Matthews & Goodman, now part of Fisher German, has appointed David Wagstaffe to head up the firm’s National Business Rates team.
Wagstaffe, a UCEM qualified surveyor and a highly experienced business rates advisor, has a 35-year track record of business rates advice having spent 26 years at the Valuation Office Agency and almost 10 years with CVS and as a senior director at Altus Group – the largest firm of business rates agents in the country.
He has advised a wide range of commercial organisations and was also involved in interesting cases such as the valuation of the Royal Opera House – an iconic structure with a wide range of complex rating issues – as well as acting as an Expert Witness in the initial test cases on Office Fit Out appeals.
His professional business rates advice expertise is complemented by the fact that Wagstaffe played an active role in (the integration-related) strategy development of IT systems, to accommodate procedural changes in rating and facilitate the merger of two rating business – following the merger of Altus Group and CVS.
He has also been involved in the design and implementation of learning and development programmes for graduates and junior surveyors.
As a rating surveyor, Wagstaffe has settled thousands of appeals, has appeared at Valuation Tribunal over a hundred times and has prepared Lands Tribunal/Upper Chamber cases. He has advised on a wide range of commercial property types, ranging from offices, industrial and retail, to leisure centres, garden centres, serviced apartments – and memorably on a ‘house of ill repute’.
His experience also includes advising on Council Tax issues, Domestic Rating and Land Services/National Taxation issues. The latter includes Capital Gains Tax valuations, Inheritance Tax valuations and Compensation casework.
“This is a major coup for us” said James Routledge, a member of Matthews & Goodman’s senior management team and head of the firm’s Investment capability. “David’s experience and track record speaks for itself, however it’s his personality, commercial acumen and innovative thinking which will help ensure that we capitalise on all the forthcoming opportunities which lie before our team of business rates advisors.”
Based at Matthews & Goodman’s London office, he will be responsible for delivering the firm’s Business Rates capability across the nation.
