Matt Brainard

Background

About Matt Brainard

Most significant real estate decisions don’t fail because of execution - they fail because the wrong questions are asked too late.For more than two decades, I’ve advised executive teams, general counsels, and law firm leadership at moments where lease structure, timing, and uncertainty intersect in ways that materially impact cost, flexibility, and risk for years to come. In many cases, the real challenge isn’t the transaction itself, but understanding the second- and third-order consequences of decisions that often appear straightforward on the surface.I’m typically brought into situations where:Leadership wants an independent, experienced perspective before committing to a pathLease renewals, relocations, or growth initiatives carry outsized financial, operational, or talent implicationsMultiple stakeholders need to align around strategy, not just executionStandard market advice feels insufficient for the complexity at handAs a tenant advisor at Savills and a member of the firm’s Technology and Legal Tenant Practice Groups, I’ve negotiated complex transactions across technology, legal, media, entertainment, life sciences, financial, aerospace, and professional services organizations, representing more than 4.5 million square feet globally. My role is less about the deal itself and more about helping leaders think clearly and strategically, avoid unforced errors, and preserve optionality in uncertain environments.I work best with executives and leadership teams who value preparation, discretion, and long-term perspective - and who prefer to engage early, while real leverage still exists.If you’re navigating a decision that feels consequential, ambiguous, or simply “bigger than it looks,” I’m always open to a thoughtful conversation.Outside of work, I’m a devoted husband and father, a lifelong competitor, and an avid tennis player - pursuits that reinforce the same principles I bring to my advisory work: discipline, patience, and being prepared when it matters most.