Meet Gary Hersham: Beauchamp Estates in London

It's no secret that Central London caters to some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world. And, with wealth and power, there are a select few people in London who fully understand this distinction and what is best to the world of luxury living.

Founded over thirty years ago, Beauchamp Estates is the premiere estate agency in London. With offices in Florence, Italy; Cannes, France; and Mykonos, Greece, this privately owned firm is doing extremely well for itself.

Beauchamp Estates is a two partner privately owned firm with over three and a half decades of experience in both the residential and commercial markets, specialising in particular in acquiring and selling prime central London houses, flats and developments. The two partners have worked together since the late 1970s, giving them a sense of continuity rarely experienced by their competitors.

Penny Court, Managing Director and Partner in the firm, is a specialist in top end prime Central London residential properties. Court joined fellow founder Gary Hersham shortly after Beauchamp Estates was founded and has acquired extensive knowledge of the London residential market and built an enviable contact base in the key up-market residential areas. She is a specialist in both residential sales and developments and also offers a bespoke service to both applicants and clients. With her excellent language skills she also enjoys heading up Beauchamp Estates International department.

Hersham is a well-educated man with a great mind for business.  Having finished University with an honours degree in Zoology and Biochemistry and Applied Entomology, and finding work with his late father very difficult, a friend who owned an estate agency offered him an opportunity to join him in the newly formed estate agency, which he leaped at. With no particular aspirations in the property world, Hersham knew he wanted to work, be independent, and make a name for his agency.

"I was so excited about this new start and new opportunity that I worked day and night, and as luck would have it, within nine months I owned the entire business. In truth, at the time it could have been any business; it just so happened it was in the field of residential property."

With a dedication and enthusiasm for this line of work, Hersham has established a distinguished list of clients and associates throughout the world. It’s these associations that have proven to be one of the best parts about his job.

"What I enjoy about estate agency is being able to work with different people from various parts of the world. International buyers, famous buyers, famous individuals, Heads of State, politicians, actors, you name it.”

Being wholeheartedly committed to his business — sometimes working 90 hours per week — instigated Hersham's wife to join the company and to head up Beauchamp Estates Private Office, a division of the company designed to meet the high-end requests of their wealthiest clients. An example of which might be "arranging the installation of photograph-proof blinds on a building they had recently acquired on the sixth floor with an uninterrupted park vista."

Regarding technology and new media, Hersham believes that it has changed the business of property forever.  The internet, he states, is "the source of inquiries." Especially with such an extensive list of worldwide clientele, Hersham is able to share his prestigious listings with buyers around the world.

Although Hersham spends much of his time in the office, he doesn't forget to allow some time for himself as well. "I like traveling, and I have traveled all over the world. From Australia and the Far East, as well as Africa and South America. We are going to South America very shortly. I dive and am a certified PADI diver. I also ski, and to a lesser extent play tennis."

When asked how his colleagues might describe him, Hersham says, in all seriousness: "They find me quite difficult." And then with a small chuckle, "What other questions may I answer for you?" He pauses and answers the question how to describe himself: “Eccentric. I think that's probably the best word to describe me… Eccentric."

In the game of high stakes Central London property, one must keep a sense of humour, and it's clear that Gary still has his. Leverage Global Partners is honoured and excited to work with Gary, his longstanding partner Penelope Court, and the rest of the international team at Beauchamp Estates.