About Joe

Professional Profile

Joe French is a Principal with Avison Young's U.S. Capital Markets Group, where he leads investment sales across the Washington, DC metropolitan region and serves as a member of Avison Young's U.S. Capital Markets Advisory Board.

Joe specializes in commercial property investment sales with additional expertise in alternative asset classes including data center development sites and healthcare real estate. Since joining the firm in 2017, Joe has advised clients on developing and executing capital markets strategies, contributing to over $1.5 billion in transactions across the DC Metro region and the United States.

Joe developed and leads Avison Young’s “Office to Anything” platform in the Mid-Atlantic, specializing in repositioning under-utilized office assets into high-value covered land opportunities for residential, industrial, or data center development. By leveraging Avison Young Technologies’ proprietary data tools, he analyzes market trends, zoning potential, and redevelopment feasibility to craft creative marketing strategies that maximize asset value. His data-driven approach attracts a broader and more engaged buyer pool, fostering increased competition and ultimately driving stronger pricing outcomes for property owners.

In addition to his transactional work, Joe helped develop and lead Avison Young’s Capital Markets Emerging Leaders Program, a national initiative designed to connect analysts and associates across the U.S. The program fosters professional development through structured training, underwriting best practices, and continuing education in investment sales, debt, equity, and structured finance.

Beyond his professional commitments, Joe is passionate about giving back to his community. He serves as President of the Junior Board for WINNERS Lacrosse, an organization dedicated to expanding access to the sport, and Co-Chair of the Advancement Committee for the National Links Trust’s Auxiliary Board, supporting the preservation and accessibility of public golf courses nationwide through targeted private investment.

A former professional lacrosse player and Division 1 athlete, Joe represented his native Canada in the 2012 World Lacrosse Championships before competing for the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and completed the McIntire Business Institute program. As a professional, he played for the Chesapeake Bayhawks and Connecticut Hammerheads of Major League Lacrosse before concluding his career with the Charlotte Bootleggers of the Professional Box Lacrosse Association, where he was drafted 12th overall and served as the team’s captain.

Credentials

• Member, Avison Young U.S. Capital Markets Advisory Board
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Virginia
• McIntire Business Institute, University of Virginia
• 2023 Recipient of Avison Young’s Global Ted Avison Multi-Line Case Award
• DC Real Estate Group, Member