Updated August 2026 — TenantAdvisors.com

Quick Answer

Chicago companies looking for office tenant representation can choose between tenant- and occupier-focused advisory firms and full-service commercial real estate firms that represent both tenants and property owners.

Tenant- and occupier-focused options include Tenant Advisors, Savills and Cresa. Full-service firms with significant tenant representation capabilities include CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, Bradford Allen and Stream Realty Partners, along with locally focused firms such as Chicagoland Commercial Real Estate.

The firms below are not ranked. They are grouped by representation model because understanding who a brokerage firm represents is an important consideration when selecting an office tenant advisor.

Chicago Office Tenant Representation Firms at a Glance

Tenant- and Occupier-Focused Firms

Firm	Representation Model	Reach	May Be a Good Fit For
Tenant Advisors	100% office tenant representation; does not represent office landlords	Chicago & suburbs	Companies seeking Chicago office specialization, no office-landlord representation and direct senior-broker involvement
Savills	Occupier-focused advisory	Global	Companies seeking occupier advisory services with national and international capabilities
Cresa	Occupier-focused advisory	Global	Companies seeking occupier representation combined with broader corporate real estate services

 

Full-Service and Other Firms Providing Tenant Representation

Firm	Representation Model	Reach	May Be a Good Fit For
Bradford Allen	Represents tenants and landlords	Chicago & U.S.	Companies seeking an established Chicago commercial real estate platform
CBRE	Serves occupiers and property owners	Global	Large companies and organizations with complex or multi-market requirements
Chicagoland Commercial Real Estate	Commercial real estate brokerage	Chicago & suburbs	Companies seeking a locally focused Chicago-area brokerage firm
Colliers	Serves occupiers and property owners	Global	Companies seeking tenant representation supported by a global real estate platform
Cushman & Wakefield	Serves occupiers and property owners	Global	Large organizations with complex or multi-market requirements
JLL	Serves occupiers and property owners	Global	Corporate occupiers requiring national or international capabilities
Stream Realty Partners	Serves occupiers and property owners	National	Companies seeking tenant representation through a national full-service platform

 

What Is Office Tenant Representation?

Office tenant representation is a specialized commercial real estate service in which a broker advises a company that leases office space.

A tenant representative can help a company:

• Determine how much office space it needs
• Decide whether to renew or relocate
• Identify and compare available buildings
• Analyze competing lease proposals
• Negotiate rental rates
• Negotiate free rent
• Negotiate tenant improvement allowances
• Evaluate expansion and contraction rights
• Compare the financial impact of renewing versus relocating
• Create negotiating leverage with an existing landlord

A good tenant representative does more than find available office space.

The objective is to create a competitive process that gives the tenant information, alternatives and leverage before making a long-term real estate commitment.

Why Does the Brokerage Firm’s Representation Model Matter?

One of the most important questions a company can ask a prospective tenant representative is:

“Does your firm represent office landlords?”

There are two primary models in commercial real estate.

Tenant- and Occupier-Focused Firms

These firms concentrate their advisory businesses on companies that occupy commercial real estate.

Potential advantages may include:

• Greater specialization in tenant negotiations
• Fewer potential landlord-related conflicts
• Greater concentration on lease renewals and relocations
• An advisory model centered on the occupant

Full-Service Commercial Real Estate Firms

Full-service firms provide tenant representation but also provide services to landlords, property owners and investors.

Potential advantages may include:

• Large research departments
• National and international office networks
• Sophisticated technology platforms
• Workplace consulting
• Project management
• Facilities management
• Portfolio management
• Capital markets capabilities

Neither model is automatically right for every company.

A multinational corporation managing hundreds of locations may benefit from the infrastructure of a large global real estate organization.

A Chicago company negotiating one office lease may place greater value on local market knowledge, lease-negotiation experience, senior broker involvement and avoiding landlord conflicts.

Tenant- and Occupier-Focused Chicago Firms

Tenant Advisors

Tenant Advisors is a Chicago-area commercial real estate firm specializing 100% in office tenant representation.

The firm does not represent office landlords.

