Evan McVay

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 Associate with the Corporate Solutions Group, I specialize in complex tenant representation assignments nationally & internationally for some of Colliers' largest office, medical, life science and industrial clients. In the past three years, I have completed more than 3 million square feet of transactions. My responsibilities include a full suite of transaction management services whereby I consult with clients throughout the entire real estate process. My  brokerage responsibilities include the strategy and execution of the following:  

• Facility Relocations & Acquisitions
• Build-to-Suits
• Sale-Leasebacks
• Lease Renegotiation & Renewal
• Disposition & Subleases
• Space Expansion & Consolidation
• Investment/Financing Alternatives
• Business Unit Analysis/Workplace Design
• Lease and Operating Cost Analysis/Audits
• In-Depth Location Analysis
• Supplier/Employer Mapping

I have developed an expertise in "capital markets-based" transactions whereby I represent companies or users of space in  large single-tenant  or anchor tenant facilities in helping them develop transparency into the underlying financing of the asset(s) they occupy.  Via this approach, I use math to quantify landlord returns and value the impact my client's tenancy has on asset valuations, which ultimately results in an equitable participation of that value creation via reduction in rent/occupancy costs or capital/cash generation opportunities for my clients.  

Prior to joining Colliers, I worked as a landlord representative at Spectrum Real Estate in Chicago where I focused on both landlord and tenant representation assignments. There, I gained invaluable knowledge into the psyche of real estate owners, which I use as leverage for my clients.

Before joining Spectrum Real Estate, I held a variety of positions in the mortgage,  finance and foreclosure/bankruptcy law industries.

As an associate with Colliers International | Chicago’s Corporate Solutions Group, I am a tenant representative focused on providing full-service commercial real estate counsel for a diverse group of clients including office, industrial and medical users.

I work closely with my team and clients to provide real estate strategies and services relating to: 

• Facility Relocations & Acquisitions
• Build-to-Suits
• Lease Renegotiation & Renewal
• Disposition & Subleases
• Space Expansion & Consolidation
• Investment/Financing Alternatives
• Business Unit Analysis/Workplace Design
• Lease and Operating Cost Analysis/Audits
• In-Depth Location Analysis
• Supplier/Employer Mapping

The team ensures these strategies maximize clients’ economic outcomes while ensuring the real estate is always aligned with the company’s short- and long-term business operating objectives. 

I began my career with EY Chicago in 2016 as a financial services assurance staff. I focused on clients in the investment banking, capital markets, and asset management areas. Shortly after, I joined Colliers | Chicago where I worked as a transaction services specialist. In this role, I helped assist a global account with 250+ properties for all transactions and lease administration needs. My responsibilities included corporate real estate strategy development, site selection, proposal and lease negotiation, and financial analysis. 

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.

As a transaction manager  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, Bess spearheaded leasing efforts in-house for developer Shapack Partners, focusing on their Fulton Market portfolio totaling 1.8 million square feet. Bess has been involved in all facets of the lease-up process, from the creative curating of property branding through the negotiation of some of the city’s largest headquarter relocations. She has experience working with Chicago’s top institutional investors and has remained an expert in the Fulton Market and new development submarkets.