Chris Jakes joins Cluttons as Head of Lease Advisory

Property consultancy Cluttons has bolstered its management team with the appointment of a new Head of Lease Advisory. Chris Jakes brings 13 years of experience to the role, having previously spent time with CBRE and Kinney Green.

Originally established in 1765, Cluttons is a real estate firm which offers consulting services to clients in the property market. Employing over 250 staff, the company has a fast-growing international presence, serving a wide range of corporate clients in over 50 countries across Europe. The firm partners corporates, developers and private investors across the region to supply portfolio management, funding advice, land sale work, property valuation and home letting, among other services.

Cluttons is a market leader in the telecoms sector in particular, providing specialist advice to the largest mobile operators and fixed-line providers, delivering unique insights and understanding of the value of good connectivity across the property sector. In addition, the consultancy is one of the few firms in the UK offering a service aimed at delivering wayleaves and easements on behalf of independent service providers (ISPs), for the connection of fibre to customer premises.

As the firm prepares for a busy final quarter of 2019 on these fronts, the property consultancy has appointed Chris Jakes as Head of Lease Advisory and Compulsory Purchase. Joining from GN2, where he was an Equity Director, Jakes was previously a Senior Surveyor at CBRE and a Salaried Partner with Kinney Green. Over the course of his 13-year career, he has also become a RICS Registered valuer, and brings a wealth of experience in advising both landlord and tenants on rent review and lease renewal negotiations to the role.

Commenting on the news, John Gravett, Head of Real Estate Management at Cluttons, said, “Chris has an impressive track record advising major infrastructure projects which complements our existing team.  His focus is to drive our lease advisory and compulsory purchase offer, providing dynamic marketing services and strategic advice to clients.”

Jakes also has expertise in compulsory purchase and compensation. During earlier engagements, he has advised both acquiring authorities and claimants on major infrastructure and regeneration projects throughout the UK, including The Thames Tideway Tunnel Project, Crossrail, HS2 and the Olympic and Legacy CPO.  At the same time, Jakes boasts experience in arbitration, The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and ADR, having acted as independent valuer at dispute resolution between claimants and acquiring authority on The West Hendon Regeneration CPO.

Speaking about his new challenge, Jakes said, “Cluttons has a market-leading infrastructure and telecoms practice with a long-standing client base and a reputation for innovative work around issues such as connectivity.  I am looking forward to helping drive growth in this key area of the business.”