Interest rates are rising at a fast clip, inflation is higher than it's been in years and corporate America is wondering whether the economy will slip into recession. John Kevill sees that as an opportunity.

Kevill, who spent a career spanning more than a quarter century at global commercial real estate firms, just opened a capital markets shop of his own to advise clients as the investment market changes rapidly.

Last week Kevill launched Solitude Cove Capital, a boutique transaction and advisory brokerage based in Washington, D.C.

“Commercial real estate is facing unique challenges now, so the time is right for a firm that can help owners navigate these uncertain waters,” Kevill said in a statement.

Those challenges include the tightening of U.S. capital markets as banks pull back on lending and recent increases in interest rates that make money more expensive to borrow to fund acquisitions and projects.

“The recent rise in interest rates has been a tipping point for many owners and the cause of much uncertainty," Kevill said, adding it can be good time for a boutique firm that can be nimble.

During his career in commercial real estate, Kevill said he has executed more than $20 billion of transactions.

Kevill spent most of his time, a total of 17 years, at JLL, the world's second-largest brokerage firm based on revenue.

He then moved over to Eastdil Secured in April 2011, and he stayed at that firm for nearly six years.

Most recently Kevill served as president of Avison Young's U.S. capital markets business. During his five years leading that business, he helped it nearly triple its revenue.

In late 2020, Kevill was part of an Avison Young team that represented Mesirow Sale-Leaseback Capital in the $570 million sale of a two-property site near Dallas anchored by an air cargo hub built specifically for Amazon Air.

At the time he said it was one of the largest investment sales of 2020.