Commercial real estate marketing firm acquired

Commercial real estate marketing firm acquired


After nearly two decades, Chase Communications has established itself as one of the go-to firms for developers looking to get the word out on their latest groundbreaking, acquisition or lease.

Now, it’s Chase Communications that’s being acquired. The firm, founded in 1997, and based in Washington and San Francisco, was bought earlier this month by Levick, Washington, D.C.’s third-largest marketing and public relations firm that posted $20 million in metro-area revenue in 2015.

Founder Julie Chase said she wasn’t actively looking to be acquired and could have continued on her own. But Levick CEO Richard Levick approached her about the prospect of an acquisition and she determined it would create more opportunities for her roughly 10-person firm and clients. It will also help Levick make more of a name for itself in the real estate development arena, as it’s more widely recognized in areas now such as risk and crisis management, litigation and public affairs. Chase declined to disclose the acquisition price.

“After 19-and-a-half years of having my own firm, I have now allowed myself to be acquired,” she said with a touch of levity before turning serious. “It’s a great move, and I am super-excited.”

Chase has represented a virtual who’s who among D.C. developers, ranging from Hines to The JBG Cos. to the developers of The Wharf in Southwest D.C. Its reach includ ed multicity firms such as Grosvenor Americas, TMG Partners and MacFarlane Partners. Chase was also active in areas including health care and public affairs.

Chase and her staff have already made the move to Levick’s roughly 40-person D.C. office at 1900 M St. NW, with clients in tow including MRP Realty, the Southwest Business Improvement District and MacFarlane. Chase will chair Levick’s real estate practice group and help build up that part of the firm’s business. In addition to D.C., Levick has offices in Chicago, New York and Toronto but will be adding San Francisco with the addition of Chase.

“This is just a great way to advance a lot faster,” said Chase. “It became a really good fit, and I like the people over here.”

 

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