Movers & Shakers: Compass recruits from the Mark Co., Allen Matkins promotes managing partner… and more

Compass is expanding its development division. The firm has hired Sandra Eaton to serve as the regional director of the West Coast for Compass Development. In this new role, Eaton will lead sales and marketing teams for Compass’ listings in California, which include the stalled Residences at Oceanwide. Prior to joining Compass, Eaton worked for the Mark Company and Polaris Pacific.

The firm is also expanding in the South Bay. For its El Segundo office, Compass has recruited Alex Abad, a top producer with 14 years of experience. The fast-growing firm has also hired Pier to Pier Group, led by Blake and Diana Roberts, for its Manhattan Beach office. Schneider Properties, led by Nick Schneider, also recently joined the Manhattan Beach office. The team includes six agents.

Real estate law firm Allen Matkins has tapped Jeffrey Patterson to become the firm’s new managing partner, effective July 1. Patterson, who has been with the company since 1986, is the third managing partner the firm has ever hired since the company was founded in 1977. Though he will be based in San Diego, Patterson will oversee Allen Matkin’s 100 attorneys based in the firm’s Downtown L.A. and Century City offices. Earlier this month, the law firm hired Grant Alexander as labor and employment partner in the L.A. office.

James Capital Advisors, a commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm, has hired a new team that specializes in multifamily. Michael Hanassab and Elliot Hassan will serve as senior directors. Their team includes senior associate John Katnik, associate Danny Spiwak and marketing assistant Marcelo Perez. Combined, their sales volume exceeds $1.5 billion, according to a release from JCA. Hanassab and Hassan began their career working together at Sperry Van Ness and were most recently at Marcus & Millichap.