Divaris appoints managing principal broker of D.C. regional office

Virginia Beach commercial real estate company Divaris Real Estate announced this week it has appointed James O’Neill to be managing principal broker of its Washington, D.C., regional office, located in Tysons.

In the role, O’Neill will lead the firm’s strategic growth, retail, office and investment brokerage operations, and market expansion throughout the Northern Virginia, D.C., and Baltimore metropolitan areas.

He succeeds Joe Farina, who is focusing on transaction business within Divaris.

O’Neill joins Divaris from the JT O’Neill Co., a boutique firm he founded, where he served as president and principal broker. The firm specializes in retail and restaurant brokerage services. Over the course of his career, he has handled acquisitions and leases for regional, national and international brands.

“We are thrilled to welcome James to our D.C. team,” Divaris Chief Operating Officer Tony Divaris said in a statement. “James is a respected market leader and proven top producer in the retail and restaurant sectors. His relationships, market insight and track record of execution will be instrumental as we continue to expand our presence in the region and strengthen our ability to serve clients across the Washington, D.C., market.”

From late 2019 to 2024, O’Neill served as executive vice president at Lincoln Property, where he directed all retail activity for the D.C. metro area. He previously held executive positions at KLNB, Trammell Crow and Scheer Partners.

O’Neill is a licensed broker in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Divaris Real Estate is part of the Divaris Group umbrella, which includes affiliated firms spanning property management, development and asset services. The business traces its roots to 1974, when Divaris was founded in South Africa. It relocated its headquarters to Virginia in 1981. Today, the group operates offices across the mid-Atlantic and California and oversees approximately 42 million square feet of retail, mixed-use, office and industrial space under leasing and management.