Brown Harris Stevens acquires Wilrock

Real Estate Weekly, May 29, 1996

"Wilrock National, Inc. is a well-respected and successful firm, and we are very pleased to have the people who founded the firm now working with us at Brown Harris Stevens," Swig said. "Ben and Sam are seasoned professionals and will help run the Commercial Services Division of Brown Harris Stevens as well as help to expand its business throughout New York City and the country."

Ben Irlander, formerly President and co-founder of Wilrock National, Inc., began his real estate career in 1970 as a broker with Sutton & Towne, Inc. After creating Wilrock National in 1980 with his brother Samuel Irlander, he developed recognition for his work with the entertainment industry. Irlander's clients include Sony Pictures Entertainment, MCA/Universal, Motion Picture Association of America, and 20th Century Fox Film. One of his most recent deals includes a lease negotiation for Warner Bros. for over 136,000 square feet of office space on six full floors at 1325 Avenue of the Americas.

Formerly 1st Executive Vice President of Wilrock National Inc., Samuel Irlander began his career at the age of 19 as a salesperson at Sutton & Towne, Inc. When he received his Broker's license at the age of 21, he became the youngest real estate broker in New York City. His client roster includes AT&T, Cigna Corp., and The Equitable Life Assurance Company.

"Ben and Sam's expertise will be invaluable to the strength of our Commercial Services Division," said Burris. "We look forward to having them on board."

Brown Harris Stevens, founded in 1873, is one of the largest brokerage and management firms in New York City and the only firm serving both the commercial and residential sectors of the real estate industry. The firm manages more than 600,000 square feet of commercial office space in New York as well as over 126 cooperative and condominium residential buildings comprising over 6,000 apartments - including many of Manhattan's most distinguished addresses on Fifth and Park Avenues.