About Us

The firm’s philosophy is that our clients should receive a full financial service and our partner team, supported by qualified staff, provide services in the areas of accounting, audit, tax and financial planning. Our aim is to ensure that our clients are helped to maximise their incomes, pay the minimum in taxation during their lifetime and on death, and maximise the amount of return made on the post-tax earnings. To do this our partners specialise in business, tax and financial planning advice.

Adrian Lewis FCA Business advice, Accounts, Audit and Business Technology Having qualified in London and been a partner in a national firm, Adrian is one of the two founding Partners of the firm. He is the senior audit partner and heads the firm’s Management Accounting team. Adrian has a wide range of professional experience, including having been the President of the South Eastern Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and is the partner responsible for the firm’s litigation support services to the legal profession. Adrian is responsible for a wide range of clients and also specialises in support to new and growing businesses and the implementation of financial software and information technology.

Michael Merritt MA Oxon FCA Business advice, Specialist Tax Michael is a local man, educated in Chichester and then at Oxford University. Having qualified in 1983, Michael has concentrated upon all aspects of tax and is now the firm’s specialist tax partner, dealing with both corporate and personal tax issues. Michael’s mission is to help both business and personal clients minimise their tax liability. Besides general tax planning, he also advises on estate planning, Inheritance Tax, and trusts. Michael is also the person to turn to help you through the maze of VAT regulation.

Stephen Burns MSFA Financial planning Steve became a partner in 2000 having trained and qualified with HSBC, Zurich and Schroders. He is a member of the Independent Financial Advisors network and holds the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (AFPC). Steve is the firm’s specialist partner dealing in all aspects of financial planning for individuals and businesses. His particular skills are in the areas of unit trusts, bonds, pension transfer, onshore and offshore trusts, and portfolio planning.

William Neville BSc Econ ACA Audit, Corporation Tax and Business Advice William is a keen sailor and walker. Having graduated at Southampton University he stayed in Southampton to gain his Chartered Accountancy qualification with KPMG and then spent two years as a tax manager with Deloitte & Touche, before joining Lewis Brownlee. William has developed a wide ranging portfolio of business clients, with a leaning towards the construction and leisure/travel industries, along with a number of FSA regulated clients. He particularly enjoys assisting entrepreneur-led businesses with proactive business advice.

Sarah Alexander FCCA Business Advice, Accounts and Audit Sarah is originally from the north of England and trained with a top 20 firm in Manchester. After qualifying she moved to Gibraltar where she spent four years working for a leading firm of Chartered Accountants there. On her return to the UK she joined Lewis Brownlee and has developed a client base which includes small businesses, pension schemes, professional practices and charities. Sarah enjoys the close involvement in the business that a general practice partner can bring to her clients.

John Pressdee FCA Business advice, Accounts, Audits and Start Ups John was previously a partner in Payne Sherlock before the firm merged with Lewis Brownlee. He qualified with a Brighton firm and then spent a period at the London office of Deloittes before his love of sailing brought him to Chichester. Since then he has been very involved with the local community both through Round Table and Rotary. John specialises in working with owner managed businesses providing support and guidance to a wide range of clients to assist in their growth. He also provides advice to new businesses helping them through the maze of paper work which needs to be completed on a start up.

Charles Brownlee BA HONS (Econ) FCA ATII MSFA Business advice and tax consultant Charles was the second founding Partner of the firm but has now retired and works for the firm on a consultancy basis providing advice on a wide range of business and taxation issues. Charles is a respected authority on tax and was a specialist adviser on tax and related issues to the Conservative Administration in 1986.