Christopher Rising
As the Co-Founder & CEO of Rising Realty Partners, Christopher takes a hands-on approach to the day-to-day management of Rising’s portfolio, maximizing value for all stakeholders.
Current Role
As the Co-Founder & CEO at Rising Realty Partners (RRP), Christopher leads the Los Angeles-based real estate investment and operating platform that owns and manages nearly six million square feet of properties and serves as the day-to-day head of company operations, including its Asset Management and Construction Management verticals. Christopher plays an integral role in the company, serving on the Executive and Investment Committees and attending weekly meetings with the Asset Management, Acquisitions, Property Management, Accounting, Construction Management, Marketing, and Senior Leadership teams. Christopher has overseen all office and industrial asset management activities, and his hands-on leadership approach is instrumental in driving the company’s growth and success.
Through Christopher’s direct involvement, RRP has recently made significant strides in the industrial space and has acquired eight multi-tenant light industrial assets in California, Nevada, and Texas since 2021, with a deal volume of over $220 million. Most notably, he was instrumental in Rising’s first multi-tenant light industrial (MTLI) investment, Telstar, located in El Monte, CA. In February 2021, Rising acquired this light-industrial complex for $41 million; through strategic guidance provided by Christopher, the property was sold in September 2022 for slightly more than $70 million. This strategic move demonstrated his expertise in asset management and commitment to generating superior risk-adjusted returns for Rising’s investors.
Experience & Expertise
Before 2017, Christopher led the Rising Realty Partners team to acquire and renovate historic Downtown Los Angeles office assets, such as the PacMutual Building, Figueroa Courtyard, and One Bunker Hill (now the CalEdison). Beyond the acquisition of the PacMutual Building in 2012, one of the first notable acquisitions under Christopher’s leadership was a $200 million portfolio deal encompassing ten buildings with the Bank of America Corporation in 2013. Overseeing the venture into a new asset class in 2016, Christopher expanded Rising’s portfolio to include a Data Center asset, acquiring The Garland Center. In the following year, he further solidified the presence of Rising Realty Partners in Downtown Los Angeles by leading the company to its largest acquisition to date: One California Plaza, a million-square-foot office tower, purchased for $460 million.
Through Christopher’s leadership, RRP has repositioned historic buildings in Downtown Los Angeles into creative office spaces and fostered world-class office towers and campuses, attracting unique businesses back to the Los Angeles region. RRP’s transformation and subsequent sale of the PacMutual Campus, one of the oldest office buildings in DTLA, was described by the Los Angeles Times as a “record price for a pure office building downtown.” Most recently, in 2023, he played an instrumental role in the sale of The Trust Building to UCLA, providing the university with the opportunity to build out its first Downtown Los Angeles campus and office space.
Before Co-Founding Rising in 2012, Christopher began his career as an associate at Pillsbury Madison & Sutro (now known as Pillsbury Winthrop) and later worked at Cushman Realty Corporation (CRC) under brokerage legend John C. Cushman, III. He then served as a Director at Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc. (C&W), joining C&W after its merger with CRC in 2001. In 2003, Christopher founded The Rising Real Estate Group (RREG) and eventually partnered with Barker Pacific Group to create Hamilton Capital Partners (HCP), an equity fund vehicle. RREG is also a principal in 626 Wilshire Blvd, a 156,000-square-foot office building located in downtown Los Angeles. Before co-founding RRP, Christopher was Senior Vice President of Asset Transactions at MPG Office Trust, where he worked directly with the CEO to improve finances through debt reduction and restructuring.
About Christopher Rising
Christopher hosts “The Real Market with Chris Rising” podcast, providing insights on real estate trends and featuring interviews with industry experts. He is a devoted husband and father of three and a passionate advocate for philanthropy. Christopher is an active member of the Los Angeles community, serving on the River LA Board and The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation. He formerly sat on the Board of Overseers at Loyola Law School and the Duke Athletic Advisory Board. He is a past President of the Board of Chandler School in Pasadena and served for ten years on the Board of Regents of Loyola High School, where he chaired the Investment Committee. Christopher holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. in History and Political Science from Duke University, where he attended on a football scholarship and was a member of the 1989 ACC Championship team.
- YPO Gold Pasadena Member
- River LA Board
- The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation
- Urban Land Institute Member
