2026 Market Outlook & Trends | Featured Speaker

Why It Matters

Shaeps’ expertise helps developers, REITs, and investors mitigate risk and capitalize on emerging construction trends, directly influencing project profitability and market positioning.

Key Takeaways

• Ari Shaeps advised $18B in construction contracts.
• Co‑chairs Allen Matkins Construction Group.
• Worked on Las Vegas Athletics Stadium and Salesforce Tower.
• Deep relationships with California’s major design and construction firms.
• Provides risk mitigation and market trend insights.

Pulse Analysis

The Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2026 Market Outlook & Trends event featured Ariel C. Shaeps, a seasoned real‑estate and construction partner at Allen Matkins. Shaeps brings decades of transactional experience, having overseen more than $18 billion in construction contracts across iconic projects such as the Athletics Stadium on Las Vegas Boulevard and San Francisco’s Salesforce Tower. His co‑chairmanship of the firm’s Construction Group positions him at the nexus of legal strategy and market intelligence, making his perspective especially valuable for stakeholders navigating the post‑pandemic building boom.

Shaeps’ practice spans the entire development lifecycle—from site acquisition and due diligence to design, construction, asset management, and disposition. By leveraging long‑standing relationships with California’s leading design and construction firms, he can streamline project timelines and extract cost efficiencies that many developers overlook. His emphasis on risk mitigation reflects a broader industry shift toward proactive compliance, sustainability standards, and supply‑chain resilience, all of which are reshaping capital allocation decisions in the commercial real‑estate sector.

For institutional developers, publicly traded REITs, and limited partners, Shaeps’ market insights translate into actionable guidance on emerging trends such as modular construction, labor shortages, and evolving zoning policies. His ability to anticipate regulatory changes helps clients protect margins and accelerate deal flow in a competitive environment. As the 2026 outlook predicts modest growth tempered by financing constraints, firms that integrate Shaeps’ legal acumen with strategic planning are better positioned to capture upside while navigating volatility.