Will Blackstone be re-crowned global PERE firm of the year?

The Blackstone Group last year won the Global PERE Award for global private equity real estate firm of the year – and is once again in the running to reclaim that position.

However, as final voting in the third PERE annual awards starts today, the New York-based firm faces tough competition from MGPA, LaSalle Investment Management, The Carlyle Group and Lone Star Funds, who were all nominated as finalists for the prestigious accolade.

More than 60 firms have been shortlisted as potential winners in the only industry awards nominated and voted on by private equity real estate professionals.

Click on the links below to record your vote for the best firms, individuals and deals of 2008.

Global industry figure of the year. Will MGPA’s Jim Quille take the lead or will the crown be taken by Blackstone’s John Gray, JER Companies’ Michael Pralle, Lone Star Funds’ John Grayken or even head of the US Troubled Asset Relief Programme Neel Kashkari? Click here for the Global awards.

North American firm of the year. Will JER beat competition from AREA Property Partners, Liquid Realty Partners, Starwood Capital and Morgan Stanley Real Estate? Click here for the North American awards.

European fundraise of the year. Who will take the honours away from ProLogis – Orion, Multi Corporation, Carlyle, MGPA or AREA? Click here for the European awards.

Asian exit of the year. Will Gaw Capital and Morgan Stanley’s Shama Luxe deal take first spot or will it be MGPA’s Ikebukero Tower sale, Hutchison Harbour Ring sale of The Center, Singapore, RREEF’s disposition of the Daewoo Securities property in Seoul or Trikona Capital’s sale of $156m in assets to Germany’s SachsenFonds Holdings? Click here for the Asian awards.

Who will be crowned firm of the year in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa? Click on the link to vote.

The rules are simple: You may only vote once, you are not required to vote in all categories – only vote in the categories that are of interest to you – and you may not vote for yourself or your own firm.

Voting will close on 3 February, after which the results will be published simultaneously on PrivateEquityRealEstate.com and in the PERE magazine in March.