The largest broker-owned commercial real estate firm in North America, Lee & Associates, opens its first office in Ontario.

Lee & Associates Toronto will be headed by Mark Cascagnette and is the firm’s second office in Canada.

Cascagnette brings over 28 years of diversified commercial brokerage and corporate real estate management experience, most recently as one of Cushman & Wakefield’s National Top 10 Brokers in Canada and its Top Industrial Producer in 2018.

“I’ve done my homework, seen the results, and listened to our clients,” Cascagnette said in the firm’s press release.

“Lee & Associates provides the best, most entrepreneurial, and progressive structure in our industry. The brokerage community has been waiting for a company designed to best service brokers and clients alike,” he added.

“We plan to become a regional commercial brokerage player and will recruit and train the best and brightest professionals in all service lines starting with industrial, office, land, and investment sales. We are so excited about tapping into Lee’s long-established national operation in the U.S., and along with our Vancouver partners, will help build a strong Canadian presence.”

Lee & Associates is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

“Our focus continues to be enhanced client services in North America, and we are always looking for markets that we can expand into to better serve our clients,” said Lee & Associates CEO Jeff Rinkov in the firm’s press release.