Kirk Usher
Executive Vice President | SIOR
“Kirk’s thorough market knowledge and sensitive negotiating skills have permitted us to realize significantly better results than our original expectations. His organizational skills, comprehensive follow up, and personal relationship abilities have been key factors to our success in this project, particularly given the inordinate number of challenging personalities involved in the process.”
James G. Law, Vice President Corporate Real Estate
McKesson Corp.
“[Kirk’s] integrity, level of commitment, and concern for his customers is exceptional… [he] brings a wealth of experience and sound judgment to the deals we have done together… I would recommend him without reservation to anyone.”
Debbra E. Colman, Vice President & Manager Corporate Properties
First Interstate Bank
“Standards that Kirk sets for himself are as high as his ethics and that breeds trust in his analysis of a situation, His attention to details and his willingness to take ownership and responsibility helps the team meet its goals and stay on track. Kirk has demonstrated a keen sense of the big picture… my confidence in performing my responsibilities at Advent is a direct reflection of his contributions.”
Craig Flechsig,
Director of Operations
Advent Software, Inc.
Kirk Usher, Jr., Dunhill Partners West Executive Vice President, has been active in commercial real estate for over 40 years as a Senior Director, advisor and brokerage professional with Cushman & Wakefield in San Francisco for 35 years specializing in real estate marketing, corporate advisory services, and tenant representation. Then independently as Usher Global Realty, and since October 2011 with Dunhill. During his career he has been actively involved in over 11 million square feet of commercial real estate transactions and advisory assignments.
Mr. Usher has represented literally hundreds of companies in lease, sublease and purchase transactions. A partial list includes:
- Advent Software
- City National Bank
- Hitachi
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Crowley Maritime Corp.
- Davis Wright Tremaine
- McKesson
- Skadden, Arps
- Bank of America
- Del Monte Corporation
- Thelen Reid & Priest
- Bank of California
- First Interstate Bank
- Pacific Bell Directory
- Wells Fargo
- Charles Schwab
- Hanson Bridgett
- Prudential Securities
- Young & Rubicam
Major marketing assignments (6.3m sf total) include:
- One Market Plaza – marketing director for the 1.5 million square foot twin office tower project in which 166 separate office and retail leases were negotiated.
- San Francisco Executive Park (1.5 million s.f.)
- 353 Sacramento Street (250,000 s.f.)
- 901 Market Street (140,000 s.f.)
- Rincon Center (416,000 s.f.)
- Telesis Tower/One Montgomery Street (650,000 s.f.)Mr. Usher has also been the marketing consultant for San Francisco Center (1.2 million s.f. in twin towers) and River Park Towers (600,000 s.f.) in San Jose.
Mr. Usher was co-sponsor, author and facilitator of the Conference For Corporate Real Estate Executives and also the Creative Disposition Strategies roundtable, as well as co-author of Real Estate Transactions Management – The Changing Roles of Corporate Real Estate Departments And The Consultants They Hire. Multiple C&W regional and SF “top producer” awards. Vice Chairman C&W broker advisory committee. 2005 C&W and SIOR “Deal of the Year” recipient.
Mr. Usher is an active office member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and has taught extensively on real estate related issues. Mr. Usher is an international business graduate of the University of Washington, and completed Stanford’s Graduate School of Business marketing management program.
Mr. Usher was a member of the Bank of San Francisco Advisory Board, the Executive Board of the Bay Area Boy Scout Council, member of the San Francisco Leadership Foundation and Mt. Hermon advisory committee. A former Trustee of Marin Catholic, and member of The St. Andrews Society, and The International Wine and Food Society. Mr. Usher was a trustee of Bridgemont High School for 20+ years and is an active member of The Explorers Club. 2006-2010 Usher was co-founder and COO of Adventure For Life, LLC www.AdventureForLife.us and organized and led successful global adventures to Bhutan in 2008 and 2010 for AFL teams.
Beyond adventure travel in 57 countries – in every continent but Antarctica – including a 2,000 mile bike adventure from Cape Horn to 23,000′ Aconcagua, and mt. biking over 18,375′ Khardung La-the world’s highest road pass, Mr. Usher’s other non-business interests include, first his family, then music, wine and food, fresh and salt water fly fishing, skiing, mountain biking and gardening.
Usher Representative Transactions
Advent Software/35 Stanford* 50,000 s.f.
Advent Software/ESA Sublease* 23,723 s.f.
Advent Software/301 Brannan HQ Renewal* 60,000 s.f.
Advent Software/One South Park* 61,000 s.f.
Advent Software* (303 Second) 48,000 s.f.
Advent Software* (475 Brannan data center) 20,000 s.f.
Affiliated Computer Systems (ACS)* 35,000 s.f.
