Knight Frank acquires niche retail agency Markham Vaughan Gillingham


 Date: 9th June 2008  | PDF version

London, UK – Knight Frank has substantially strengthened its retail expertise with the acquisition of leading retail practice Markham Vaughan Gillingham (“MVG”).

Led by five directors and two associate directors from offices in London, Bristol, and Manchester, MVG is one of the UK’s premier retail and leisure leasing practices. Its 12 strong team is currently advising on more than 9.5 million sq ft of shopping centres and has a strong national reputation in retail, out of town and retail warehousing, and factory outlet centres.

Ian Barbour becomes head of retail to be based at Knight Frank’s global HQ at 55 Baker Street and will be joined by Laurence Edwards, Nigel Gillingham, Tracey Pollard, and Woody Bruce, with additional teams to be based in its Bristol and Manchester offices. In London, MVG is currently acting on behalf of Land Securities Plc’s One New Change and also for Canary Wharf Group plc, and in Manchester for Allied London’s Spinningfields2.

Alistair Elliott, head of commercial division, Knight Frank said: “The acquisition of MVG propels us to a new platform and is part of our continued strategy to develop and strengthen our retail team and enhance our mixed use expertise. The MVG team complements our culture and we already have a number of mutual clients.

“I have been thrilled with the way negotiations have gone. MVG will be a great fit. Our objective is clear: to let the MVG team operate as they have done with such great success whilst providing them with the support, depth and breadth of the Knight Frank business to incorporate our offices, hotels, and residential development teams. My expectation is that we will look back at this in the relatively near future and acknowledge it as being the event which unquestionably put Knight Frank onto the retail map. There are huge synergies with our investment, valuation, building consultancy, and mixed use businesses, and great potential.”

Ian Barbour, director, Markham Vaughan Gillingham said: “In the last few years, our reputation has grown and our unrivalled record of delivery has resulted in significant expansion of our client and instruction base providing us with a strong platform. The time has come for us to expand and be part of a broader business which incorporates those services offered by a large consultancy, such as investment, asset management and research across all real estate sectors. Our move will enable us to offer our clients a truly integrated service. We share our ethos with Knight Frank in providing a high quality partner-led service which is never compromised.”

Until further notice, the business will trade as ‘Knight Frank in association with Markham Vaughan Gillingham’.


The terms of the deal remain confidential.

For further information, please contact:
Alistair Elliott, head of commercial division, Knight Frank, +44 (0)20 7861 1141
Ian Barbour, director, Markham Vaughan Gillingham, +44 (0)7970 681 606
Olivia Gallimore, pr manager, Knight Frank, +44 (0)20 7861 1035


Notes to Editors

1. Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank and its New York-based global partner Newmark Knight Frank operate from over 165 offices, in 36 countries, in six continents. For further information about the Company, please visit www.knightfrank.com

Markham Vaughan Gillingham is the UK’s premier niche retail and leisure leasing practice. For further information about the Company, please visit: www.mvgretail.com.

2. Markham Vaughan Gillingham’s client list includes:

3. Markham Vaughan Gillingham’s biographies

Ian Barbour: Director specialising in development, planning and leasing advice. Responsible for lettings and developed consultancy on Phases I and IV at Canary Wharf and plays an active role in planning, development and leasing MVG's FOC developments. Ian provides strategic advice for a range of major high street developers.

Nigel Gillingham:Director in charge of retail development and leasing projects and advising clients including Allied London, Land Securities, Birmingham Developments and Centros/Delancey on major High Street retail and leisure projects throughout the UK including The Mailbox in Birmingham, Spinningfields in Manchester and One New Change in London.

Laurence Edwards: Following the merger with Edwards Hardwick & Partners, Laurence has joined Markham Vaughan Gillingham as a full Equity Director as a specialist in the retail warehouse and investment sector. Laurence is responsible for the development and leasing of MVG’s retail warehouse instructions at Gallagher Retail Park in Longwell Green Bristol, Tropicana in Weston Super Mare amongst others. In total Laurence is advising on over 1m sq ft of new retail warehousing retail instructions in over 20 separate developments across the United Kingdom.

Tracey Pollard: Director, Tracey Pollard is responsible for leasing and marketing at Canary Wharf’s retail portfolio to include Cabot Place, Canada Place, Jubilee Place and Churchill Place totalling over 740,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant accommodation. Tracey is also responsible for leasing at The Hub Milton Keynes, the redevelopment of Montpellier Quarter Harrogate and One New Change The City.

Woody Bruce: Director Woody Bruce is head of the leasing and asset management teams for Windsor Royal Station, Brunswick, Bloomsbury, Centrale, Croydon, Fremlin Walk, Maidstone and the Schroder’s High Street portfolio.

Andrea George:Associate Director, Andrea, is responsible for the day to day leasing on MVG's major projects at The Mailbox, Birmingham and Spinningfields in Manchester. Andrea is also advising on the leasing of The Cube in Birmingham (part of the additional phase at The Mailbox) and advising Argent on sites in Manchester.

Victoria Broadhead: Associate Director, Victoria Broadhead is currently working on the leasing of Centros Bury St Edmunds due to open in February 2009, the redevelopment of Milsom Place Bath which is currently being undertaken and Brewery Square, Dorchester which is a new development planned to open in Spring 2010. Victoria is also involved in the asset management of The Met Quarter, Liverpool, Springfields Factory Outlet, Spalding and The Outlet, Bridgewater Park Factory Outlet in Northern Ireland.

Knight Frank Retail Team


United Kingdom