Walker & Dunlop, a leading US commercial real estate finance and advisory services firm, has launched internationally by adding a London-based brokerage and capital markets advisory team.
For 87 years, the Bethesda, Maryland-based Walker & Dunlop has focused exclusively on the American commercial real estate market. It has now decided on a strategic expansion that leverages "the company’s scale, client demand for its expertise beyond the US, and opportunity to strengthen relationships with global investors already engaged with the company in the US market", it said in a release.
The team will be led by Claudio Sgobba, who will be senior managing director, head – EMEA Capital Markets, leading a group that includes managing director Jessica Bell.
“This is a game changer for us and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our company,” said Willy Walker, chairman and chief executive of Walker & Dunlop, in a statement. “Over the past 20 years, we have built W&D into one of the largest commercial real estate lenders and service providers in the US. Now is the time to leverage our scale and expertise to expand beyond the US, bringing us closer to our global capital partners. Having previously led the European expansion of a US multinational platform, I have a clear vision for this next phase of growth, and I’m thrilled to welcome Claudio and Jessica to W&D to begin this next chapter.”
Sgobba, Bell and other team members join W&D from Artega Capital.
Walker & Dunlop said the London office in Mayfair will concentrate on sourcing and structuring a diverse range of commercial real estate capital solutions, including senior, mezzanine, whole-loan, bridge loans, loans on loan, equity joint ventures and refinancings.
Founded in the summer of 2024, Artega Capital has 60 years of combined experience across the United Kingdom, Western Europe, United States and the Middle East. It has completed transactions exceeding $70 billion since 2005, the group said.
“We are thrilled to join Walker & Dunlop at a pivotal moment in its growth, and to be an important part of its international expansion,” said Sgobba. “W&D’s culture of client focus, and exceptional execution are what attracted us to the company. As we open the doors on W&D’s European operations, we will bring that same culture of focus and commitment to our global clients.”
Sgobba’s 20-year background includes roles as a lender, institutional investor, investment banker and capital adviser. Before founding Artega, Sgobba was a senior director at JLL, and previously a managing director at Holiday Fenoglio Fowler. His career also includes principal roles with Dubai Inc., Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai, and Wintrust Financial in Chicago.
Bell brings 20 years of experience in various roles, including lender, syndicator and institutional investor, with a focus on structuring and executing debt and equity transactions across the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and the United States. Prior to joining Artega, Bell served as a managing director at KKR, where she was a member of the capital markets co-investments and partnerships team, focusing on global real estate. Her previous experience includes significant roles at ING in London and Amsterdam, the Royal Bank of Scotland in London, and Société Générale in both Paris and New York.