Sperry Van Ness establishes NYC arm

Anthony Casalena, managing director of Sperry Van Ness in New York

National commercial real estate firm Sperry Van Ness has expanded its operations into New York City, the company announced today, to try to capitalize on existing relationships with New York buyers.

The new arm of the firm, called Sperry Van Ness | RealSite Group, is led by Anthony Casalena, and will provide commercial sales, leasing and consulting services.

“Our decision to open an office in New York was due to our growing number of New York-based clients. With an office in New York City, we are better positioned to service their growing needs as well as the needs of international buyers looking for opportunities to invest in the city,” Casalena said in a statement.

The company is currently working out of a temporary, six-person space at 123 Third Avenue at 14th Street, Casalena said, but hopes to make some key new hires in the coming months and then move somewhere permanent.

The firm has offices in more than 153 global markets, according to its website.

“Right now, we’re pretty much ramping up,” he said. “We’re talking to a number of brokers.”

He added: “We’re going to be working across product types in investment sales. We love Manhattan and we expect to do good things here. We do have a good number of international clients and New York is always a target for them.”

Prior to joining Sperry Van Ness, Casalena was vice president of brokerage sales for Coldwell BankerCommercial — Katherine Clarke