Looking forward to the future

AN INCREASE in the demand for legal services has seen a growing client base and more jobs at leading Beverley law firm, Wilkin Chapman solicitors.

The firm’s Beverley office has expanded its workforce to 40 in recent months – with four of the latest recruits all having studied in Hull.

With offices at The Hall, Lairgate, the firm has grown continually since its merger with Cooper and Wright in 2005 – the latter had existed in Beverley for 125 years, with a strong agricultural client base.

Over the years that traditional work has expanded and changed, bringing with it a need to invest in areas such as renewables and alternative energy, commercial and residential property, and dispute resolution.

Commercial property solicitor, Rachel Leng, is one of the latest recruits. Having studied Law at Hull University, Rachel went on to achieve a distinction in her LPC at the York College of Law. She worked for solicitors in Hull and Goole, before spending time with the Queensland Government in Australia and has returned home to join Wilkin Chapman.

Meanwhile, Tom Herd has joined the team from Williamsons solicitors, also as a commercial property solicitor. He studied law at Hull University, and fully qualified in 2015, specialising in commercial property and the sale and purchase of small businesses.  

Caroline Shaw has joined as a solicitor in the residential property team. Caroline studied in Hull and York, achieving her LPC in 2007 and appeared as a top-rated lawyer in the Sunday Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday in 2015.

Rachel Templeman, who graduated from the University of Hull with a Law degree, will act as a paralegal, supporting solicitors in the dispute resolution team.

In other moves within the firm itself, Amy Slocombe-Smith moves over to Beverley from Wilkin Chapman’s Lincoln office to further bolster the agricultural services offered.

Teresa Thomas, partner responsible for the Beverley office, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new members to the team. Their combined experience, both locally, nationally and internationally, will be a great asset to our already well-established team, and is further evidence of our continued investment in East Yorkshire.

“The firm has been lauded as the region’s ‘legal powerhouse’ and I’ve no doubt that our strong commitment to recruiting the best talent will strengthen this further.”

One of the team’s longest-serving partners, Lesley Archer, is delighted with the progress. Lesley enjoyed a career with Cooper and Wright before the merger.

She said: “We have built on an extremely good and loyal client base, supporting our customers with a strong core of agricultural lawyers while serving the need for specialists in all other aspects of the law. We are now attracting lawyers here from all around the area, making sure that talent comes in and stays.”

One of the firm’s latest team members, Insolvency Manager Richard James agrees with Lesley’s view on life at the Beverley office. He joined just seven weeks ago, following a career in Leeds.

“There are some extremely talented people here, dealing in all sectors of work and to top it off, Beverley is a beautiful town,” said Richard.