About
Professional Summary
Abban studied Economic and Social Studies (BA Econ) at the University of Manchester before working in telecommunications and media company for three years. Abban then decided to pursue a career in real estate, he attended the University of Westminster to study Real Estate Development for his masters and achieved a distinction. Abban joined the Licensed & Leisure department in 2018 and works within the agency and lease advisory teams.
Abban has experience in acquiring for gym, restaurant and bar operators, as well as leasing of units for leisure, entertainment and catering uses. Abban has extensive experience in the London and Manchester leisure markets.
Key clients include F45, The Foundry, Various Eateries (Strada, Coppa Club etc), Peel Land & Property and Stonegate.
Outside of work Abban is a keen footballer captaining UCL Old Boys’ every Saturday.
Accomplishments
Achieving a distinction in Real Estate Development (MSc) at the University of Westminster.
Captain of the UCL Academicals Old Boys football team.
Education
University of Westminster:
2015/16 - Real Estate Development MSc passed with distinction
University of Manchester:
2009/12 - BA Economic and Social Studies (BAEcon) 2.1
Services
Service Lines
My Team
My Team
James is one of the UK's leading advisers in Pub, Bar, Restaurant and Leisure sectors. He has worked in the sector for over 30 years, a period during which the sector has undergone enormous changes in its operational, ownership and regulatory structures.
Acting on behalf of major operators, investors and banks on portfolios and high value single assets, James' operator clients include Greene King, Ei group, Casual Dining Group, and Novus. On the investor side, for many years he advised Nomura and Terra Firma, worked closely with Cerberus on all of its leisure sector investments and has recently advised Patron Capital, Stellex and NewRiver.
Within Colliers International, James heads up the UK Licensed & Leisure team and also runs the businesses Alternative Markets Division which encompasses Hotels, Automotive, Healthcare, and other specialist Leisure teams.
Throughout his career James has advised major UK and International lenders, both on new lending and on developing and executing exit strategies for distressed lending positions. His team have worked with a number of F&B operators to rationalise their portfolios and have advised landlords on how to preserve value and retain tenants in difficult times.
A senior real estate professional with 30 years’ experience in the lease advisory field. Prior to joing Colliers in April 2018, I worked for 12 years at BNP Paribas Real Estate, where I led the lease advisory business line, launched its licensed leisure team and was a Trustee of the pension fund.
I am an expert in the licensed & leisure market, focussed on delivering property cost reduction and value added solutions for pub and restaurant businesses, as well as advising investors with holdings in the wider leisure sector, including health & fitness, cinema, bowling and other leisure uses.
I have extensive experience of Central London pub, bar, nightclub and restaurant rent review disputes, acting either as expert witness or as Arbitrator.
I am appointed to the RICS President's panel of dispute resolvers, qualified to act as an arbitrator in pub and restaurant disputes in London and the South-East.
Mark is an experienced negotiator and lease advisory expert working in our specialist Licensed & Leisure team. He is a Chartered Surveyor and Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
For the last 19 years he has specialised in the leisure sector. Mark deals with lease advisory, asset management and valuation of properties across a variety of sub-sectors. Mark is an experienced expert witness regularly dealing with complex disputes, referrals to arbitration, independent expert determination and court.
Chris has extensive experience in the valuation of licensed, leisure and hospitality assets, including pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, bingo clubs and casinos.
Although currently focused primarily on loan security valuations for various banks and lending institutions, Chris undertakes valuations for a range of purposes including company accounting, purchase, sale, and strategic advice.
Chris also has considerable experience in the field of business rates, having previously advised numerous national bar and pub operators on business rates appeals, liability and mitigation strategies. This experience notably includes appearances at Valuation Tribunal.