New Vail Williams partner Linda Staker strengthens Thames Valley team with regional experience and rating expertise

Vail Williams’ team of property experts at its growing Thames Valley office has been strengthened with the arrival of a new Partner, Linda Staker.

Linda actually started her career with Vail Williams, and is well known and highly regarded as a business rates expert with exceptional skills and extensive experience in this specialist area. She has a strong track record of successfully advising property occupiers and owners on reducing their property costs.

Linda has worked in the Thames Valley for 25 years and has an in-depth knowledge of the region and its’ commercial community. Such knowledge, combined with her skills and reputation as a rating expert, is set to attract new names to Vail Williams’ client list.

Linda said “I am delighted to be rejoining Vail Williams and to further strengthen its existing formidable rating team. My particular skills and business connections will complement and enhance the range of specialist services already being offered through the firm’s Thames Valley office.

“Although the next revaluation of commercial property for rating purposes has been postponed to 2017 there is still much which can be done to manage and reduce business rates liabilities on occupied and vacant properties alike. Looking forwards, property transactions which are concluded during the latter part of 2014 and early part of 2015 will provide the key evidence for the next revaluation.”

It’s a welcome return to Vail Williams for Linda, as it’s where she started her career. She previously worked with the late Chris Perry, a major force at Vail Williams and in whose name the company runs a bursary fund for real estate students at the University of Reading.

After starting a family Linda reached partner level in two small Reading based commercial property practices. She set up specialist rating departments in both, focusing primarily on the Thames Valley region.

Vail Williams Regional Partner Kevin Cook: “I would like to extend a warm Vail Williams welcome to Linda, whom many of the team have worked with before and already know.
She is well known to both occupiers and the professional community in the region and we are looking forward to Linda’s contribution in our further development of the Thames Valley market.”