Senior solicitor sets out to help people buy their dream home in Grimsby

Wilkin Chapman solicitors has added another expert in domestic property to its Grimsby office to help local people buy and sell homes.

The new expert, Steve Watson, is a senior solicitor who grew up in Grimsby.

After initially completing his training contract at a firm in Dorset, Steve moved back to Lincolnshire in 2016 to join Wilkin Chapman’s Lincoln office. From there, he moved to another firm in Louth where he spent five years before returning to his home town in Grimsby by rejoining Wilkin Chapman in January 2023.

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, with offices in Grimsby, Lincoln, Beverley and Louth. The firm provides trusted legal and insolvency advice to both private and commercial clients who are based locally, nationally and internationally.

Speaking about his new role, senior solicitor Steve Watson said:

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

“In my previous role I built a successful and expert team. Now I have the chance to do the same again but in a bigger arena as Wilkin Chapman is the leading law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.

“It’s closer to home for me as well as I live in the local area, so I’m looking forward to building up a local client base, assisting what’s already a great team, pushing us forward and making the Grimsby office successful for many years to come.”

The focus on building relationships with local people is key for Steve. He explains:

“I’ve always worked on the basis that it’s the doorstep work and getting local people through the door that is really important. That is my focus going forward here at Wilkin Chapman.

“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.”

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

“I initially went into commercial property as that’s what my mentor specialised in while I was on my training contract. However I quickly realised that I really missed the client interaction.

“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.

“Residential property is a bit more transactional than other aspects of law. There’s a very quick turnover – sometimes you’ve got lots of completions on a Friday for example – some people wouldn’t like that but those are the days I enjoy the most.”

With 47 partners and over 350 members of 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 region.

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.