Neil Sinclair FRICS
Real Estate Operator • Public Company Adviser • PropTech Adoption Strategist
Six decades across UK property and real estate markets. Nine economic cycles. Multiple public company exits. Judgment shaped by experience, an extensive network, and a track record that speaks for itself.
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Experience isn't the years — it's the cycles survived.
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What Neil Does
REIT & Listed Vehicle Advisory
Board-level guidance for REITs and listed property vehicles navigating governance, growth strategy, and capital markets.
- • REIT formation & board structuring
- • Public property company scaling strategies
- • Shareholder alignment & investor relations
Distressed & Opportunistic Strategy
Deep experience navigating 9 major economic cycles. Guidance on distressed assets, workout situations, and counter-cyclical acquisitions.
- • Distressed asset identification & structuring
- • Capital structure arbitrage
- • Cycle-timing & contrarian positioning
Development & Asset Management
Planning risk, development execution, and property repositioning. Track record includes Hudson Quarter (York) a mixed-use scheme of 127 apartments & 40,000 sq ft of offices.
- • Mixed-use development strategy
- • Planning risk navigation
- • Regional property market repositioning
PropTech Adoption Strategy
Help PropTech founders navigate landlord incentives, institutional adoption, and design pilot programs that actually scale.
- • Landlord & REIT distribution strategy
- • ROI modeling for asset managers
- • Institutional adoption frameworks
Capital Markets & Transaction Execution
Two IPOs, four reverse takeovers, and created Milner Estates, formerly Sinclair Goldsmith Holdings which was subsequently sold to Delancey for £173m; Palace Capital with a £259-280m property portfolio). Deep fluency in public markets and M&A structuring.
- • IPO & AIM listing execution
- • Reverse takeover structuring
- • Strategic exits & M&A advisory
- • Debt & equity capital raises
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When you've watched London rebuilt twice, you learn the truth: it's never the tech that decides what changes — it's the families and institutions who control the land.
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Philanthropic Leadership
Variety – the Children's Charity is one of the UK's leading children's charities, providing practical support to children and young people who are sick, disabled, or disadvantaged.
Neil joined Variety in 1972 and was co-opted to the Film Premieres Committee and Variety at Work. From the late 70s he Chaired the Annual Dinner & Ball Committees and later the Events and Fundraising Committees. He was co-opted to the Board in 1982 becoming a Trustee in 1984 and Chief Barker (Chairman & CEO) in 1991.
Neil was co-founder of the PROPS, a major fundraiser associated with the real estate industry, which during his time as Chair—spanning 31 years—raised over £12m and provided more than 2,000 wheelchairs for disabled children. It continues to this day not only in London where it is always a 1,000-people sell-out but is now in Manchester and Birmingham. Neil has been a key driver of the success of Variety UK for many decades and together with his wife Pamela, was presented with The Variety Lifetime Service Award by Variety International, the global body, based in Tennessee, USA.
Why Institutions Work With Him
FRICS-qualified with 60+ years across UK property and real estate markets
Deep relationships with long-term property owners, families, and institutions built across six decades
Operated through 9 major economic cycles, doing big moves near/after downturns: Sequel portfolio acquisition from Quintain plc (2013 regional recovery), Hudson Quarter development, focusing on regional opportunities when London was crowded
Clear, decisive, and independent thinking shaped by multiple complete property cycles
Advisory for boards, founders, and institutions.
Contact NeilFrequently Asked Questions
What does Neil Sinclair FRICS specialise in?
Neil Sinclair FRICS specialises in real estate advisery for REITs and listed property vehicles, board-level governance and growth strategy, distressed and opportunistic real estate strategy, PropTech adoption and landlord distribution strategy, and capital markets guidance for real estate companies. With 60+ years of experience, he provides judgment shaped by operating through 9 major economic cycles.
What experience does Neil Sinclair have?
Neil Sinclair FRICS has over 60 years of experience in UK real estate. He has built and exited multiple listed property platforms, including a £173m exit to Delancey and scaling Palace Capital to a £259-280m portfolio. He has operated through 9 major economic cycles including the 1973 Oil Crisis, 1990 crash, Global Financial Crisis (2008), Brexit (2016), COVID-19 (2020), and interest-rate whiplash (2022-24).
Who does Neil Sinclair work with?
Neil Sinclair works with REITs, listed property vehicles, institutional investors, family offices, public company boards, and PropTech founders navigating real estate adoption. His clients value his deep relationships with long-term owners, families, and institutions, and his operator judgment refined through multiple real estate cycles.
What is FRICS and why does it matter?
FRICS stands for Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the highest level of RICS membership. It represents extensive experience, technical competence, and professional standing in real estate and property. Fellows are recognized internationally as leaders in the property profession.