Newmark Brokers 212,000-SF Brooklyn Defender Services Lease at Tishman Speyer's The Wheeler, Bringing Downtown Brooklyn Office Development to Full Occupancy

NEW YORK — Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK) has brokered a 212,000-square-foot headquarters lease for Brooklyn Defender Services at The Wheeler, Tishman Speyer's mixed-use development at 422 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn, the firm announced June 9. The 31-year agreement brings the approximately 617,000-square-foot, 10-story property to full occupancy and consolidates the nonprofit public defense organization from five separate locations into a single headquarters.

Deal Structure and Lease Terms

Under the terms of the lease, Brooklyn Defender Services will occupy six full floors at The Wheeler under a synthetic leasehold condominium structure. The financial terms of the lease were not disclosed.

Newmark Managing Directors Jonathan Franzel and Ryan Gessin, along with Associate Director Leo Koné, represented Brooklyn Defender Services in the transaction.

"The Wheeler offered Brooklyn Defender Services a rare opportunity to secure a long-term solution consolidating five separate locations into a single headquarters," said Franzel. "The combination of modern infrastructure, large-block availability and immediate proximity to the courts and surrounding communities made the property uniquely suited to support BDS' mission and future growth."

Tenant Roster at The Wheeler

The Brooklyn Defender Services lease completes the tenant roster at The Wheeler. Current tenants include Brooklyn Prospect Charter School, which signed a 150,000-square-foot lease in 2025 for a new high school campus, and St. Francis College, which relocated its campus to more than 255,000 square feet at the property in 2022.

Brooklyn Defender Services cited the property's proximity to courts and surrounding communities as a key factor in the site selection.

"We are pleased to welcome Brooklyn Defender Services to The Wheeler," said Tishman Speyer Senior Managing Director Chris Shehadeh. "With its modern workspaces and highly accessible location in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, The Wheeler proved to be an ideal fit for BDS and its esteemed team of professionals."

Nonprofit Tenant's Mission and Consolidation Strategy

Brooklyn Defender Services is a nonprofit organization that provides free legal representation and advocacy services to individuals and families throughout Brooklyn. The new headquarters is designed to support collaboration across the organization while improving accessibility for staff and the communities it serves.

"Signing this long-term lease marks a major investment in the future of our organization and the people who make this important work possible," said Lisa Schreibersdorf, Executive Director of Brooklyn Defender Services. "These new headquarters will allow us to provide an inspiring, collaborative and supportive environment for our staff, the people we serve and surrounding communities. This new space strengthens our ability to provide high-quality legal representation and the best possible outcomes for the people we serve for decades to come."

Newmark, which generated revenues of more than $3.4 billion for the twelve months ended March 31, 2026, operates from over 185 offices with more than 9,600 professionals across four continents, according to the firm.

Sources

Newmark Group, Inc. via PR Newswire, June 9, 2026