Chris O’Brien brings more than 25 years of experience in law, mergers and acquisitions and real estate investment in Asia and the United States.

He was responsible for overseeing the restructuring of New City Corporation through 2008. Until April 2008, Chris oversaw New City’s operations in China and South Korea. Under his leadership, Chris stabilized the Korea office and then built highly professional real estate teams in China and Korea. Those offices consummated nearly US$ 550 million in acquisitions in just one year. Chris was involved in raising New City’s US$ 815 million Asia Opportunity Fund.

Prior to joining New City, Chris was Managing Director and Co-head of Asia for Starwood Capital Group in Tokyo, where he led the sourcing and acquisition of real estate in the industrial, residential, and hospitality sectors with an acquisitions value of approximately US$1 billion in Japan and China.

Previously, he practiced law in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, real estate and securities for 23 years in Japan and New York and had been the Managing Partner for the Tokyo office of the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP. In Japan, Chris advised Japanese and multinational investors on the acquisition of real estate, securitization, and non-performing loans. He also advised Wal-Mart stores in connection with its investment in Seiyu Ltd., and Wilbur Ross LLC, in its acquisition of Kofuku Bank in Osaka, among other transactions.

Chris is a New York licensed attorney and holds a B.A. from Fordham University and a J.D. from the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania.