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Category: Insights

Want to buy property in London?

Jordan Edwards of Edwards & Plumb shares insights on helping international buyers find the right London property, with expert advice on value and access.

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Simon Osborne

BSc (Hons) MRICS

Real Estate Capital Consultant

Simon is a specialist in real estate finance and asset management with over 20 years experience in UK markets and the founder of Eden Park Capital.

Following roles with Cushman & Wakefield’s Investment & Finance division in Central Europe and Deutsche Bank’s European Real Estate Group, Simon re-located to the UAE where he was involved in setting up a development and fund management division for a regional family office located in Abu Dhabi and the restructuring of one of Dubai’s largest publicly listed real estate developers.

More recently, Simon has held principle lending and capital advisory roles at Fortwell Capital and Blackbear Capital.

His expertise lies in structuring and executing single and multi-jurisdictional investment and finance transactions across multiple sectors and geographies, including strategic portfolio and asset restructuring. He has a proven track record of delivering innovative and bespoke solutions for complex and challenging deals, and building long-term relationships with clients and lenders.

Simon holds a BSc (Hons) in Real Estate Management from Nottingham Trent University.

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Gregor Brown

BSc (Hons) MRICS

Investment Consultant

Gregor is a chartered surveyor and the founder of G M Brown, a UK based commercial agency specialising in the industrial sector.

Prior to establishing G M Brown, he worked for Gerald Eve and Graham and Sibbald focusing on the industrial sector.

Gregor was named the Estate Gazette / Radius Top Dealmaker of the Year for 2020, 2022 as well as CoStar’s ‘Most Active Single Branch Agency’ for Industrial acquisitions and disposals in 2022/2023.

Between 2022 – 2024 Gregor has completed over 390 commercial leasing and sales transactions throughout the UK.

Gregor brings invaluable experience in the industrial sector to the Allanton team.

Gregor holds a BSc (Hons) in Property Management and Valuation from Glasgow Caledonian University and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

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Sam Ewing

MA (Hons) MRICS

Investment Director

Sam is a qualified Chartered Surveyor with over 12 year’s experience in UK, European and Middle Eastern Markets.

Sam started his career at CBRE and Knight Frank undertaking valuation instructions for a range of clients focusing on banks and Real Estate Investment Trusts.

Thereafter Sam worked for Majid Al Futtaim Properties responsible for the asset management of retail and shopping mall assets with a portfolio value of USD 5.6bn. During his tenure he completed more than 245 deals with a revenue of USD 145m.

Most recently Sam has held roles with Aldar Investment as Senior Vice President within the Investment and Asset Management division. During his role, he has been responsible for the P&L of a USD 3.5bn portfolio spanning 400,000 sq m GLA across retail, residential, commercial and hospitality sectors.

He has also been responsible for the investment management of third-party assets held across UAE and central Asia markets with a book value of USD 4.5 bn.

Additionally, Sam co-led asset management initiatives for a USD 400m equity raise from one of the worlds largest private equity firms. Sam brings invaluable experience in the industrial sector to the Allanton team.

Sam holds a MA Joint (Hons) in Real Estate and Business Management from the University of Aberdeen and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

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James Cresswell

BA (Hons) MSc MRICS

Asset Management Director

James is an experienced Chartered Surveyor with over 20 years experience working in real estate.  James started his career in the UK working for leading real estate consultancies, undertaking complex valuation work nationally within various asset classes.

Relocating to Dubai in 2010, James worked for CBRE and  laterally Cavendish Maxwell as Head of Valuation leading  and building a large team across the region whilst undertaking a range of valuations from single assets to large portfolios including development sites extending to 10 million sq ft and super regional malls.

James has acquired and developed assets in the UK and Dubai for over the last 15 years, building a strong network and deep knowledge of the UK  property markets across both commercial and residential sectors.

James holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from Brighton University, an MSc in Estate Management, from London Southbank University, and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) since 2004.

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Saeed Hashmi

BSc (Hons) MRICS

Investment and Strategy Director

A seasoned Chartered Surveyor with over 20 years of experience within the real estate sector. Saeed started his career in 2002 with leading property consultancies such as Cluttons and JLL, specialising in national investment, advising financial institutions and property companies on acquisitions and disposals of their real estate interests throughout the UK.

Moving to the UAE in 2009, Saeed primarily worked for a leading private equity investment company, launching one of MENA’s first real estate credit funds. He also acted as Investment Director for several direct real estate vehicles, as well as developing numerous mixed-use assets.

Prior to setting up Allanton Group, Saeed worked for JLL undertaking development advisory.

Saeed has undertaken proprietary development internationally over the past 13 years of both residential and commercial projects whilst building an invaluable network of partners.

Saeed holds a BSc (Hons) in Estate Management from Heriot-Watt University, a PG Dip in Architectural Project Management from The University of Edinburgh and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) since 2004.

  • +971 56 891 6528
  • saeed@allantongroup.com
  • Saeed Hashmi