James S. Saunders, who joined Newmark in 1999, has directed leasing staffs, legal support services and financial analysis departments during his career. He has consummated leasing transactions in excess of five million square feet, including numerous important New York City assignments, and has been responsible for managing national real estate portfolios.
Saunders represents major domestic and international institutions and corporations, successfully having completing leasing transactions for: IBM (300,000 square feet); Warnaco, Inc. (165,000 square feet); Planned Parenthood Federation of America (110,000 square feet); Alston & Bird (110,000 square feet); The National Geographic Society (60,000 square feet); Bay Networks, Inc. (65,000 square feet); The United Nations (75,000 square feet); Consulate and Mission of The Kingdom of Sweden (30,000 square feet); The Republic of China (25,000 square feet); AT&T (80,000 square feet); KPMG Peat Marwick (120,000 square feet); NIAC (25,000 square feet); DreamWorks SKG (25,000 square feet); Toronto Dominion Securities (various assignments) and Union of American Hebrew Congregation (90,000 square feet).
Prior to coming to Newmark, Saunders was responsible for managing the three million-square-foot North American real estate portfolio of WPP Group USA. As agent for WPP, then the world’s largest advertising conglomerate, Saunders completed leasing transactions across the United States for its portfolio of companies that included Ogilvy & Mather; J. Walter Thompson; Hill & Knowlton; Scali McCabe Sloves, Inc. and Furgeson Communications Group.
Saunders has been a member of the Real Estate Board of New York for 20 years, serving on various committees. For the past decade, he has served as senior arbitrator chairperson for the settlement of industry disputes. Saunders has been a staff lecturer on commercial real estate matters at Practicing Law Institute and a visiting lecturer at Cardoza Law School. Additionally, Saunders contributes time and effort to the United States Department of the Interior monitoring sections of the Appalachian Trail in the northeast.
Saunders is the author of the following published articles: “Strategic Planning for Lease Renewals” (May 16, 2001, Real Estate Weekly) “Lease Restructuring Strategies” (Spring, 1998, Real Estate Weekly) “Use a Term Letter to Protect Tenant Interests” (May, 1996, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Inc.).
Education
Saunders earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1970. He earned his Juris Doctorate at St. John’s University Law School in 1973.