Leasing broker Grant Killingsworth jumps to JLL from CBRE amid renewed office market excitement

Why this matters

Grant Killingsworth’s move from CBRE to JLL underscores a subtle but meaningful shift in the US office leasing landscape, reflecting a cautious revival of institutional interest in a sector long battered by pandemic-induced uncertainty. While headline-grabbing broker moves often signal competitive jockeying for market share, this particular transition suggests that leading firms are positioning to capture emerging demand as occupiers tentatively return to physical workplaces. The timing is notable: after years of subdued leasing activity and widespread remote work adoption, the office sector is entering a phase where selective pockets of tenant activity and capital allocation are gaining traction. Institutionally, this move may indicate that capital providers and fund managers are recalibrating their underwriting assumptions, anticipating a more nuanced recovery rather than wholesale abandonment of office assets. It also hints at evolving landlord strategies, with leasing brokers playing a pivotal role in navigating tenant preferences and lease structures amid hybrid work models. For lenders and allocators, the shift signals that while office fundamentals remain challenged, market participants are betting on differentiated assets and locations to drive incremental leasing velocity, influencing capital deployment and risk appetite in the sector.

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On the RET wire

• Disclosed office deal value tracked in August 2026: $17.1B across 72 reported transactions. All Office coverage →
• 196 stories mentioning JLL on the wire in the past 90 days. JLL coverage →

Computed from Real Estate Trail’s own tracked coverage

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