July 30, 2025 (Bellevue, WA) – Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services, is pleased to announce that James Lambert, a 25-year veteran of commercial real estate strategy, operations, and investment, has joined the firm’s Bellevue office.

At Lee & Associates, Lambert will lead the development of a new Industrial Capital Markets platform, advising institutional investors, developers, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He will also drive the firm’s strategic client services and portfolio advisory platform, helping industrial property owners optimize their holdings and plan for growth, renewal, consolidation, disposition, or debt and capital advisory.

“I’ve had the privilege of managing real estate portfolios for some of the most dynamic companies in the world—from helping lead Starbucks’ expansion to building Amazon’s logistics network to directing institutional investment at Elion Partners,” said Lambert. “Joining Lee & Associates is an opportunity to bring that strategic experience to clients who want to unlock the value of their real estate.”

Lambert began his career in law after earning his JD from Seattle University and joining Preston Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates), one of Seattle’s most respected law firms. He later moved into corporate real estate at Starbucks, where he helped lead U.S. real estate strategy during a decade of rapid growth (2002–2011). He was selected to lead a turnaround initiative in China that paved the way for Starbucks’ accelerated expansion across Asia, then returned to the U.S. to direct a global portfolio restructuring focused on store disposition and rent reduction.

He next joined Gap Inc., where he played a key role in the repositioning and growth of Old Navy, contributing to its resurgence as one of America’s most successful retail brands. In 2015, Lambert joined Amazon Logistics (AMZL), where he built the organization’s first real estate team, scaling the last-mile delivery network from five sites to over 200. His work laid the foundation for Amazon’s logistics expansion across the U.S.

Most recently, as Senior Managing Director of Industrial Investments at Elion Partners, Lambert led a national team that acquired over $1 billion of institutional-grade industrial real estate on behalf of global capital partners and logistics operators.

“James brings the kind of deep institutional insight, deal-making acumen, and client-first approach that is a perfect match for our platform,” said Jim Bowles, President of Lee & Associates Pacific Northwest. “His servant leadership style, combined with his strategic mindset, makes him a uniquely valuable asset to our team and our clients.”

 

ABOUT LEE & ASSOCIATES

Lee & Associates offers an array of real estate services tailored to meet the needs of the company’s clients, including commercial real estate brokerage, integrated services, and construction services. Established in 1979, Lee & Associates is now an international firm with offices throughout the United States and Canada. Our professionals regularly collaborate to make sure they are providing their clients with the most advanced, up-to-date market technology and information. For the latest news from Lee & Associates, visit lee-associates.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Link, our company blog.