Melissa Rubenstein Joins Cushman & Wakefield as Managing Director, Office Tenant Representation

CHICAGO, March 25, 2024 – Cushman & Wakefield is pleased to announce that Melissa Rubenstein, a seasoned professional with over two decades of agency leasing experience, has joined the firm as Managing Director in the Office Tenant Representation group. Melissa's decision to transition from agency leasing to tenant representation is a strategic move that aims to bring a fresh perspective to the tenant side of the brokerage. 

Rubenstein will be joining the Chicago-based team of Ari Klein, Scott Shelbourne, and Jeff Skender, bringing her unique insights and expertise to represent clients both locally and nationally. Her extensive experience in representing Chicago's top office investors will now be leveraged to provide tenants with unparalleled advice and creative solutions. 

“Having negotiated across the table from Ari, Scott, and Jeff for almost two decades, I’ve consistently been impressed by their business development skills, client relationships and negotiation abilities. The chance to join forces with them in a new role and apply my knowledge from the Landlord side was a thrilling opportunity,” said Rubenstein. “In this complicated era, as firms steer through complex decisions in the post-covid workplace, our team stands out with a unique ability to offer insightful and innovative solutions. 

Vicki Noonan, Cushman & Wakefield Chicago Managing Principal, added, "Melissa's shift from agency leasing to tenant representation is a testament to her adaptability and vision. Her perspective and insight make her an invaluable addition to our office tenant rep group. We are excited to welcome her and look forward to her continued success." 

Before joining Cushman & Wakefield, Rubenstein was a Managing Director at JLL, where she represented Chicago's top office owners on transactions totaling more than 7 million square feet. She specialized in repositioning assets, increasing occupancy, improving tenant quality and creating value for investors. Her consistent top performance at JLL in Chicago and the Midwest earned her a spot in Crain’s Chicago Business’s Notable Women in Commercial Real Estate in 2019. 

Cushman & Wakefield Vice Chair, Klein, expressed his excitement, "Melissa is a consummate professional, who is well respected the real estate community. Now, our clients can benefit from her years of experience negotiating on behalf of landlords. We are humbled that Melissa has chosen to join our team and excited about what we can accomplish together. If there was a missing piece, we've just found it.”