The big three global real estate agents – CBRE, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield – dominate a sizeable number of the leading markets in Europe, according to the latest PropertyEU ranking of top brokers.

The big three global real estate agents – CBRE, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield – dominate a sizeable number of the leading markets in Europe, according to the latest PropertyEU ranking of top brokers.

CBRE is the number 1 player in a string of markets including the UK, Spain, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands while JLL dominates France, Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden. Cushman & Wakefield has no dominant position overall, but ranks second in Spain, Italy, Russia, Belgium and Denmark and third in the Netherlands and Sweden.

The rankings are based on data verified by the PropertyEU Research team. According to unverified data submitted by BNP Paribas Real Estate, the Paris-based agent is the leading player in Germany, the biggest market in mainland Europe. Our verified figures put JLL and CBRE at a very close nr 2 and 3 respectively, followed by Cushman & Wakefield.

BNP Paribas also has a top position in its home market, again according to its own data. The unverified figures put the Paris-based company in second place, after JLL and ahead of CBRE in third position.

The UK market is also dominated by the big 2, with Savills vying for a second place with JLL. The London-based agent claims it advised on €15 bn worth of deals in the UK in 2013, virtually equal with JLL. However, these figures have not been verified by the PropertyEU research team and also include deals under €20 mln. The figures submitted by all the other brokers in our ranking exclude deals under this figure and have all been verified.

Cushman & Wakefield, Catella/Strutt & Parker and DTZ dominate the second tier of leading agents in the UK with investment volumes ranking from €4-5.5 bn. Colliers International has also made a huge leap in the UK where it has trebled its investment volume under the leadership of Tony Horrell to just over €2 bn.

Stockholm-based Catella is the leading player in Sweden, followed by DTZ and CBRE. It also leads in Denmark, where Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE rank 2nd and 3rd respectively, according to our ranking.