Global firm makes move on New York market

Real Estate Weekly, Nov 19, 1997

That's the case with Henry Goodfriend and James de Jong, real estate brokerage professionals and partners who have worked. together as a team for eight years. They are an excellent example of how a team approach to commercial brokerage brings more to the table than just two bodies.

"Jamie and I are one of the few enduring 'teams' in the New York brokerage community, where it's much more common to see competition between brokers instead of true teamwork," says Goodfriend. "We've definitely hit upon something that works."

Goodfriend is being modest. Since working together, he and de Jong have secured numerous prestigious transactions for a full-range of local and international clients. And they have now put that talent to work for a leading global commercial real estate firm Binswanger/Chesterton Blumenauer Binswanger (Binswanger/CBB) - the 65-year old Philadelphia-based firm which owns (rather than merely affiliates with) 160 offices around the world.

Among the company's strongholds is Latin America, where Binswanger/CBB is the largest U.S. player in real estate, representing companies such as Motorola, Kodak, Bank of Boston, AMOCO and Intel in major office and industrial transactions.

Binswanger/CBB, which has had an office in New York for years in order to service City-headquartered Fortune 500 corporations with their real estate requirements outside of Manhattan, is now expanding its presence and enhancing its capabilities in the major U.S. central business districts.

"Expanding our New York Metropolitan area operation has been a goal for a while, but we hadn't found the right match," explains Jeff Binswanger, president of Binswanger International, a division of Binswanger/CBB. "For a while we thought that maybe our requirements were too strict: Commercial real estate experts with their hands around both the metropolitan area, as well as the global marketplace. Fortunately we found Henry and Jamie."

Goodfriend and de Jong have indeed been very visible on both the Manhattan and international commercial real estate scenes as Senior Managing Directors of The Galbreath Company - and now will bring more than 30 years of combined professional experience to the table for Binswanger/CBB. The two are credited with Galbreath's successful expansion into Mexico and Latin America, having founded operations for the firm in such cities as Mexico City and Caracas, Venezuela.

At the same time, the team is recognized for handling a number of large, celebrated assignments in Manhattan. Examples include the representation of the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher's 120,000 square-foot tenancy at 200 Park Avenue, and also full-floor leases for two separate agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico at 666 Fifth Avenue and Three Park Avenue. Other New York clients have included Herman Miller Inc., AKZO Nobel, Banker's Trust, Cahners Publishing, YIVO Institute and Westin Hotels.

Goodfriend and de Jong searched for an alternative that would allow them to capitalize not only on their New York prowess, but also their unique international expertise.

"We were attracted to Binswanger/CBB because of its strong global connections and reach," de Jong says. "Some competitors may have strong offices in a few markets overseas, but Binswanger/CBB is unrivaled in its comprehensive scope of services and complete worldwide coverage."

"Additionally, the resources that Binswanger/CBB has to offer are unmatched," he adds. "In the New York office, for instance, we are working along side of leaders in the investment sales arena - David Knee and Andrew Harris - which has already proven to be an exceptional asset for both Henry and me."

Binswanger/CBB offers multi-national corporations a full range of real estate services through its offices on six continents. From property marketing, management and appraisal to construction management and financial services, Binswanger/CBB provides expertise and service to the world's most demanding corporate clients. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, and London, England, the firm has offices throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico and South America, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, South Africa and Australia.

Goodfriend and de Jong are familiar with worldwide service, since much of their practice has focused on international clients, such as: Iberia Airlines of Spain, the Mexican Government, Grand Marnier/Lapostolle, Banco Mexicano and Pakistan International Airways. Among their more intricate assignments, the team represented the Government of Malaysia in the purchase of 305-311 East 43rd Street, a 62,000 square-foot facility that combined two adjoining buildings. The relocation included the consolidation of several Malaysian Government offices and was the product of an exhaustive site search which resulted in a very creative solution.

Goodfriend and de Jong are currently serving as the exclusive marketing agents for a three million square foot portfolio of property in Puerto Rico, which they are marketing to a worldwide audience of buyers.