Cluttons has added another partner to its Manchester office as Chris Severs joins bringing over 20 years of experience and expertise in business rates consultancy to the team.
Cluttons launched its northern hub, based on King Street in Manchester, in November 2021 as part of its corporate expansion to grow in the right locations to serve client needs, bucking the trend of many practices who cut back during the pandemic. In the last three months alone, the strategic property advisor has added four hires as it seeks to scale up the team across all disciplines.
As part of the team at Cluttons, Chris will advise clients in relation to all business rate matters with a focus on Rateable Value appeal work and more specialist savings initiatives including empty rates mitigation.
Chris joins from Avison Young and prior to that was at Altus Group. Chris works with both landlord and occupier clients across a range of sectors nationwide, but with a particular emphasis on logistics and office assets to reduce occupied and vacant property holding costs.
Chris has represented as an expert or assisted a variety of clients on business rates matters at the Court of Appeal, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and Valuation Tribunal. He is also a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and member of the Rating Surveyors Association.
Chris said: “I am excited by the opportunity to join a practice that has a commitment to grow its services and expertise in the North, I look forward to working with market leading experts in providing business rates and commercial consulting services advice.”
Ryan Jones, partner and head of business rates in the north, said: “The last 13 years have seen only two valuation cycles and a global pandemic that has accelerated structural changes for businesses. This means there are huge dislocations in what business rates should be paid, coupled with new changes to the system that occupiers and landlords are not familiar with and an online sales tax consultation that has the potential to bring further complexities to the process. Our team are experts in mitigation, future planning, appeals and guidance. Chris’s appointment is thus a strategic move that will give our broad range of clients further support in navigating these changes and challenges without which they would face more business risks.”
Charlie Ardern, head of the Manchester office, added: “SInce our office launched last autumn we have grown steadily, increasing our client base and coverage across the north with investment and support from the Cluttons’ leadership team. We will continue to expand with talented experts across a range of disciplines and are delighted to welcome Chris and his invaluable experience to the team.”