Alexander & Alexander* 20.000 s.f.
Allianz Insurance 11,600 s.f.
America Telecommunications Corp. (Dallas) 40,000 s.f.
American Express* - expert witness 100,000 s.f.
American Steel* 14,100 s.f.
Anshen & Allen 27,110 s.f.
Apple Computer* 18,749 s.f.
Arthur Andersen & Company 55,000 s.f.
Atlantic Richfield* 30,000 s.f.
Banco di Roma* (400 Montgomery) 10,392 s.f.
Banker’s Trust (2) 15,000 s.f.
Bank of America* 10,000 s.f.
Bank of America* (Atlanta) 24,000 s.f.
Bank of America* (Boston) 20,000 s.f.
Bank of America* (Boston) 15,000 s.f.
Bank of America* (Cleveland) 11,700 s.f.
Bank of America* (Dallas) 12,000 s.f.
Bank of America* (San Francisco Executive Park) 25,000 s.f.
Bank of America* (Seattle) 17,300 s.f.
Bank of California* 240,000 s.f.
Bank of California* 100,000 s.f.
BCN Data Systems* 10,000 s.f.
Blue Shield 200,000 s.f.
Bridgemont High School* 25,000 s.f.
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison* 12,100 s.f.
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison 88,000 s.f.
Bronson, Bronson, McKinnon lease consulting* 120,000 s.f.
Bronson, Bronson, McKinnon (Sublease-Latham & Watkins)* 15,000 s.f.
Brown & Root* 60,000 s.f.
Burn’s International* 12,000 s.f.
Caravansary* 10,000 s.f.
Castle & Cooke* 55,000 s.f.
Charles Schwab* (One Montgomery expansion) 112,321 s.f.
Charles Schwab* (One Montgomery expansion) 18,590 s.f.
Charles Schwab* (One Montgomery) 10,589 s.f.
Charles Schwab (One Montgomery renewal) 350,000 s.f.
Charles Schwab* (58 Sutter) 20,000 s.f.
Charles Schwab* (One Second Street HQ) 60,000 s.f.
Chemical Bank of New York* 12,000 s.f.
Chevron Credit 15,000 s.f.
City National Bank* (Walnut Creek) 25,300 s.f.
City National Bank* (150 California) 23,000 s.f.
City National Bank* (Alameda) 18,000 s.f.
Comarc Design Systems 18,500 s.f.
Consulate General of Japan* 26,000 s.f.
Creative World Travel* 15,000 s.f.
Crowley Maritime Corporation* (One Market Plaza, 1976) 60,000 s.f.
Crowley Maritime Corporation* (101 California, 1981) 66,600 s.f.
Crowley Maritime Corporation - 101 California subleasing 24,000 s.f.
Crowley Maritime Corporation* (Long Beach) 54,690 s.f.
Davis, Wright, Tremaine* (3) 17,000 s.f.
Decimus Corporation - 101 California 11,000 s.f.
Decimus Corporation - 353 Sacramento 12,000 s.f.
Del Monte Corporation* 17,800 s.f.
Del Monte Corporation* 205,000 s.f.
DeVry* 16.7 acre land purchase/100,000 s.f.
build-to-suit s.f.
Dinkelspiel & Dinkelspiel 15,000 s.f.
Earl & Wright* 45,000 s.f.
Equitable Life* 11,800 s.f.
Equitable Life Assurance Society* 15,000 s.f.
Farrell Lines, Inc. 15,000 s.f.
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company 90,000 s.f.
First Interstate Bank* 110,000 s.f.
First Interstate Bank* 22,457 s.f.
First Interstate Bank* 19,242 s.f.
First Interstate Bank* 16,600 s.f.
First National Bank of Chicago 12,700 s.f.
First National Bank of Chicago 16,360 s.f.
Frank B. Hall & Company of California 20,000 s.f.
GATX 20,000 s.f.
GSA* 87,071 s.f.
Hanson Bridgett* 55,000 s.f.
Headquarters Company 18,700 s.f.
Heller Financial 26,200 s.f.
HIH American Corporation 26,200 s.f.
Hitachi America Ltd.* 220,000 s.f.
Isotec 13,100 s.f.
Johns-Manville* 25,000 s.f.
Keesal, Young & Logan 30,000 s.f.
Kerr Steamship Company 20,000 s.f.
Levi Strauss 33,000 s.f.
Lotus 10,500 s.f.
Lykes Bros. Steamship* (San Francisco) 21,200 s.f.
McDonnell Douglas Finance Corporation 33,433 s.f.
MCI International* (12/86) 13,860 s.f.
McKenna, Conner & Cuneo* 15,700 s.f.
McKesson Corporation* (1991 Strategic One Post Study) 400,000 s.f.
