2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
Colliers is our 2027 editorial #1 industrial landlord leasing firm for Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. A dated owner-side assignment at Airport West establishes the representation side and a specific local team. CBRE, JLL, NAI Bergman and Lee & Associates Cincinnati provide four alternatives. Although the legacy guide uses “listing agents” in its title, this comparison evaluates brokerage firms under the nine firm criteria, with named practitioners used to substantiate the services.
How we rank commercial real estate brokerage firms in Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN
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 industrial leasing for landlords. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Experience and reputation
- Market knowledge and specialization
- Network and connections
- Technological capabilities
- Data transparency and accuracy
- Online presence and digital marketing
- Local and global reach
- Service range
- Innovation and customer focus
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 — Colliers
For 2027, Colliers is our #1 editorial recommendation among commercial real estate brokerage firms for industrial leasing for landlords in Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN.
Best fit: Industrial landlord leasing in Northern Kentucky
Our editorial #1 industrial landlord firm because its August 2026 OSH Cut announcement identifies the Burlington landlord team, with the tenant independently confirming the same facility address.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Colliers | Industrial landlord leasing in Northern Kentucky | A dated Burlington case explicitly identifies the landlord team and the tenant corroborates its location. |
| CBRE | Industrial leasing within an ownership strategy | Kraus documents owner-side industrial services and development experience. |
| JLL | Property-specific industrial marketing | A Milford lease offering identifies a local brokerage team. |
| NAI Bergman | Leasing coordinated with property readiness | Its industrial/project leasing and facilities services support a combined proposal. |
| Lee & Associates Cincinnati | Industrial campaigns tied to operations | Local industrial marketing resources complement its operating-service scope. |
#1 — Colliers: a documented Northern Kentucky landlord assignment
An August 3, 2026 Colliers announcement identifies John Gartner, Erin Casey and Andrew Jacob as landlord representatives for OSH Cut at 2424 Airwest Boulevard in Burlington. OSH Cut’s own website separately lists its facility at that address. Colliers: August 3, 2026 OSH Cut landlord representation announcement OSH Cut: company-published Burlington facility address The tenant source corroborates the location; the broker source establishes agency. This combination is why Colliers leads for an industrial owner seeking relevant cross-river leasing execution. It does not independently verify the economic terms or prove a market-wide performance advantage.
CBRE: institutional industrial ownership requirements
Jeremy Kraus’s current biography describes industrial landlord and tenant representation, with development-related experience. CBRE: Jeremy Kraus industrial services CBRE is a useful comparison when the leasing plan needs to account for a larger ownership strategy or build-to-suit alternative. Ask the proposed local team to identify the likely tenant profile, capital constraints and realistic alternatives. Historical development roles should be treated as experience, not as proof that a former employer’s buildings are current CBRE assignments.
JLL: a specific Milford leasing example
JLL’s current 5400 District Drive listing in Milford identifies Tom Fairhurst and Grace Leonard for an industrial lease offering. JLL: 5400 District Drive industrial leasing, Milford This is property-level evidence of an agency marketing role. We would include the firm for an owner comparing how a smaller industrial opportunity should be presented against competing inventory. Request a campaign tailored to the building’s operating attributes; the advertised asking terms are not evidence of a completed lease or achieved rent.
NAI Bergman: leasing linked to property readiness
NAI lists industrial and project-leasing services alongside facilities, construction and build-to-suit support. NAI Bergman: services and tri-state territory We include it when a property’s readiness and leasing proposal need to be evaluated together. Ask for a practical sequence of owner decisions, with separate costs for necessary repairs and optional improvements. The appointment should distinguish the broker’s campaign from construction oversight and ongoing management so that responsibility remains clear.
Lee & Associates Cincinnati: an operationally integrated comparison
Lee’s local listing resources include a dedicated industrial report, while its service page joins leasing with property and construction functions. Lee & Associates Cincinnati: office and industrial listing reports Lee & Associates Cincinnati: regional brokerage and operations This supports an interview for owners wanting brokerage to coordinate with building operations. Require a named industrial specialist and comparable nearby owner assignments. An available report does not itself establish the quality of lead generation or the likely time needed to complete a lease.
Judge the campaign against the actual property
Provide finalists with the same verified specifications, permitted uses, delivery conditions and capital limits. Ask them to explain which prospective requirements they would reject and why. Colliers leads on a recent, explicitly landlord-side Burlington example; the other firms supply useful alternatives in strategy and operating support. For Southeast Indiana, request direct local evidence rather than extending a Northern Kentucky case across the state line. Compare reporting and execution commitments without inventing rent premiums, downtime reductions or guaranteed demand.