Property experts to help you achieve your goals

Chris James

Head of Property Management

Chris joined AR in 2024 and has enjoyed a varied and interesting career over more than 30 years.

He has previously been Operations Director, Head of Property Management for the 2 largest property companies in the UK as well as Managing Director of smaller boutique businesses. Chris has worked as a consultant both in the UK and internationally throughout mainland Europe, Middle East and Asia. He was the founder of FM24 (later sold to Mace Plc) and the owner of a successful property management company for 12 years.

Chris’s philosophies and values are centred around exceptional customer service, innovation, creating a galvanised, motivated and enthusiastic team and collaboratively delivering the client’s vision for their property or portfolio.

Francis Tomlinson

Director

Francis Tomlinson is Head of the Lease Advisory Division at Aitchison Raffety, and manages the company’s Hitchin Office. Francis has over 40 years’ experience as a qualified Chartered Surveyor, and has been in practice in North Hertfordshire, based in Hitchin for the last 38 years, originally as a Partner in Chancellors, followed by two years as a Regional Director for Hogg Robinson Property Services, and 20 years as a Director of Tomlinson Quin Ltd, before the merger of that company with Aitchison Raffety in 2009.

The Hitchin Office has been involved with commercial property, including both agency and landlord and tenant matters throughout the last 38 years. Francis acts both for landlords and tenants in lease renewal negotiations and rent review disputes, and also acts for both as an Independent Expert and as an Arbitrator (having been on the Panel of The President of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for over 25 years in each case). Francis acts for a wide range of clients including national and local property companies institutions and individuals, and multiple and sole traders, relative to shop, office, warehouse and industrial premises for the most part.

Ian Roobottom

Property Management Surveyor

Laurence Barton

Director

Laurence has over 30 years experience in the commercial property sector.  He set up his own property consultancy, Barton Rix, which was acquired by Aitchison Raffety in 2007.

As Head of Corporate Real Estate, Laurence advises major national and international companies on property matters ranging from simple lease negotiations to corporate relocations.  He also has expert knowledge in Landlord and Tenant dispute resolution matters with experience in arbitration and expert witness procedures.