McKesson Corporation* (3000 Oak Road – sale) 300,000 s.f.
McKesson Corporation* (1992 Headquarters Lease Renewal) 200,000 s.f.
McKesson Corporation* (1986 Lease Renewal Consulting) 200,000 s.f.
McKesson Corporation* (Bishop Ranch) 125,000 s.f.
Mellon Bank* 10,000 s.f.
Mission Equities Corporation 40,000 s.f.
Mitsui OSK Lines (3)* 18,000 s.f.
Morgan Guaranty International Bank* 11,000 s.f.
Morrison & Foerster* (2 Subleases) 11,000 s.f.
Morrison & Foerster (One Market Plaza) 73,000 s.f.
National Auto Club* (1996/97) 10,000 s.f.
National Automobile Club* (One Market 1977) 15,000 s.f.
National Automobile Club* (Bayside Plaza 1987) 11,327 s.f.
New York Life Insurance Company 11,000 s.f.
New York Life Insurance Company 12,000 s.f.
Ogilvy & Mather* (735 Battery) 37,000 s.f.
One Post Street (sale)* 400,000 s.f.
Oregon State University Fund (consulting) 10,000 s.f.
Pacific Bell Directory 154,000 s.f.
Pacific Bell Directory* (50 Fourth Street) 66,486 s.f.
Pacific Bell Directory* (3470 Wilshire, Los Angeles) 152,147 s.f.
Prudential Lines 16,000 s.f.
Prudential Securities* (Four Embarcadero Center) 40,750 s.f.
Prudential Securities* (50 Fremont) 18,000 s.f.
Prudential Securities* (Walnut Creek) 14,210 s.f.
R.C.A. Global Communications* 70,000 s.f.
R.L. Kautz & Company* 10,000 s.f.
Ramallah Wholesale Company, Inc.* 34,000 s.f.
Regional Administrator of National Banks 15,000 s.f.
Reliance Insurance Company* 25,000 s.f.
ROI Direct* (525 Market) 28,000 s.f.
ROI Direct* (100 Bush) 10,000 s.f.
Rosenberg Capital Management 12,000 s.f.
Royal Bank of Canada* 24,400 s.f.
Royal Globe Insurance Company* 42,000 s.f.
Security Pacific Bank* 22,000 s.f.
Sherman Clay (Los Angeles) 10,000 s.f.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (3 Subleases)* 12,000 s.f.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom* 11,529 s.f.
Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges* 51,000 s.f.
Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges* (Renewal) 51,000 s.f.
Tilia* (2045 McKinnon Avenue) 25,521 s.f.
Townsend & Townsend 15,000 s.f.
U.S. Leasing* 16,400 s.f.
Van Ness Plaza - expert witness* 180,000 s.f.
Wells Fargo Bank* (150 Fourth) 150,000 s.f.
Wells Fargo Bank* (394 Pacific) 55,000 s.f.
Woodruff-Sawyer* (220 Bush - 1994 Renewal) 25,056 s.f.
Woodruff-Sawyer* (1986 Renewal) 17,869 s.f.
Worker’s Compensation Insurance 35,000 s.f.
Young & Rubicam* (100 First expansion) 10,000 s.f.
Young & Rubicam* 30,000 s.f.
Zenith Insurance 11,600 s.f.
Zia Information (345 California) 16,610 s.f.
100 First (sale consulting) 400,000 s.f.
1840 Market (Cambridge sale) 34,000 s.f.
TOTAL: 10,570,000 ** s.f.
1970-2005 Total Transactions: 513
*Kirk Usher represented Tenant in lease or Owner listed in sale transaction
****Includes 360 transactions under 10,000 s.f. which total 1,300,000 s.f.
"...used Kirk Usher...to strategically assess and financially analyze the occupancy options for our headquarters real estate...Kirk's thorough market knowledge and sensitive negotiating skills have permitted us to realize significantly better results than our original expectations. His organizational skills, comprehensive follow up, and personal relationship abilities have been key factors to our success in this project, particularly given the inordinate number of challenging personalities involved in the process...recommend Kirk for complex real estate advisory services...""
From Debbra E. Colman, Vice President & Manager Corporate Properties, First Interstate Bank
"Bank:"...Kirk Usher...has been the main broker First Interstate has used these past three years in San Francisco...proof of his capabilities lies in the fact that we keep going back to him transaction after transaction. His integrity, level of commitment, and concern for his customers is exceptional...brings a wealth of experience and sound judgment to the deals we have done together...would recommend him without reservation to anyone."