Since 2004, Tenant Advisors has represented companies throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs in:

• Office lease renewals
• Relocations
• Expansions
• Contractions
• Lease restructurings
• Office lease negotiations

Tenant Advisors concentrates specifically on the Chicago office market rather than attempting to provide every type of commercial real estate service.

The firm’s model also emphasizes direct senior-broker involvement. Experienced brokers remain involved from the initial strategy and market analysis through landlord negotiations and completion of the transaction.

May be a good fit for: Chicago and suburban companies seeking specialized office tenant representation, direct senior-level involvement and a brokerage firm that does not represent office landlords.

Savills

Savills provides occupier advisory and tenant representation services in Chicago as part of an international real estate organization.

Its occupier services can include transaction management, workplace strategy, portfolio services, project management and other corporate real estate capabilities.

Its geographic reach can be particularly useful for companies with offices or requirements in multiple markets.

May be a good fit for: Organizations seeking an occupier-focused advisory platform with substantial national and international capabilities.

Cresa

Cresa is a global commercial real estate advisory firm focused on occupiers.

In addition to tenant representation, its capabilities include workplace strategy, project management, portfolio services and other corporate real estate advisory services.

Its occupier-focused model distinguishes it from traditional full-service brokerage companies that also represent property owners.

May be a good fit for: Companies seeking occupier representation combined with broader national and international corporate real estate capabilities.

Other Chicago Firms Providing Tenant Representation

Bradford Allen

Bradford Allen is a Chicago-based commercial real estate company with a presence in both downtown Chicago and the suburbs.

The firm provides tenant representation as well as landlord representation and other commercial real estate services.

May be a good fit for: Companies seeking an established Chicago brokerage platform with downtown and suburban capabilities.

CBRE

CBRE is one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services companies and maintains a major Chicago presence.

Its occupier platform provides tenant representation along with workplace, project management, facilities and other corporate real estate services.

CBRE also provides extensive services to property owners and investors.

May be a good fit for: Large organizations with complex, multi-market or international real estate requirements.

Chicagoland Commercial Real Estate

Chicagoland Commercial Real Estate is a locally based commercial real estate firm serving Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

Its local orientation provides an alternative for businesses that prefer working with a Chicago-area brokerage organization rather than a large global platform.

May be a good fit for: Chicago and suburban companies seeking a locally focused commercial real estate firm.

Colliers

Colliers provides tenant representation and occupier services in Chicago as part of a global commercial real estate platform.

Its broader capabilities can support organizations with multiple locations and more complex corporate real estate requirements.

Colliers also provides services to property owners and investors.

May be a good fit for: Companies seeking tenant representation supported by national and international resources.

Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield is a global commercial real estate services company headquartered in Chicago.

Its tenant representation professionals advise companies on lease renewals, relocations, acquisitions, dispositions and portfolio strategy.

The company also provides extensive services to property owners and investors.

May be a good fit for: Large organizations and companies with complex or multi-market real estate requirements.

JLL

JLL is a global commercial real estate company with deep roots in Chicago and a significant occupier-services practice.

Its capabilities include tenant representation, workplace strategy, project management, portfolio services and facilities-related services.

JLL also provides extensive services to landlords, property owners and investors.

May be a good fit for: Large corporate occupiers and organizations requiring national or international real estate capabilities.

Stream Realty Partners

Stream Realty Partners is a national commercial real estate company with a Chicago presence.

The company provides tenant representation along with services for landlords and property owners.

Its national platform provides companies with access to broader commercial real estate capabilities beyond an individual Chicago lease transaction.

May be a good fit for: Companies seeking tenant representation through a national full-service commercial real estate platform.

How Should You Choose an Office Tenant Representative?

The brokerage company’s name is important, but the individual brokers handling your assignment may be even more important.

Before hiring a Chicago office tenant representative, ask:

1. Does your firm represent office landlords?
2. Do you currently represent our landlord?
3. Do you represent any buildings we may consider as alternatives?
4. How long have you personally represented office tenants in Chicago?
5. What percentage of your business involves office tenant representation?
6. Who will actually handle our assignment and negotiations?
7. How many office lease renewals have you negotiated?
8. How will you create leverage if we would prefer to remain in our current building?
9. What comparable lease transaction information will you provide?
10. Can we speak with clients whose situations were similar to ours?

