Savills North America
Savills North America is the North American commercial real estate advisory business of Savills, serving occupiers, investors, landlords and public-sector organizations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Savills North America is the North American commercial real estate advisory platform of Savills, the international property services group whose roots extend back to the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century. The North American business traces its direct history to Julien J. Studley, Inc., founded in 1954 by Julien J. Studley. Studley built a reputation primarily as a tenant-representation and corporate real estate advisory firm, helping occupiers evaluate markets, negotiate leases, plan relocations and manage workplace and property requirements. The business became independent from its founder’s ownership in December 2002, when Mitchell S. Steir led a group of 45 brokers in acquiring the company. During the following decade it expanded its service capabilities and geographic reach. Its work included representing the U.S. General Services Administration in leasing transactions, advising major corporate occupiers such as Bechtel, and representing Amtrak in connection with a lease near Washington Union Station. The company also broadened its platform through the February 2011 acquisition of Gravitas Real Estate Resources and the December 2015 acquisition of Toronto-based Real Facilities. Savills acquired the North American business in 2014 for $280 million, after which the company operated under the Savills Studley name. The transaction connected Studley’s tenant-representation and occupier-services capabilities with Savills’ international real estate network. The North American platform continued to expand its physical presence, including offices in Austin, Texas, opened in November 2015, and Towson, Maryland, opened in January 2016. It also represented clients in property sales and public-sector leasing assignments, demonstrating a scope broader than pure tenant brokerage. In March 2019, Savills Studley was rebranded as Savills. In March 2020, Savills North America acquired Macro Consultants LLC, a project management firm with offices in New York City and Philadelphia and personnel elsewhere in the United States. Michael Glatt, Macro’s owner, subsequently became Savills North American head of project management, strengthening the business’s delivery and capital-project capabilities. The North American organization provides commercial real estate advisory services across tenant and occupier representation, leasing, workplace and location strategy, project and development management, property and facility-related advisory work, investment and capital-markets services, and selected transaction and disposition assignments. Its clients have included corporate occupiers, government agencies, transportation organizations, technology and professional-services companies, hotel owners and other institutional participants in commercial property markets. The business operates within the broader Savills network and is positioned as an advisory-led real estate services platform rather than a consumer-facing property brand. In January 2024, David Lipson became chief executive officer of Savills North America and Mitchell Rudin became chairman. The leadership change marked a new phase for a business that had evolved from an independent U.S. tenant-representation firm into a North American division of a global real estate group. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate listing, standalone financial reporting profile or precise headquarters for the North American brand.
History
Savills North America’s direct corporate history begins with Julien J. Studley, Inc., founded in 1954 by Julien J. Studley. The firm developed as a commercial real estate advisory business with a strong emphasis on representing tenants and corporate occupiers. Its work centered on helping clients negotiate leases, select locations and manage the real estate implications of business operations. In December 2002, Mitchell S. Steir led 45 brokers in buying the company from its founder. Under this ownership structure, the firm continued to develop its tenant-representation platform while adding broader advisory capabilities. In February 2011 it acquired Gravitas Real Estate Resources. The company also handled prominent assignments, including work for the General Services Administration, Bechtel and Amtrak. In 2013, it faced a legal dispute after two brokers departed to join CBRE Group. Savills acquired the business in 2014 for $280 million and renamed it Savills Studley. The acquisition linked the established North American occupier-services firm to Savills’ international property-services network. During 2015 and 2016, the organization expanded its footprint by opening offices in Austin and Towson and by acquiring Real Facilities, a Toronto-based business. Its assignments during this period included representing the seller in the $57 million sale of the St. Gregory Hotel & Suites in Washington, D.C., as well as participating in federal government leasing work. The Savills Studley name was retired in March 2019, when the company was rebranded as Savills. In March 2020, the North American business acquired Macro Consultants LLC, adding project management expertise and a presence in New York, Philadelphia and other U.S. locations. Macro owner Michael Glatt became Savills North American head of project management. The business now operates as Savills’ North American platform, offering commercial real estate advisory services across occupier representation, leasing, workplace and portfolio strategy, project management, investment and transaction advisory, and related services. In January 2024, David Lipson became chief executive officer and Mitchell Rudin became chairman. The available reference material does not provide a separate headquarters address, standalone public-company listing or detailed current financial disclosures for Savills North America.
