Sports specialist joins Colliers

Jim Gallagher is to join the Manchester office of Colliers International as a rating director from the Valuation Office Agency.

With more than 30 years’ rating experience, including litigation in the Lands Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, Gallagher was most recently head of commercial leisure and civics in the national specialists unit at the VOA.

Prior to that he headed the specialist rating unit for the North and was group valuation officer for the North West.

Throughout his career, Gallagher has established a specialism in advising the sports industry, most notably through involvement in negotiations concerning the Etihad Campus and City Football Academy in east Manchester.

Until recently, he carried out most of the rating work for Premier League football stadia and training grounds in the North and agreed a scheme of valuation for rugby grounds with shared pitches for the RFU.

In addition, he brings specialist litigation experience to Colliers, having been involved in cases around the valuation approach to be taken on niche assets including doctors’ surgeries, ATMs and places of religious worship.

John Webber, national head of rating at Colliers, said: “Businesses are crying out for decent advice on how to deal with their rate bills given the fallout from the 2017 Revaluation, where sudden increased bills have hit many companies for six. And adding to a new appeals system, which many acknowledge is not fit for purpose, many businesses need urgent professional support to negotiate the new system.

“This appointment will help keep Colliers at the forefront in looking after our clients and lobbying the government for reform. I welcome the expertise that Jim brings to our already experienced team and look forward to working with them as we continue to strengthen our offering.”