Property experts to help you achieve your goals.

Francis Tomlinson

Director

Francis Tomlinson is Head of the Lease Advisory Division at Aitchison Raffety, and manages the company’s Hitchin Office. Francis has over 40 years’ experience as a qualified Chartered Surveyor, and has been in practice in North Hertfordshire, based in Hitchin for the last 38 years, originally as a Partner in Chancellors, followed by two years as a Regional Director for Hogg Robinson Property Services, and 20 years as a Director of Tomlinson Quin Ltd, before the merger of that company with Aitchison Raffety in 2009.

The Hitchin Office has been involved with commercial property, including both agency and landlord and tenant matters throughout the last 38 years. Francis acts both for landlords and tenants in lease renewal negotiations and rent review disputes, and also acts for both as an Independent Expert and as an Arbitrator (having been on the Panel of The President of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for over 25 years in each case). Francis acts for a wide range of clients including national and local property companies institutions and individuals, and multiple and sole traders, relative to shop, office, warehouse and industrial premises for the most part.

Gautam Sirpal

Head of Property Management

Gautam is Aitchison Raffety’s Head of Property Management based at the London Office, who manages a portfolio of retail, office, light industrial and mixed-use properties for a variety of clients; pension funds, family trusts, investors, occupiers and developers.

He joined the company in 2014 following six years in a client-side asset management role at a corporate landlord (FTSE 250 company), and prior to that as a property manager at a residential management company. Gautam has an MSc in Real Estate and has 14 years’ experience in all aspects of commercial and residential management including estate management, asset management, service charge management and accounting, risk mitigation, maintenance and refurbishment, lease renewals, rent reviews, surrender and re-gears, new lettings and leasing.

 

Ian Roobottom

Property Management Surveyor

Laurence Barton

Director

Laurence has over 30 years experience in the commercial property sector.  He set up his own property consultancy, Barton Rix, which was acquired by Aitchison Raffety in 2007.

As Head of Corporate Real Estate, Laurence advises major national and international companies on property matters ranging from simple lease negotiations to corporate relocations.  He also has expert knowledge in Landlord and Tenant dispute resolution matters with experience in arbitration and expert witness procedures.

 

Rob James

Senior Surveyor

Stephen Anderson

Director

Stephen has over 37 years’ experience in Rent Reviews and Lease Renewals and is actively involved in the valuation of commercial property advising vendors and purchasers. He established his own business in the early 90’s before merging with Huggins Edwards & Sharp in 2006. Subsequently, he was Head of Landlord & Tenant at a London based chartered surveyors.

An RICS APC Assessor, Stephen has acted as an RICS APC Counsellor and Supervisor for several years, developing graduates and more experienced surveyors in different aspects of the profession.

Thomas Shaw

Associate Director

Tom is an Associate Director in the Business Rates team and is involved in negotiating appeals with the valuation office, advising clients on their business rates liability and how to mitigate their exposure to business rates.

Tom joined Aitchison Raffety in 2020 as a Senior Surveyor and was promoted in March 2022 to an Associate Director. As well as business rates, Tom has gained experience in Auctions, West End Investment, Office leasing and letting and Valuations. After qualifying in 2017 Tom specialised in business rates. Before join Aitchison Raffety Tom primarily advised London office occupiers on their rates exposure and ways to mitigate their liability, with particular focus on Material Change of Circumstance appeals.

In addition to this, Tom worked with a number of large propco’s, developers and private landlords in reducing or eliminating their rates liability on large scale developments. Tom has further experience in advising retail and industrial clients and now advises clients across a variety of sectors and locations. Tom is very sociable and a great communicator these attributes have led him to take up a position as a committee member for the London Rating Network.

Qualifications: MRICS

Zach Chambers

Assistant Property Manager

Zach is an Assistant Property Manager in our Portfolio Management team and joined in November 2021. Zach has a BSc in Real Estate and is currently working towards obtaining his APC with the RICS.

He previously worked as a Graduate Surveyor for a residential agency in Northern Ireland, and prior to that, as a Real Estate Broker in Dubai. Zach is responsible for the day-to-day management of properties, property inspections, tenant liaison, managing vacant units and liaising with H&S Coordinators to manage risk.