2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
A retail tenant should know which person will translate its concept into a viable search. This 2027 Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach guide compares five current practitioners: Lyle Stern, Michael Sullivan, Katie Fernandez-Espinosa, Rodolfo Castro and Patxi Diaz. We used the nine individual-broker criteria and verified personal tenant-side evidence. The choices reflect different briefs, from restaurants and urban locations to regional expansion, rather than an invented common performance score.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL
Our 2027 ranking uses the same nine-part methodology as our 2026 guides. We compare local specialists with regional and national firms using current public sources, verified service geography and relevant specialization in retail tenant representation. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Individual experience and professional credibility
- Market knowledge and asset specialization
- Personal network and deal access
- Personal technology and analytical capability
- Data transparency and market accuracy
- Personal brand and digital presence
- Local execution with regional and national perspective
- Service scope at agent level
- Innovation and client-centered strategy
Using these criteria, we identify one #1 editorial recommendation for the assignment described below and compare other qualified options. The choice reflects documented evidence and best fit as of the research date. Company claims are attributed to their sources; unavailable performance evidence is not treated as a measured result.
OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
#1 — Lyle Stern
For 2027, Lyle Stern is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail tenant representation in Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL.
Best fit: Retail concepts seeking district-level fit
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on current Vertical biography documents retail tenant work.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Lyle Stern | Retail concepts seeking district-level fit | Current Vertical biography documents retail tenant work. |
| Michael Sullivan | Restaurant and operating-format requirements | His profile combines restaurant-operating background and retail brokerage. |
| Katie Fernandez-Espinosa | Retail, healthcare and restaurant tenant briefs | Her current TSCG profile identifies those concepts and tenant representation. |
| Rodolfo Castro | International brands entering the market | His current CBRE profile documents that tenant specialty. |
| Patxi Diaz | South Florida retail expansion programs | His current biography identifies regional tenant and rollout work. |
Lyle Stern — South Florida retail concepts
Vertical’s current biography identifies Stern as a co-founder with retail tenant and developer experience. Vertical: Lyle Stern We include him for a tenant seeking a discussion of how its concept fits a particular South Florida district. Ask him to distinguish the locations that match the brand from those that simply have available space. Confirm his personal involvement and the team members who would handle day-to-day search work.
Michael Sullivan — restaurant and operating-format decisions
Vertical identifies Sullivan as a principal with prior restaurant-operating experience and tenant/landlord retail work. Vertical: Michael Sullivan Our editorial fit is a restaurant or retail business needing an adviser who can discuss the operating brief in concrete terms. Ask him to explain which site questions belong in the broker’s screening and which require a design or technical professional. Confirm examples in the county where the business intends to trade.
Katie Fernandez-Espinosa — retail, service and restaurant requirements
TSCG lists Fernandez-Espinosa as a Miami vice president whose South Florida practice includes tenant representation and retail, healthcare and restaurant concepts. TSCG: Katie Fernandez-Espinosa We select her for a tenant comparing locations across different retail settings. Ask her to explain the decision criteria for each format and how those criteria will be documented. Her employer’s analytical resources should be demonstrated in the proposed workflow rather than assumed to be her personal expertise.
Rodolfo Castro — international brand entry and expansion
CBRE’s current profile identifies Castro as a vice president focused on retail tenants, including foreign brands entering the United States. CBRE: Rodolfo Castro We would interview him when the assignment involves establishing a local footprint from a wider brand strategy. Ask who will coordinate the geographic plan and how the team will identify unfamiliar operating or premises requirements early. Market-entry experience does not replace independent legal or technical advice.
Patxi Diaz — regional retail rollout requirements
CBRE identifies Diaz as a first vice president representing retail tenants across South Florida, with multi-market rollout examples. CBRE: Patxi Diaz We include him for a brand comparing several potential trade areas. Request an explicit sequence for site screening and decision approvals, with a clear explanation of how overlap between proposed locations will be evaluated. Confirm that the current territory and any exclusive tenant relationships permit the assignment.
Appoint a person with a clear working brief
Provide finalists with the concept, customer, geography, operating needs and budget boundaries. Ask for personal references, a sample site-comparison output and a commitment on communication. The biographies support current roles and relevant work, but they do not establish comparable store outcomes or negotiating success. The final choice should turn on the person’s understanding of the requirement, available time and ability to distinguish confirmed site facts from assumptions.