Damien Clarke

James joined Colliers as a Director in the Rating department from Knight Frank in January 2019. James has over 12  years experience in mitigating business rates, with previous spells at GVA and the Valuation Office Agency.

James has a broad range of experience across all sectors across England and Wales, with a specific emphasis on hotels and receipts based valuations. Key clients include: Canada Life, Knotel, Allied Irish Banks, Travelodge and Capital & Counties (Capco Covent Garden). 

James' first job was at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, leading projects such as the Code of Measuring Practice (6th  Edition) and revisions to the Red Book, before joining DTZ on their Graduate Scheme in 2006.

Tom joined Colliers in September 2017 on the Graduate Scheme in the London - West End office having graduated from Nottingham Trent University with First Class Honours in BSc Real Estate.

Tom works within the Rating department advising a variety of clients on their business rates liability. Tom spent 2 years within the Licensed & Leisure department and continues to provide specialised business rates advice to a range of leisure/hospitality clients. 

Tom's first position within the surveying world was as a graduate working for Wilks Head and Eve, based at their Tottenham Court Road office, where he specialised in the valuation of various types of properties such as Offices, Industrial, Factories, Leisure and Civic for rating purposes and provided lease consultancy and Vaulation advice to local authorities and private clients. Tom providied advice to clients such as the British Library, Brighton Museum and HS2.

Tom joined Colliers International in August 2019 and is a Senior Surveyor within the London team providing advice on all property classes.

I joined Colliers in September 2018 on the Graduate Scheme in the London, West End office. My rotations inclued Central London Lease Advisory, Business Rates and Loan Security Valuations. After completing my APC in November 2020 I joined the Business Rates team  permanently.

Prior to joining Colliers I spent 12 months working in Property Acquisition, client side with  The Vet.

I joined Colliers in 2004 as Team Adminstrator providing secretarial support to the London Rating Valuation and Rate Account Management Teams.  From 2005 onwards my role evolved and become more diverse to include elements of finance, marketing and credit control for the Team.   I support the Head of Department on a day to day basis and provide regular report to clients on their portfolios.  I also organise the team's annual development day.

Laurence joined Colliers International in September 2013 as a director within the rating team in the London West End office, UK, after over 38 years in the Valuation Office Agency where had developed and applied new valuation approaches to public utilities and other specialised properties where rental evidence is lacking.

Erich began his professional career in 1988 at the  Valuation Office Agency, based at Kidderminster. Whilst at the VOA he had a direct involvement in numerous rating revaluations including the valuation of the whole spectrum property types including industrial, retail, office and more specialist properties such as surgeries, sports grounds,community centres and police stations. Erich joined Colliers International in July 2014  after a brief spell at  Harris Lamb, the leading West Midlands industrial agent. Erich has had numerous successes at both Valuation Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). Erich has a passion for technical excellance and chairs regular Colliers International conferences, whereby leading caselaw and valuation principles are critically examined and discussed, maximising any potential  Business Rate savings for Colliers International clients.

I have been helping companies reduce business rates costs for over 20 years on a wide range of property types and sectors.