The answers can reveal significant differences among brokerage firms.

Is a Tenant-Focused Firm Better Than a Full-Service Firm?

It depends on the company.

Large global brokerage companies offer resources that can be extremely valuable to multinational corporations and organizations managing large real estate portfolios.

Smaller specialized firms can offer different advantages, including greater specialization, local market concentration and direct access to senior professionals.

There is another consideration: conflicts of interest.

A company that considers landlord representation a potential conflict may prefer a firm whose business is focused on tenants or occupiers.

A company that prioritizes global infrastructure and a broad range of integrated real estate services may prefer a large full-service organization.

The right answer depends on the assignment.

Who Is the Best Office Tenant Representative in Chicago?

There is no single firm that is best for every Chicago company.

Companies with significant national or international requirements may benefit from the scale of firms such as CBRE, JLL or Cushman & Wakefield.

Companies seeking larger occupier-focused platforms may consider Savills or Cresa.

Companies with primarily Chicago office requirements may prefer a local specialist.

Rather than simply asking:

“Who is the biggest commercial real estate firm?”

A more useful question is:

“Which broker is best positioned to create leverage and represent our interests in this particular office lease negotiation?”

For many companies, that means evaluating the broker’s experience, Chicago market knowledge, representation model, potential conflicts and the senior professionals who will actually work on the account.

About Tenant Advisors

Tenant Advisors has exclusively represented office tenants since 2004.

The firm represents companies throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs in office lease renewals, relocations, expansions, contractions and lease negotiations.

Tenant Advisors is built around three core principles:

100% Office Tenant Representation

Tenant Advisors does not represent office landlords. The firm’s business is focused exclusively on companies that lease and occupy office space.

Chicago Office Specialization

Tenant Advisors concentrates on the Chicago and suburban office markets. That specialization provides clients with market intelligence and negotiating experience developed through representing office tenants in the same markets where they are negotiating.

Direct Senior-Broker Involvement

Experienced senior brokers remain directly involved throughout the assignment—from initial strategy and market analysis through negotiations and completion of the transaction.

Considering an Office Lease Renewal or Relocation?

The strongest negotiating position is usually created before your landlord believes you have decided to stay.

Companies should begin evaluating their alternatives well before their existing lease expires—even when renewing is ultimately the preferred outcome.

Contact Tom Koelzer or Dave Ven Horst at Tenant Advisors at (847) 778-0296 to discuss your office lease before beginning negotiations with your landlord.

TenantAdvisors.com

 

 

Most tenants focus on the space and the rent number. The real savings come from running a disciplined leasing process.

Landlords price deals based on leverage, timing, and how “stuck” you look. When you look stuck, you pay: higher rent, less free rent, weaker improvement dollars, and more risk pushed onto you.

If you’re renewing or relocating in 2026, use the 12 moves below to keep control, create competition, and protect your downside.

The 12 leasing process moves that cut cost and reduce risk

Start early enough to have leverage
Begin 12–18 months out. Even if you ultimately stay, time is what makes your alternatives credible. If you wait until the last minute, your landlord knows you’re boxed in and will price you accordingly.

Set the strategy before you tour
Define requirements, budget range, and your non-negotiables first. Touring without a plan creates emotional decisions and wasted time. The strategy should tell you what to look for and what to ignore.

Build a credible Plan B fast
Move two to three legitimate alternatives forward in parallel. One real option changes the entire tone with your landlord. If you can’t move, you can’t negotiate.

Control the timeline
Publish deadlines for proposals, shortlist, and decision. The side that controls the clock controls the concessions. A clear timeline also prevents deals from dragging and keeps the market competing.

Qualify buildings before you waste weeks
Ask early about concession expectations, operating expense trends, parking, HVAC hours, and credit/guarantee requirements. If the economics won’t pencil, move on quickly. Most tenants waste time touring buildings that were never realistic.