- 2024
New North American leadership
[1]David Lipson becomes chief executive officer and Mitchell Rudin becomes chairman.
- 2020
Macro Consultants acquisition
[1]Savills North America acquires Macro Consultants LLC to expand project management capabilities.
- 2019
Rebrand to Savills
[1]The Savills Studley name is replaced by the Savills brand.
- 2016
Towson office opens
[1]The company opens an office in Towson, Maryland.
- 2015
Toronto expansion
[1]Savills Studley acquires Real Facilities in Toronto and opens an Austin, Texas office.
- 2014
Savills acquisition and renaming
[1]Savills acquires the business for $280 million and changes its name to Savills Studley.
- 2011
Acquisition of Gravitas Real Estate Resources
[1]The company expands its advisory platform through the purchase of Gravitas Real Estate Resources.
- 2002
Employee-led acquisition
[1]Mitchell S. Steir leads a group of 45 brokers in acquiring the company from Julien J. Studley.
- 1954
Julien J. Studley, Inc. is founded
[1]Julien J. Studley establishes the company that later becomes the foundation of Savills North America.
Products and positioning
An advisory-led commercial real estate services platform focused on occupier representation, workplace and portfolio strategy, leasing, project management and related property transactions, backed by the international Savills network.
Commercial real estate advisory
Tenant representation
Advisory and transaction services for companies and institutions seeking office, industrial, retail, headquarters or other commercial space. The work can include market analysis, location evaluation, lease negotiations, renewals, relocations and portfolio planning.
Real estate project services · 2020
Project management
Project and development management support for occupiers and property stakeholders. The capability was strengthened by the 2020 acquisition of Macro Consultants LLC, whose operations included New York, Philadelphia and other U.S. locations.
Commercial real estate advisory
Leasing and agency advisory
Representation and strategic advice for landlords, owners and institutions marketing or repositioning commercial property, including lease negotiations and occupancy strategy.
Commercial real estate transactions
Investment and property transactions
Advisory services connected with commercial property sales, acquisitions, dispositions and related capital-markets decisions. The company has represented sellers in hotel transactions and advised organizations on significant lease assignments.
Brand decisions
2020
Expand project management through Macro ConsultantsM&ABackground
Savills sought to strengthen its project management and delivery capabilities in North America.
Action taken
Savills North America acquired Macro Consultants LLC and appointed its owner, Michael Glatt, to lead North American project management.
Aftermath
The acquisition added project management resources in major U.S. markets and across the broader national platform.
2019
Unify the North American brand under SavillsStrategyBackground
Following its acquisition and integration into the wider Savills organization, the North American business operated under the transitional Savills Studley name.
Action taken
The company changed its name from Savills Studley to Savills.
Aftermath
The North American platform presented itself under the same core brand as the global Savills group.
2014
Join the Savills groupM&ABackground
The independent North American tenant-representation business needed broader international reach and service integration.
Action taken
Savills acquired the company for $280 million and renamed it Savills Studley.
Aftermath
The business became Savills’ principal North American commercial real estate platform and was later rebranded simply as Savills.
Acquisition price. $280 million (2014)
Recent events
- 2024
Leadership transition at Savills North America[1]
Leadership change
David Lipson became chief executive officer of Savills North America, while Mitchell Rudin became chairman.
- 2020
Savills North America acquires Macro Consultants[1]
M&A
The company acquired Macro Consultants LLC, a project management firm with operations centered in New York and Philadelphia and staff across the United States.
- 2015
Savills Studley acquires Real Facilities[1]
M&A
The company acquired Toronto-based Real Facilities, expanding its Canadian and project-related capabilities.
- 2014
Savills acquires Studley and creates Savills Studley[1]
M&A
Savills acquired the North American commercial real estate advisory company formerly known as Studley for $280 million, bringing the business into the Savills group and changing its name to Savills Studley.
- 2013
Legal dispute involving departing brokers[1]
Lawsuit
Savills Studley became involved in litigation after two brokers left the company to join CBRE Group.
Sources1 sources
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