The UK’s most comprehensive guides to law firms have seen even more praise for the region’s largest law firm, Wilkin Chapman solicitors.
Published annually, The Legal 500 is the most comprehensive assessment of law firms’ capabilities. With firms judged against a list of strict criteria, the research is based on interviews with clients, barristers and other professionals.
This year the firm has seen improvements with its Employment, Commercial Litigation and Wills Estates Tax and trust department being ranked as Tier 2 firms in the East Midlands region which incorporates the firms Lincoln, Grimsby and Wolds offices.
Wilkin Chapman now have 14 practice areas ranked in the guide with 38 individuals being singled out for their expertise.
The highest Tier One rankings are awarded to the firm’s Family, Commercial Property, Debt Recovery and Agriculture teams in the East Midlands, with a host of accolades for individuals through Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.
Singled out in the Family team are former senior partner Mark Carlton and head of department Lisa Boileau who ‘handle cases with the utmost efficient and expertise’ and are part of a team that provides ‘excellent advice’.
Similar praise went to Mark’s successor as the firm’s Senior Partner and Litigation solicitor Andrew Holt, for being ‘unstinting and meticulous in his work’.
Head of the Agriculture and Food sector Catherine Harris and colleague Jonty Pearson show ‘genuine commitment in terms of skills, knowledge and availability’, says the guide.
The Employment Law specialists were noted as providing advice that ‘always hits the nail on the head and is timely and of the highest quality’.
The firms’ Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team also received some well-deserved praise, being referred to as an ‘outstanding team’ with clinical negligence senior solicitor, Jonathan Baker being noted as ‘tactically astute and procedurally brilliant’.
In a second major rankings report, Wilkin Chapman teams and individuals also receive high praise.
Leading the individual accolades in the 2018 edition of Chambers and Partners UK, is Imogen Holmes. A Partner and member of the Private Client team, Imogen has seen her recognition raise to Band One.
In the report, Imogen is described as “very knowledgeable, efficient and friendly’.
The firm has also seen its Family department enter the guide as a recognised practitioner in the highly competitive York, Hull and Surrounds region.
Partner and head of the Wills, estates, tax and trusts department Lisa-Jane Howes, joins Imogen in the Band One rankings, as does Partner and Head of Agricultural Catherine Harris.
Band Two rankings go to Partner and Head of Family Lisa Boileau and fellow Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial Russell Eke.
Meanwhile Head of Commercial Property, Partner Ruth Brewin also receives a Band two ranking and is described by one client as having “a brain the size of a planet!”
The specialist teams within Wilkin Chapman also feature highly, with a Band One ranking for the Family and Private Client teams, a Band Two for the Agricultural and Corporate teams and a Band Three for Real Estate (Commercial Property).
Delighted by the rankings, Wilkin Chapman Chief Executive Des Mannion, said: “A law firm only as good as its people, and is nothing without their skills and expertise. Our senior solicitors lead the teams and inspire and mentor the next talented generation of solicitors within Wilkin Chapman. These rankings are a reflection of the dedicated and highly skilled people we have working across a wide range of practice areas and we are very proud of them.”
