2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
Pete Pavlakis at Legend Partners is our #1 editorial individual retail leasing broker for a Denver-area institutional landlord with a mixed-use project or shopping center. Julie McBrearty at SullivanHayes and Jim Lee at CBRE provide alternative perspectives. Our nine-criterion assessment focuses on personal owner-side responsibilities, current roles and the actual property format. The recommendation should be tested against the leasing problem the owner needs to solve.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO
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 leasing for landlords. 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 — Pete Pavlakis
For 2027, Pete Pavlakis is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail leasing for landlords in Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO.
Best fit: Institutional mixed-use and shopping-center leasing
Our #1 for an institutional retail landlord has a current personal specialization expressly covering new mixed-use projects and existing shopping centers, making the match between the owner’s property format and the adviser’s stated work particularly direct.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Pete Pavlakis | Institutional mixed-use and shopping-center leasing | His personal specialization directly identifies those owner requirements. |
| Julie McBrearty | Denver-area tenant procurement for landlords | Her current SullivanHayes profile documents the relevant responsibility. |
| Jim Lee | Suburban retail leasing and positioning | His current CBRE practice includes relevant metro career examples. |
Pete Pavlakis — our #1 for institutional retail landlords
Pavlakis’s current Legend biography identifies him as a founding partner specializing in institutional owners, new mixed-use projects and existing shopping centers. Legend Partners: Pete Pavlakis, institutional retail landlords We favor that direct match for the stated assignment. Ask him to explain the retail role within the asset before discussing a list of prospects. The owner should know what he will personally lead and how other team members contribute to the campaign.
Julie McBrearty — tenant procurement and Denver-area growth
McBrearty’s current SullivanHayes biography describes landlord representation, tenant procurement and Denver-metro work, and confirms her move from Legend in 2020. SullivanHayes: Julie McBrearty, current Denver retail practice We include her for an owner seeking a distinct local perspective on attracting suitable tenants. Ask how she would balance immediate vacancy needs with the longer direction of the property. Her present affiliation matters when evaluating the team that would actually undertake the assignment.
Jim Lee — suburban retail positioning and leasing
Lee’s CBRE profile describes metro landlord leasing and positioning, with career examples including Lakewood and Littleton. CBRE: Jim Lee, Denver retail tenants and landlords We select him for an owner who wants a suburban retail comparison. Ask for examples matching the subject property’s format and the proposed role. Historical tenant names and occupancy descriptions on a biography are not treated here as a current account of those properties.
Have the broker explain the first owner decision
Ask each adviser to identify what must be settled before prospecting begins. The issue could involve use constraints, a physical condition, an incomplete offering or the owner’s willingness to fund work. Require a distinction between confirmed facts and recommendations. A useful leasing adviser should be able to say which uncertainty is preventing progress and what evidence would resolve it.
Set expectations for prospect feedback
Agree on a report that identifies the prospect’s requirement, the reason for interest and the obstacle to proceeding. Ask how the adviser will test whether a repeated objection calls for a change in the property or simply a different target tenant. Discuss competing listings, confidentiality and communication with the management team. The owner should receive decisions it can act on, alongside a clear account of work performed.
Why Pavlakis is first for this brief
The specific institutional and mixed-use shopping-center specialization is the decisive match. McBrearty offers a tenant-procurement comparison and Lee adds suburban positioning experience. Public sources do not provide comparable audited figures for personal leasing speed, achieved terms or tenant durability. Our order is an editorial assessment of the documented assignment fit, with the final appointment depending on a credible proposal and relevant references.