David Klein, Esq. (Inactive), CCIM, SIOR, LEED AP, MCR

David Klein is a San Francisco-based commercial real estate advisor specializing in life science, laboratory, office, education, faith-based, and nonprofit real estate. As Executive Vice President and Managing Principal at Lee & Associates San Francisco and Co-Founder of Labspace Directory, Klein advises occupiers, owners, investors, and institutions on strategic site selection, lease negotiations, acquisitions, dispositions, and portfolio planning throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States.

Professional Experience
Over the course of his 40-plus-year career, David Klein has represented biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers, research organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and corporate occupiers in transactions ranging from approximately 5,000 square feet to more than 1,000,000 square feet. Based in San Francisco, he advises clients throughout the Bay Area and nationally on laboratory facilities, office space, institutional properties, and strategic portfolio planning.

• 2025 - Present          Co-Founder | Labspace Directory

• 2023 - Present          Executive Vice President, Managing Principal | Lee & Associates San Francisco

• 2019 - 2023                Senior Vice President, Occupancy Advisory | Transwestern

• 2019 - 2023                Co-Owner | San Jose BioCube (Life Science Incubator)

• 2011 - 2019                Executive Managing Director | Cushman & Wakefield

• 2001 - 2011                Senior Vice President, Partner | Cassidy Turley BT Commercial

• 1993 - 2001                Director | Cushman & Wakefield

• 1987 - 1993                 Leasing Manager | Heitman Properties

• 1984 - 1987                 Real Estate Manager | Bank of America

• 1982 -1984                  Real Estate Manager | Western Community MoneyCenter (Financial Services)

• 1980 - 1982                 Contract Attorney

Representative Transactions
Life Science & Lab Real Estate Representative Transactions

140,000 SF Office & Lab Lease for Prothena Biosciences | South San Francisco, CA
Represented the biotechnology company in securing a state-of-the-art office and laboratory facility to support continued research, operations, and future growth.

85,000 SF Medical Device Facility Lease for Shockwave Medical | Santa Clara, CA
Advised the medical device company on a large-scale facility lease within Silicon Valley's premier life science and innovation market.

35,000 SF Office & Lab Lease for San Jose BioCube | San Jose, CA
Represented the life science organization in the lease of office and laboratory space designed to support research, development, and company expansion.

Awards & Publications

• "Pitfalls of Life Science Start-Ups", Area Development Magazine Podcast (Upcoming) | Discusses the common real estate challenges faced by early-stage life science companies, including laboratory site selection, scaling strategies, and occupancy planning.

• President's Award, Transwestern (2020) | Recognized for outstanding performance and leadership within Transwestern's Occupancy Advisory practice.

• "Are Startups Worth the Investment?", SIOR Report (2019) | Explores the opportunities and risks associated with investing in early-stage companies and commercial real estate considerations that influence startup growth.

• Three-Time Recipient, R&D Deal of the Year, SIOR San Francisco Chapter (2017, 2018 & 2019) | Honored in three consecutive years for award-winning life science and research & development transactions, including major lease restructures and facility leases for Boehringer Ingelheim (215,623 RSF and 217,362 RSF) and Shockwave Medical (85,200 RSF) in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Education & Credentials

• Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) - A professional designation awarded to experienced commercial real estate advisors who meet rigorous standards for transaction volume, industry expertise, and ethics.

• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) - A commercial real estate designation focused on investment analysis, financial modeling, market analysis, and transaction strategy. CCIM designees complete advanced education and document significant commercial real estate transaction experience.

• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) - A credential recognizing expertise in sustainable building design, construction, and operations. LEED Accredited Professionals understand green building standards and best practices for high-performance commercial real estate.

• Master of Corporate Real Estate (MCR) - A professional designation focused on corporate real estate strategy, portfolio planning, workplace management, and aligning real estate decisions with business objectives.

• California Department of Real Estate Broker License, #00790730

• California State Bar, License #92787 (Inactive)

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Credits | University of San Francisco

• Juris Doctor (JD), Law | Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), History | Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Specialties & Services
David Klein advises occupiers, owners, and institutions throughout every stage of the commercial real estate lifecycle. His practice focuses on complex transactions requiring specialized market knowledge, strategic planning, and long-term occupancy solutions.

• Life Science & Laboratory Real Estate

• Office & R&D Facilities

• Tenant Representation

• Landlord Representation

• Site Selection

• Lease Negotiations

• Portfolio Strategy  

• Broker Opinion of Value

• Expert Witness in Real Estate Litigation and Arbitration