Benjie joined the bf team on our Graduate Programme in 2016 then successfully passed his APC in May 2019. During our rotational training programme, he gained experience in all facets of the Business including Office & Industrial Agency, Valuations and Property Management.

He is a qualified Chartered Surveyor and works within our Retail & Leisure Agency Team. Benjie was promoted to Senior Surveyor in 2021 then to Associate in 2022.

Vicki joined the bf team in 1998 to provide administrative support. Having worked across the Business, she has extensive knowledge of all Departments. Now working for the Retail + Leisure Agency Team, Vicki provides invaluable support ensuring the smooth running of all the administration for her team.

Russell joined the bf team in 1995, having spent the first 10 years of his career working for a Retail Property Specialist in London. Russell became a Partner of the firm in 2000 and has developed an impressive portfolio of national and international retail clients such as Footlocker, Guess and the TFG brands, assisting them with the acquisitions and disposals of their retail properties across the UK. He is well-known in the industry for his commitment and dedication to his retail clients.

Ollie joined bf in 2019 as a graduate having completed a degree in Business Management at Surrey University. When Ollie first joined the practise his time was split between our Hemel Hempstead and Welwyn Garden City office assisting the Retail, Office & Industrial agency teams.

Ollie is currently working with the Retail & Leisure team based in our Kings Langley office.

Professional experience, skills and areas of expertise

Neil started his retail agency career at a busy North West London practice over 25 years’ ago, before joining Brasier Freeth in 2004 and then becoming a Principal of the business in 2015. Neil specialises in Retail and Leisure Agency, including investment and development.

With a South-East regional focus, Neil deals with Landlord agency leasing instructions, as well as the disposal of tenanted Freehold investments. Also trusted by developers, Neil has taken a large number of projects from site acquisition, advising on design phase proposals, specifications and tenant mix, through to pre-leasing and eventual sale of end investments.

Neil has acted as a disposal and acquisition agent for Tesco for approximately 20 years, having acquired in excess of 150 sites on Tesco’s behalf, predominately for their Express format and also including larger stores, generally within London and the Home Counties. Neil’s Development experience has proved invaluable to Tesco where site acquisitions often involve construction works and therefore expertise to agree planning strategy, handover specification and legal conditions, liaising directly with Tesco’s project team to deliver the best outcome for the client.

Neil has also been retained as an Outsourced Development Manager for Travelodge Hotels since 2007, with a brief to assist their expansion and work with third party Developers to identify and acquire sites for the construction of new hotels in London. Neil has since brokered the acquisition of a number of high profile sites on Travelodge’s behalf, with openings including keys sites at Brent Cross, Wembley and Harrow.

Outside of work

Neil lives in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and enjoys going to his local gym, watching his daughter play football, overseas family road trips and the occasional drink with friends.

Mark joined Brasier Freeth at the start of his career in 2002 and became a Partner in 2015. Mark acts for multiple retailers and leisure operators providing strategic portfolio advice on disposal and acquisition programmes throughout the UK.

Mark is also experienced in acting for both institutional and private investors on High Street blocks across Southern England, providing both agency and investment advice.

Clients and professional accomplishments

Mark currently advises numerous national retailers on a sole agency basis including Clintons, Ryman, Choice Discounts, Costa, Tossed, and various independent overseas brands.

As well as his retailer mandate Mark also advises leisure and restaurant operators Nationwide. With the evolution of retail experiences, leisure has increasingly become an essential part of any shopping destination, an example of which is the advisory services he provides to one of the leading UK indoor golf operators, Treetop Adventure Golf on their expansion Nationwide. 

Mark is currently involved in a special project for the US restaurant chain Wingstop. He met the owners in late 2019, at the time they had 2 restaurants. Due to his dedication, Mark quickly became the sole agent for Wingstop across the UK. As of April 2024, Wingstop trades from 43 sites in the UK, with annual sales above £100m. Mark has agreed another 10 sites to open this year (2024), there’s certainly no slowing down in terms of 2025 with 20 new sites planned to open. In early 2024 Wingstop was voted one of Europe’s fastest-growing businesses and highest-placed restaurant operators by the Financial Times List.

Outside of work

Mark lives in North London and has five children ranging from 8 to 18 which keeps him VERY busy! Mark enjoys travelling (without his kids!) and enjoying quality time with his family.

Mark is a Consultant to bf and has been working with our Retail + Leisure Agency team since 2009. Prior to consulting for bf, Mark held several high profile positions in London based retail and property investment firms. Mark has over 25 years’ industry experience, specialising in lease advisory work.

His diligent approach has earnt him an extensive portfolio of clients that he has successfully assisted, making savings for their businesses across the UK.

Damian was formerly Head of Retail at JLL, he joined the bf team in 2017 as a Partner in our Retail + Leisure team. He is a Chartered Surveyor and has worked for some of the industry’s leading firms, bringing with him 30 years’ experience.

He has been involved in market leading instructions during the course of his career and at bf, has been responsible for developing our shopping centre leasing business.

His worth ethic, industry knowledge and extensive contacts has allowed Damian to expand our platform of both landlord and occupier clients, providing them with exemplary service to achieve the best results.

Anthony joined the bf team in the early stages of his career in 1998 and now heads up our Retail & Leisure Agency. Over the years, Anthony has developed an established client base of multi-national Retailers, Landlords and Developers who all benefit from his considerable market knowledge and diligent approach to their property matters. His clients include Costa Coffee, Warren James Jewellers, Pret a Manger and Boots.

He has been a key in developing retailer expansion strategies, some operators have grown from an embryonic stage emerging to become well known major brands in the UK. He also advises various landlords from private pro co’s to funds to help with their assets, actively working on the leasing of various shopping centres in the south east.

Ivan joined the Retail + Leisure Agency team at bf in 1995, having started his career at one of the oldest surveying firms in London. Over the past 30 years Ivan has established an excellent reputation for his lease advisory work. His dedication to achieving the best results for his clients is renowned and has resulted in him securing a solid client list ranging from single store occupiers to multi-national retailers across the UK.

James joined bf in 1996 and became a Partner in 2004. He has over 35 years’ experience as a Chartered Surveyor working both client-side in Estates Departments for two companies dealing with premises throughout the UK and also on the Agency side based in the West End for Grimley JR Eve.

He is also an Associate of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. James’ established network of contacts and market knowledge has secured many long term occupier, developer and investment clients for the firm.