I graduated in Mathematics from the University of Oxford in 1982 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Binder Hamlyn in 1986. I then initially specialised on audit, accounting and business advisory services to owner managed businesses, and by 1988 specialised in special advisory and investigation projects, share and business valuations and litigation support. I became a member of the Academy of Experts and the Society of Expert Witnesses in 1996.

In 1997 I transferred as a senior manager to Arthur Andersen (Business Consulting) where I continued providing litigation and valuation services, and then developed a focus on intangible asset valuations. For each of these service lines I was a member of the senior team responsible for managing the practice areas. I subsequently joined Brand Finance plc as a brand valuation director in early 2000. I have since passed a diploma at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and joined the Expert Witness Institute. In early 2001 I left Brand Finance plc and co founded Intangible Business Limited a niche consultancy specialising in advising on intangible assets and business development.

My work has usually been needed for a sale, dispute, management information, reorganisation or for tax purposes. For disputes I have generally acted as expert witness and adviser for High Court proceedings, County Court proceedings, arbitrations, other tribunals, expert determinations and mediations. I have also acted as the expert for expert determinations, and am on the panel for expert determination appointments by the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. I have given evidence in court as expert witness and have attended court to give support and advice to counsel. I have also attended mediations as expert witness.
I have managed over 100 valuation assignments and 50 litigation support assignments of varying size and complexity.

The following recent assignments give an indication of relevant experience:

Valuation of the global wine and spirits brands of a FTSE100 UK listed company, for inclusion in its filing information supporting a successful application to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

Expert advice, to the international section of the New York branch of the US Internal Revenue Service, on the contribution of business intangibles to the value of ancillary sales for delivery services in the US, and on the commercial arrangements behind sales distribution contracts for an entertainment group.

Evaluation of the value of a patent for a space saving device for the apparel trade in North America.

Strategic advice on business development, fund raising and business/share sale to a chain of ladies apparel in the UK.

Evaluation of the opportunities to a Charitable Memorial Fund (for an extremely well known deceased celebrity) for licensing glassware, fine writing instruments, personal stationery, holiday ornaments and diamond jewellery in North America.

Valuation of a planned launch and development in the North America market of Purely Cotton tissue, which was made from cotton linters.

Advice in connection with the negotiation of the purchase of a childrens clothing brand to a major UK retailer seeking to acquire the brand.

Advice to the target of a hostile takeover bid on the value of five of its brands in ladies intimate apparel and fashion (in the UK and France) for inclusion in a day 39 defence document.

Advice to a Japanese sports brand owner in dispute with a licensee in the UK over the terms of the licence for branded apparel in the UK.

Advice to a Yellow Pages group on UK, US and internet brand valuations for inter group transfers prior to planned flotation.

Advice on the value of intangible assets to a well known London retailer for use in connection with competing hostile takeover bids.

Preparation of a model to track brand and business value in a test markets for the retail fuels division of a major international oil company.

Advice to a Norwegian client on intangible asset value for a digital broadcast equipment business acquisition in the UK.

Advice to the US owner of a mobile telephone operator in the UK on its intangible operating asset value for US tax purposes.

Advice to the buyer of a national car and van rental company in the UK on breaches of warranty on acquisition, and the resulting effect on the value of the business.