News

2009-02-11 : Energy & Utilities Specialist Joins the Team

An experienced surveyor and valuer, Owen Garfield's track record includes 11 years within the VO across the country.  Owen was part of the Utilities Rating Team and whilst working as Head of Generators was responsible for over £180million of ratings valuations; as well as assisting as a Large Statutory Ports specialist.

A specialist area for Ruddle Merz, the firm currently act for 20 power stations, water companies, and numerous other utility companies across the UK.  The company's efforts have resulted in utility clients enjoying savings of over £20million.  In 2008, one particular client benefitted from savings in excess of £10million in rates payable, Ruddle Merz's largest single saving ever achieved for a client.

Ruddle Merz work with around 1400 clients nationwide across a range of sectors, including industrial, office, leisure, and healthcare and have saved clients over £62m on business rates since 2005.

Tim Bonham, CEO at Ruddle Merz commented on the appointment "Getting Owen on board is a fantastic coup for Ruddle Merz as he has some very specialised skills that only a very small number of valuers in the country have.  He is a great addition to our specialist Utilities Team who work at a national and regional level, looking after multi-million pound assessments."

Ruddle Merz work hard at achieving savings for clients, funding legal cases if necessary, such as Lands Tribunal if that's what is required to achieve a result.

Over the last 12 months Ruddle Merz has taken three cases to Lands Tribunal, and unusually have shouldered the financial risk in all cases; each being an open ended cost of around £30,000. Ruddle Merz has won two and lost one of these cases.

Owen Garfield commented. "I really do feel like gamekeeper turned poacher moving over from VO.  This is an exciting opportunity to work within utilities valuation from the other side of the fence and work closely with clients from wind turbines to coal fired power stations to reduce rates."

Owen will work closely with Pat Brennan, another leading utilities specialist who was appointed to lead the Utilities Rating Team of the Valuation Office Agency when it was first formed in 1996.  Pat played a leading role in advising the Government on the values to be prescribed.  He also led a team of five chartered surveyors responsible for valuing the utility company properties in England and Wales.