From Elaine Orfanos David, Corporate Counsel, Crowley Maritime Corporation
"...Kirk has been called upon to provide a wide range of real estate brokerage services to Crowley...in the San Francisco Bay Area...Kirk has facilitated and overseen referrals to other Cushman & Wakefield offices around the country...in meeting Crowley's needs outside San Francisco...Kirk's performance for Crowley has consistently been superior and to the highest professional standards...he has been skillful, creative, tough (but fair) in negotiations and devoted to his client's goals and diligent in seeing that those goals are achieved...I would not hesitate to recommend him..."
From Gary Foley, Chief Financial Officer, Woodruff-Sawyer & Company
"Company:...appreciated the courtesy and patience Kirk distributed through this 2+ year process...Kirk could have been very frustrated by me; but if he was I would never had known it. Through the process he helped to educate me...we trusted him eight years ago and he lived up to that trust these past two years."
From Maitland S. Dimock, President, Dimock & Associates, Inc
"...Kirk Usher does a great job!"
From Steven L. Wood, Davis Wright Tremaine
"...excellent job in all the traditional services and also outstanding in willingness to adapt to the client's particular approach."
From Jeff Van Zanten, Vice President, Finance and Operations, Advent Software, Inc. ('95-'97)
"...Kirk and I have worked on a number of projects over the last eighteen months and I have been consistently and thoroughly impressed by his commitment to meeting my needs, his understanding of the marketplace, the timeliness of his responses, and the positive attitude and integrity he has shown...working on a number of projects concurrently that have required Kirk and his team to multi- task as well as react quickly to new ideas or opportunities. I have been consistently impressed by the quality of work produced in a short time frame. I also believe that Kirk is always thinking about my account. Often I'll get calls from him during off hours that demonstrate he is thinking through ideas and options that may benefit me...Kirk and his team performed professionally with the highest degrees of commitment, knowledge, flexibility, and adaptability. Because of his responsible management of the real estate needs of my company we have been able to conclude a number of transactions in a short period of time. I wholeheartedly endorse and recommend Kirk and will certainly use him for future projects."
From Craig Flechsig, Director of Operations, Advent Software, Inc. ('97 - )
"...I have found Cushman & Wakefield (specifically Kirk Usher) to be an indispensable asset for our needs in San Francisco...we have approximately 160,000 sq. ft. now under lease through the efforts of Kirk Usher and Cushman & Wakefield. Kirk's team has also complied a space planning model, using Advent's financial perspective, to help us forecast our growth requirements. This strategic tool has proven invaluable as it clearly outlines space demands versus the financial impact of our potential lease holdings over an extended time-frame...Kirk provides market data, market analyses and information on a regular basis...I also find him to be a key asset to our team. Kirk is a positive influence and brings to the group many strong assets. The level of professionalism that he exhibits is very refreshing. His openness and candor allow us to hold worthwhile debates about strategies and to reach solid, well- founded conclusions. Standards that Kirk sets for himself are as high as his ethics and that breeds trust in his analysis that is indispensable; call it integrity. Kirk's nature is that of a long-term contributor. His analysis of a situation, his attention to details and his willingness to take ownership and responsibility helps the team meet its goals and to stay on track. Kirk has demonstrated a keen sense of the big picture and has balanced the immediate needs and conditions with the long-range impact...my confidence in performing my responsibilities at Advent is a direct reflection of his contributions."
From Christopher J. Dinatale, Manager, Corporate Facilities, Hitachi America, Ltd.
"...concerning the search/acquisition of the No. 2 Building/Land at Sierra Point. As you know this deal was of major concern to HAL...your firm, including yourself...were very responsive to our needs as a client...impressed in C&W's nationwide capabilities to marshal resources, technical skills and expertise, and the manner in which cooperation flowed within your organization. . . our company's style is somewhat different from other organizations in terms of negotiating, I was impressed with your organization's ability to work with our unique negotiating tactics."
From Jim Holden, Senior Real Estate Partner, Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahors & Rudy, LLP
"...as a real estate attorney representing landlords and tenants, I believe I have a unique understanding and reference as to the quality of services, they were superior in all ways...definitely the elite of their profession...knowledge is superior...ethic is excellent...creative and effective in structuring transactions and negotiating...quick to appreciate clients' goals, and perceptive in making suggestions as to other goals which the client may wish to achieve...integrity, level of commitment, and concern for their clients is exceptional...always put their clients' interests first...my highest recommendation."
From James Mooney, President, Chevron Federal Credit Union
"...in every conceivable area, you understand our needs-- and often helped us recognize needs which we were unaware of...your suggestions, advice, and insights were consistently provided in the most timely and helpful manner. . .beyond the obvious expertise that Cushman & Wakefield brought to the project, we were especially pleased with the level of teamwork that developed between our two organizations...even under the most intense circumstances, we invariably enjoyed working with you...our relocation has been a splendid success."