CBRE vet' Gregory Garkan closes 500,000 s/f in deals.

CB Richard Ellis has announced that First Vice President Gregory H. Barkan closed 500,000 s/f of office leasing transactions in New Jersey in 2005.

Barkan, a ten-year veteran of the commercial real estate industry, was recently promoted to First Vice President and is based in CBRE's Saddle Brook office. Some of his largest transactions in 2005 include: A 93,000-square-foot lease on behalf of CB Richard Ellis Investors Strategic Partners to Aegis Insurance at Metropolitan Center, a 420,000-square-foot trophy office tower in East Rutherford, NJ. He also handled a 31,000-square-foot lease extension to The MWW Group at the property. Mr. Barkan negotiated the transactions along with CBRE team members Kevin Welsh, senior vice president; Patrick Murphy, executive managing director; and Remy de Varenne, senior vice president.

A 34,000-square-foot lease extension on behalf of KBS Realty Advisors to RBC Dain Rauscher at 25A Hanover Road in Florham Park, NJ. Mr. Barkan, along with CBRE Senior Vice President Don Sperling, handled the deal.

Mr. Barkan has been with CB Richard Ellis since 1996 and has closed over $550 million in lease and sale transactions. His extensive experience includes representing institutional owners, regional developers and Fortune 500 companies in the leasing, acquisition and disposition of their properties. Prior to joining CB Richard Ellis, Mr. Barkan worked at his family-owned MAI appraisal firm. Mr. Barkan recently completed his MBA in Finance with NYU's Real Estate Institute.

As the leader in New Jersey's commercial real estate market, CB Richard Ellis' New Jersey operations are dedicated to understanding and servicing the distinct character and client base of the state's office, industrial and retail markets. Today, over 200 brokerage, consulting, investment sales, commercial mortgage services, facilities management, property management, and research professionals as well as administrative personnel are located in the firmas three offices in Saddle Brook, East Brunswick and Parsippany.