Little Rock commercial real estate firms announce merger

Little Rock commercial real estate firms Flake & Co. and ARK Commercial & Investment Real Estate are merging and will operate under the Flake & Co. name beginning Nov. 1. The companies shared details of the merger in a news release Friday (Oct. 6)

Jessica Flake Dearnley, founder of Flake & Co., and her father, John Flake, are partnering with Jeff Yates of ARK for the partnership.

Yates, the founder of ARK Commercial, has three decades of experience in commercial real estate and is known for his national tenant representation assignments.

“I’m ecstatic to work alongside Jeff because he, like my father, is a legend in our industry,” Dearnley said. “Jeff’s experience and expertise are unparalleled.

Our combined skill sets are unmatched in this market. This is my dream team.”

Dearnley is notable as the only female leading a major commercial real estate firm in Arkansas focusing on the investment side. Flake & Co. is a boutique real estate firm managing over a million square feet. Dearnley started the business in early 2020, and her father joined her later that year.

Yates has a strong community presence, serving on various commissions and industry leadership roles. He founded ARK Commercial in 2013.

“Partnering with Jessica and working alongside John again is an exciting opportunity,” Yates said. “The experience, creativity, and dedication coming together in this endeavor will yield tremendous results for our clients.”

Flake, an iconic figure in commercial real estate, is excited about working with Yates again after a 30-year professional relationship.

“Jeff is one of the leaders in Arkansas’ commercial real estate sector because he has invested in building long-term trusted relationships with his clients,” Flake said. “I’m looking forward to what we, together, can accomplish.”