industrial, retail and medical users.

My practice focuses on a unique capital markets-based approach to advising clients in transaction implementation. I work with my clients to identify potential distress in the capital stack of assets where they are the single or anchor tenants and then use this vulnerability to the tenant’s economic benefit. Leveraging this expertise, I have successfully completed more than three million square feet of transactions within the past three years, saving my clients more than $35 million.

Prior to joining Colliers, I cultivated national accounts through strategic real estate planning, market expertise and transaction management as a tenant representative with New York-based real estate advisory firm, Newmark Knight Frank.

Before Newmark Knight Frank, I spent three years in the banking and finance industry.

As a senior client services specialist with Colliers International’s Corporate Solutions team, I am a direct liaison between the broker team and our client base. I manage the communication process end-to-end and provide support through marketing strategy, meeting and event planning, and project management.

Prior to joining Colliers, I spent two years as an associate for the HEARN company in Chicago, where I represented the in-house leasing team. I have been involved with leasing buildings such as the John Hancock Center and Three First National Plaza. 

Prior to HEARN, I spent five years with Lululemon Athletica, where I worked on the community engagement and branding teams.