Neil Cowperthwaite
Principal, Lee & Associates Oakland
Oakland, CA 94607
East Bay CRE Broker | Office & Flex Specialist | Berkeley · Oakland · Emeryville | 1M+ SF Transacted | Principal, Lee & Associates Oakland
Phone (510) 903-7603
Mobile (415) 302-6940
East Bay CRE Broker | Office & Flex Specialist | Berkeley · Oakland · Emeryville | 1M+ SF Transacted | Principal, Lee & Associates Oakland
Specialties
Investment Sales Broker, Landlord Rep (Flex), Landlord Rep (Office), Tenant Rep, Tenant Rep (Flex), Tenant Rep (Office)
Property Types
Office, Flex, Health Care
Markets
North Bay/Santa Rosa, East Bay/Oakland
Languages
English
Bio
I am a commercial real estate broker and Principal at Lee & Associates Oakland, specializing in the sales and leasing of office, flex, and investment properties across the East Bay since 2011. With over 14 years of hyperlocal market expertise and more than 1 million square feet of completed sale and lease transactions throughout Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, Alameda, and San Leandro, I bring unmatched local knowledge, sharp negotiating skills, and a personal, service-first approach to every client engagement.
What I Do
I provide full-service commercial real estate brokerage to a diverse client base across the East Bay and broader San Francisco Bay Area. My practice is built around four core service areas:
Tenant Representation — I help businesses of all sizes find, evaluate, and negotiate the right commercial space in Berkeley, Oakland, and Emeryville. From initial market surveys and financial analysis to letter of intent negotiation and lease execution, I manage the entire process on behalf of the tenant — at no cost to the tenant in most transactions. Whether you are a startup searching for your first East Bay office, a growing company expanding into new locations, or an established business restructuring or renewing a lease, I deliver results that protect your interests and your bottom line.
Landlord Representation — I provide strategic leasing and marketing expertise to commercial property owners throughout the East Bay. My services include targeted tenant outreach, competitive market positioning, lease negotiation, and tenant retention strategies designed to maximize occupancy, achieve top rents for the asset class, and increase the overall value of the building. My deep knowledge of current market conditions across Oakland, Berkeley, and Emeryville means I can position your asset to attract the right tenants at the right price.
Investment Sales — I represent buyers and sellers of income-producing commercial properties throughout the East Bay. I specialize in Class B and C office buildings, flex properties, and mixed-use investment assets ranging from 5,000 to 200,000 square feet. My services include property valuation, financial analysis, purchase versus lease evaluation, and full transaction management from listing through close. Notable investment sales include the Wells Fargo Building at 1290 E. 14th Street in San Leandro, 1441 Franklin Street in Oakland, and multiple Class B office and flex buildings across Berkeley and the broader East Bay.
Buyer Representation — For investors and owner-users seeking to acquire commercial property in Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, or the surrounding East Bay, I provide comprehensive market analysis, property identification, due diligence support, and negotiation expertise to ensure every acquisition is strategically sound and competitively positioned.
My Market
My practice is built entirely around the East Bay commercial market. I track every available office space, flex property, lease comparable, and ownership change across more than 38 million square feet of East Bay commercial inventory daily. That depth of knowledge gives my clients a decisive advantage — whether they are signing their first commercial lease, negotiating a renewal, acquiring an investment property, or disposing of a commercial asset.
My core markets include Oakland's CBD, Uptown Oakland, Jack London Square, Old Oakland, and Temescal; Berkeley's Downtown, West Berkeley industrial zone, Telegraph Avenue, College Avenue, and Solano Avenue corridors; Emeryville's Powell Street R&D and tech corridor; Alameda; and San Leandro. I am also active along the full I-80 and I-880 commercial corridor connecting the East Bay to the broader Bay Area.
Property Specialties
I work across a broad range of commercial property types including Class B and C office space, flex and R&D buildings, industrial and warehouse properties, medical office and healthcare facilities, retail storefronts, mixed-use commercial properties, and income-producing investment buildings. My sweet spot is office and flex buildings between 5,000 and 200,000 square feet — an asset class I have tracked, transacted, and advised on exclusively for over 14 years.
Who I Work With
My clients include startups and early-stage companies seeking their first East Bay office, established businesses relocating or restructuring commercial leases, healthcare tenants and medical office users with specialized space requirements, non-profit organizations seeking affordable office or flex space, investors and owner-users acquiring Class B and C commercial buildings, property owners and landlords seeking expert leasing representation, and corporations evaluating East Bay office locations along the I-80 and I-880 corridor.
Lee & Associates
As a Principal at Lee & Associates Oakland — one of North America's largest and most respected commercial real estate firms — I combine the resources, technology, and transaction reach of a major national brokerage
Education
