J. Michael Shields

Founder, Partner

With a proven track record in creating value and building successful property operating platforms, Mike founded Ironstone Real Estate on the guiding principle that accountability, transparency and trust form the foundation of not only sound investment strategies, but of meaningful, long-term, quality relationships.

Prior to founding Ironstone, Mike was Sr. Vice President at Kilroy Realty Corporation, where he created the acquisition strategy and led Kilroy’s Pacific Northwest investment and asset management teams. Mike’s strategy focused on forming an office and biotech operating portfolio and development pipeline in targeted Seattle and Eastside submarkets. Under his leadership, Kilroy established a successful portfolio of 3M sf in Seattle’s South Lake Union and Fremont submarkets, as well as in transportation-oriented submarkets of Downtown Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. While at Kilroy, Mike lead the acquisition and entitlement of a full city-block in South Lake Union; following the acquisition, he played an integral role in the design, marketing and leasing of 333 Dexter, a 630,000 sf two-tower office development, 100% pre-leased to Apple, Inc.

Before leading Kilroy’s Pacific Northwest expansion, Mike was Managing Partner of Trinity Real Estate, Inc., where he led the establishment and growth of a Seattle-based property investment firm, acquiring and repositioning commercial and multi-family properties in the Puget Sound Region.  Mike co-led Trinity’s investment and asset management platforms, growing Trinity to a successful portfolio of office and industrial properties, and a multi-family portfolio of 800+ units. Prior to Trinity, Mike was Director of Investments at Equity Office Properties (EOP), where he led Equity Office’s acquisition and disposition activities in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California markets.   

Mike holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Washington.