Wilkin Chapman makes three senior appointments

Wilkin Chapman solicitors has appointed two new senior solicitors and a partner across its Lincoln, Grimsby and Beverley offices.

The new senior appointments will focus on supporting businesses and agribusiness as well as property owners and buyers with matters including sustainability, dispute resolution and house sales.

Commercial property lawyer Helen Barton has joined Wilkin Chapman’s Lincoln office as a new partner with a specialism in sustainability. Meanwhile, rural dispute resolution expert David Richardson has been appointed as a senior solicitor in Beverley, and expert in domestic property, Steve Watson, has joined the firm’s Grimsby office to help local people buy and sell homes.

With over 400 partners and staff located across a network of legal offices in Grimsby, Lincoln, Beverley and Louth, Wilkin Chapman is the largest law firm in the Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire area and it ranks as the 111th largest firm in the UK. Wilkin Chapman provides trusted legal and insolvency advice to both private and commercial clients who are based locally, nationally and internationally.

With more than 15 years of experience, Helen will focus on all aspects of commercial property work, with a particular emphasis on development work and the energy and renewable sector, and will provide services to landowners and commercial clients.

Having begun her career in Lincoln, Helen spent six years at a company in Scunthorpe before joining Wilkin Chapman in January 2023. She said:

“Wilkin Chapman has been a firm that I’ve known of for years from when I worked in Lincoln. I’ve watched it grow and become the entity that it is now. There was only going to be one firm that I would come back to Lincoln for and that was Wilkin Chapman.

“The way that it’s grown, the fact that it’s forward thinking and the different sectors that it’s moving into made it a very attractive prospect.”

Helen’s work will focus on helping landowners and businesses with a range of commercial property matters, with a particular focus on renewable energy projects. Helen explained:

“Renewable energy is an increasing and ever changing sector. Where landowners have been approached by developers interested in renewable projects such as solar farms and battery storage facilities, we’re helping landowners in negotiating and agreeing the documentation, including option agreements and leases. As technology progresses in the sector, we need to keep up to date with developments. It’s an exciting sector to be a part of.”

“I really enjoy working with commercial clients on a repeat basis, getting to know their business, getting to know how they like things done and building up relationships with them.”

David Richardson, senior solicitor, has over ten years of litigation experience and brings his agricultural and rural dispute resolution skill set to the growing Beverley dispute resolution team. He said:

“I’m East Yorkshire born and bred and come from a little village about 12 miles away from the Beverley office. Wilkin Chapman has got a really good reputation as one of the biggest law firms in this area. There are a lot of farmers and growers in the region and Beverley is their main hub so it’s a really good location.

“Wilkin Chapman’s Beverley office has a growing dispute resolution offering which will be able to serve the local area. We can now offer a wide range of dispute resolution services including for those clients involved in agriculture or the rural area.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to offer agricultural and rural disputes specialism in the Beverley office so I’m looking forward to providing that service to people in the local area and further afield.

“We can deal with all of your personal, commercial, property and construction, and agricultural and rural disputes and litigation.”

Steve Watson, new senior solicitor at Wilkin Chapman’s Grimsby office, grew up in the town before moving to Dorset to complete his training contract. Having previously worked in Wilkin Chapman’s Lincoln office, the new role sees him return to his hometown. Steve said:

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to rejoin Wilkin Chapman and the fantastic team here in Grimsby.”

After starting his career focusing on commercial property, Steve quickly made the switch to domestic property as he missed the people focused element. He said:

“It’s not necessarily the glamorous side of property law, but helping people who are looking to sell their house and buy their dream home, that’s the bread and butter for me.

“We really want people in the local area to know that if they are considering buying or selling a property then we are a competitive option for conveyancing.

“I’m looking forward to building those relationships with people in Grimsby and the local area, as well as establishing professional links with both brokers and agents as we all work together to achieve good outcomes for people.

“Helping people to buy and sell their houses and that moment when people get the keys to their house is really enjoyable to be part of and I enjoy that process.”

In addition to the three senior appointments, Hannah Gamble has completed her training contract at Wilkin Chapman and been promoted to the role of solicitor. Hannah joined Wilkin Chapman as a paralegal after finishing her criminology degree in 2014 before embarking on her training contract with the firm. Hannah said:

“It feels great to complete my training contract and become a qualified solicitor. It has been a long road to get here but it has been a very fulfilling experience. I felt supported by my colleagues and the friends I have made along the way and I am very proud that I have finally qualified!

“My experience with different departments during my training has equipped me with knowledge which I have been able to bring with me on my return to the probate department.”

Wilkin Chapman was ranked at 111 in the Lawyer’s Top 200 UK Law Firms for 2021. For more information visit www.wilkinchapman.co.uk.