Chris is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a founder member of the Institute’s Faculty of Taxation. Prior to establishing Hamlyns as Founding Partner, he qualified with what is now Ernst & Young. Chris is also the finance director for a specialist software company and was a trustee of a national charity and the finance director of a public limited group of companies operating leading high street franchises. This extensive commercial experience has proven invaluable in working closely with clients in the development and implementation of their strategic goals. With success comes the need for effective tax planning, and Chris acts for high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs, tackling all aspects of corporate and personal taxation.

Away from the practice, Chris is never happier than when he’s in deep water, exploring some of the world’s most challenging scuba-diving sites.

David is a Fellow of both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He has also trained as a Lexcel Consultant and is a former Treasurer of Woking Chamber of Trade and Commerce. David has worked extensively in industry, giving him a wide-ranging breadth of commercial experience, and he built up his own firm which merged with Hamlyns in 2003 at which point he became a Partner. David has a wide client base of small, medium and large-sized enterprises as well as subsidiaries of multinational corporations. He provides audit, accountancy and tax planning services, and is closely involved in their business development and other financial and commercial issues. He also advises on tax planning matters for private clients and professional partnerships.

When he’s not guiding his clients through the metaphorical stormy seas of the business world, yachtsman David spends his free time experiencing the real thing under full sail.

Nicky is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She spent five years with KPMG at its London office, after which she moved into industry in Finance Director roles in the security and aviation sectors. Feeling that her skills were better used in advising clients about their business, she moved back into the accountancy profession, joining Hamlyns in 2002. Nicky acts primarily for SMEs, providing the holistic advice they look for in an accountant. This role not only encompasses audit, accounting and taxation services but also involves assistance with day-to-day issues. Nicky also uses her commercial experience, gained from working in industry, to provide strategic advice to help her clients businesses develop to their full potential. Nicky is the firm’s audit compliance officer, advising clients, fellow partners and staff on audit and accounting issues.

To the delight of her colleagues (and to the detriment of their waistbands), Nicky adores ‘messing around in the kitchen’, especially as the end result so often involves chocolate!

Sam is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. After reading History at Oxford University he went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with a central London firm after which he spent five years with Barclays Investment Bank.

Sam decided to return to practice to work closely with individuals and their businesses to help them achieve their goals by applying the strategic planning knowledge he gained from his role at Barclays. In addition to advising SMEs across a wide range of sectors on issues including R&D tax credits; Sam also advises solicitors on all aspects of accounting and taxation and the SRA rules.

Away from the office Sam enjoys walking his dog on Chobham common, watching Welsh rugby and looking after his young daughter.

Colin is Managing Director of HFS Hamlyns Financial Services Limited, an Appointed Representative of HFS Milbourne Financial Services Limited; an Independent Financial Adviser and Wealth Manager. He is the co-founder and joint Managing Director of HFS Milbourne and has over 30-years’ experience within the financial services arena. Colin set up Hayden Financial Services in 1985 and, in 2005, arranged the merger of Milbourne Financial Services to create HFS Milbourne.Colin is a keen rugby and cricket fan and personal activities include cycling and endurance rowing. In the last few years, Colin has completed a staged cycle challenge from London to Istanbul, taking him through Paris, Munich, Venice, Dubrovnik and Thessaloniki, with the last ride in September 2014 to Romania taking him through the beautiful Carpathian Mountains.