CHICAGO—Colliers International | Chicago has just hired Anthony (Tony) Karmin as principal. Karmin, 53, will work in the firm's downtown Chicago office and focus on office tenant representation.

He has represented many corporations and professional firms in office lease relocations and renegotiations locally and nationally in the last 30 years. Prior to Colliers, Karmin spent 10 years at Transwestern, most recently as executive vice president. At Transwestern he jointly oversaw the development of the firm and served on the company's national board of directors. As he looks ahead to his first year with Colliers, Karmin says tenants need to be nimble.   

"As the unemployment rates continue to stabilize along with suburban companies flocking to lease downtown space and no new developments coming on line until 2017, tenants are being advised to make quicker decisions as the higher quality spaces are getting absorbed," he tells GlobeSt.com. "As the office market improves not only are rental rates increasing, but tenants need to be aware of the impact on raising tenant improvement costs."

Prior to joining Transwestern, he was at both CBRE and Insignia/ESG and has represented some of Chicago's largest law firms including Freeborn and Peters, Locke Lord, and Franczek Radelet. Karmin has also represented headquarters relocations of LKQ Corp., Orbitz, APICS, Oceantomo and Tenet Healthcare. He has completed transactions throughout his career with a total consideration of more than $1 billion.

"We are very excited to have Tony on board," says David R. Kahnweiler, chairman and chief executive officer of Colliers International | Chicago. "He has an outstanding reputation within the industry as a hard-working and knowledgeable professional and we know he will add tremendous value within the firm."

Michael Marrion, 40, will join Karmin at Colliers. The two worked for more than five years together at Transwestern. Marrion began his career at Insignia/ESG in Washington DC and has also worked with Grubb & Ellis Co. in Chicago.