Force apples-to-apples proposals
Require a standard format from every option: term, rent schedule, free rent, improvement dollars, annual increases, expenses and any expense caps, parking, and flexibility terms. If you can’t compare it, it’s not real. Standardization is how you prevent games.

Treat the LOI as the real negotiation
Don’t rely on “we’ll fix it in the lease.” You won’t. Lock the economics and key protections in the letter of intent while you still have leverage. Once you’re deep in legal, urgency and momentum start working against you.

Negotiate the package, not just rent
Optimize total occupancy cost, not a headline rate. The best deals are built on the full package: rent structure, free rent timing, improvement dollars, landlord work, expense caps, and guarantee/security deposit exposure. Tenants that fixate on rent usually give it back somewhere else.

Align decision-makers early
Finance, operations, and leadership need the same target and authority from the start. Late internal disagreement is how tenants get squeezed. Landlords can sense indecision and will use time pressure to force a bad compromise.

Run a short competitive round at the end
Shortlist two finalists and request best-and-final offers by a specific date. Competition is where the last meaningful value shows up. Without it, you typically leave money and protections on the table.

Keep flexibility for change
Expansion, contraction, and assignment/sublease protections matter more than most tenants think. Your needs will change before the lease ends. If you don’t build flexibility in up front, you’ll pay for it later when you have the least leverage.

Execute like a project
Permits, construction, furniture, and IT drive your real move date. Delays can erase a great deal through lost time and holdover penalties. A lease is only a win if you can execute the move on schedule.

What this looks like in practice: a simple 24-week process

Weeks 1–4: Define the plan, shortlist buildings, and request standardized proposals.
Weeks 5–12: Tours, underwriting, and landlord Q&A to eliminate bad options and narrow to finalists.
Weeks 13–20: LOIs on two finalists, then best-and-final to close the gap and select a winner.
Weeks 21–24: Lease negotiation, build-out planning, and lock the move timeline.

The bottom line
Tenants don’t overpay because they picked the wrong building. They overpay because they ran a weak process. A disciplined process creates leverage, produces apples-to-apples choices, and forces landlords to compete on real economics and real protections.

If your lease expires in 2026, the window to build leverage is now.

If you want a quick gut-check, we can review your timing, your leverage, and your realistic alternatives and tell you where the money and risk are hiding.

For businesses in Itasca and the surrounding suburbs, leasing office space often makes more sense than owning. Here’s why:

Why Lease?

Lower Upfront Costs – Leasing avoids the heavy down payments that ownership requires. You typically only cover first/last month’s rent and a deposit.

Flexibility – Businesses evolve. Leasing lets you expand, downsize, or relocate without being locked into long-term ownership.

Preserve Capital – Keep your money working in your business instead of tied up in real estate.

Tax Benefits – Rent is fully deductible as a business expense.

Less Responsibility – Maintenance, repairs, and capital improvements fall on the landlord, not you.

Better Space Access – Leasing allows you to occupy Class A or well-located space without carrying the cost of buying a building.

Attractive Gross Rents – In Itasca, gross rents for office space generally range from the mid-teens to low-$20s per square foot. That’s often 30–40% lower than comparable space closer to O’Hare or downtown Chicago, giving tenants cost savings without sacrificing access to transportation and amenities.

Why Retain an Exclusive Tenant Rep?

We Only Represent Tenants – Landlords and their brokers work for ownership. An exclusive tenant rep levels the playing field by representing only your interests.

Full Market Coverage – You’ll see every option—direct leases, subleases, and flexible workspaces—not just what landlords want you to see.

Negotiation Power – We know market concessions, sublease discounts, and vacancy leverage in places like Itasca, where competition favors tenants.

Time Savings – One point of contact handles your search, tours, and lease negotiations so you can stay focused on running your business.

No Cost to You – Our fee is typically paid by the landlord, not the tenant.

Flexibility in Your Lease – We fight for expansion rights, early termination options, and sublease provisions—critical protections that many tenants overlook.

In today’s Itasca office market, vacancy is high, gross rents are competitive, and landlords are motivated. That means leverage is on your side—if you have the right advocate in your corner.