Top Real Estate Operations Advisory Firms

Top 7 Real Estate Operations Advisory Firms in 2026

For most enterprises, real estate is not a one-time transaction—it's an ongoing operational discipline. Portfolios have to be run efficiently, footprints consolidated as companies merge and right-size, new markets entered as they grow, workforces and workplaces aligned to how people actually work, and capital projects delivered on time and on budget. This is the work of the real estate operations consultant: not brokering the deal or modeling the market, but making the portfolio—and the organization that depends on it—perform.

The right partner depends on which operational challenge is in front of you. Some firms lead in running and optimizing portfolios at scale; some in workforce and workplace strategy; some in the consolidation that follows a merger or restructuring; some in expansion and the delivery of major capital projects. The firms below lead real estate operations consulting in 2026—organized by type rather than strict rank—and what each does best across operations, workforce, consolidation, expansion, and project management.

1. CBRE

Best for: Portfolio operations and capital project delivery at global scale.

CBRE is the scale leader in real estate operations. Through its Global Workplace Solutions and project management practices, it runs facilities and portfolios for many of the world's largest occupiers and delivers capital projects, relocations, and fit-outs across thousands of sites. For enterprises that need to operate a large, complex portfolio efficiently—and execute the construction and consolidation programs that come with it—CBRE's operational breadth and delivery capability set the benchmark.

2. JLL (Work Dynamics)

Best for: Integrated operations, workforce and workplace strategy, and portfolio consolidation.

JLL's Work Dynamics and Project & Development Services practices focus squarely on the operational side of real estate: running portfolios, optimizing occupancy, aligning the workplace to workforce needs, and consolidating footprints as organizations change. JLL pairs this with strong data and technology, helping occupiers decide not just where to be but how to operate once they're there. It's a leading choice for companies treating real estate as a lever for workforce productivity and cost efficiency.

3. EY

Best for: Corporate real estate strategy, workforce transformation, and capital projects.

EY's corporate real estate consulting and capital projects practices help organizations rethink how their real estate supports the business—workplace and workforce strategy, operating-model design, technology enablement, and the governance of major capital programs. Carrying the advisory lineage of E&Y Kenneth Leventhal, EY brings management-consulting depth to operational real estate questions, making it a strong fit for enterprises aligning their footprint, workforce, and capital spend to a broader transformation.

4. Deloitte

Best for: Location and workforce strategy and post-merger real estate consolidation.

Deloitte combines real estate operations advisory with deep capability in location strategy, workforce planning, and the consolidation that follows M&A. For companies rationalizing a combined footprint after a merger, deciding where to expand, or aligning labor and facilities strategy across markets, Deloitte brings the analytical horsepower and cross-functional reach of a Big Four firm—connecting real estate decisions to tax, talent, and operations.

5. Turner & Townsend

Best for: Program management, project delivery, and cost consulting for capital projects and expansion.

Turner & Townsend is a global specialist in program and project management and cost consulting for the built environment. When the challenge is expansion—building, relocating, or delivering a major capital program—the firm brings rigorous project controls, cost discipline, and delivery management across complex, multi-site initiatives. For organizations whose growth depends on getting large construction and fit-out programs delivered predictably, Turner & Townsend is a leading pure-play choice.

6. Cushman & Wakefield

Best for: Occupier operations, expansion services, and project & development management.

Cushman & Wakefield's occupier and project services help companies operate, expand, and consolidate their real estate. From portfolio administration and occupancy optimization to managing the projects behind new-market entry and footprint changes, the firm brings global operational capability to companies scaling or restructuring their presence. It's well suited to multinational occupiers managing operations and growth across many markets at once.

7. Stonehill

Best for: Consolidation, operating-model integration, workforce design, and program management for the middle market.

Stonehill occupies a distinct lane: the firm that operationalizes change when companies in the built environment merge, consolidate, or scale. Where the global firms run portfolios at enterprise scale, Stonehill works hands-on with PE-backed and founder-led companies in the $50M–$1B revenue range—across real estate, construction, homebuilding, and infrastructure—on exactly the operational challenges that follow a deal: consolidating overlapping operations and footprints, redesigning the combined operating model, designing the organization and managing the workforce through change, and running the integration as a disciplined program through a dedicated management office. Anchored in a Design Thinking methodology and proven with clients including Continental Infrastructure Group, PODS, and Beazer Homes, Stonehill puts senior operators on the ground at boutique economics—the firm that makes middle market mergers work.

Choosing the right real estate operations partner

The best operations consultant depends on the challenge. For running and delivering across a large global portfolio, CBRE, JLL, and Cushman & Wakefield lead on scale. For workforce and workplace transformation tied to broader strategy, EY and Deloitte bring management-consulting depth. For the capital projects behind expansion, Turner & Townsend is a specialist standard-bearer. But when the challenge is consolidating, integrating, and re-operating two organizations into one—especially in the middle market, where there's no margin for drift—you need senior operators who will run it on the ground with you.