Wilkin Chapman Solicitors has added decades of commercial property experience to their Beverley office with a key strategic appointment.
Justin Graves has joined the East Riding of Yorkshire branch of the firm’s nationally recognised commercial property team following a year of incredible growth. Heading up the commercial property department in Beverley, he will embed essential industry experience from over 22 years of working in the sector to the department.
The appointment is an encouraging addition to the department’s already firmly established team, which is ranked in tier 1 in ‘The Legal 500’ guide to law firms for its cumulative expertise.
Growing up in Northumberland, Justin went to the University of Hull from which he graduated in 1991, before soon qualifying as a solicitor in 1994. He has worked exclusively in commercial property law since 2000, initially starting out as a trainee solicitor – or an ‘articled clerk’ as it was known at the time, followed by post-qualification positions in Hull and Sheffield.
Justin Graves, commercial property solicitor and partner at Wilkin Chapman, said: “The lexicon might have changed a little since I began my career but the underlying focus on cultivating close relationships with business owners certainly hasn’t.
“I’ve nurtured a lot of strong connections in the local area which will be a huge boost to the team, I’m sure – especially now that business owners are under more pressure with impending tax rises and public sector cuts. Empathy and understanding go a long way in building trust, and that’s certainly something I’ll ensure our Beverley team continues to lead with.”
Since joining the firm, Justin has already been instructed for a multimillion pound acquisition of a property on the South Coast. The acquisition comes as a welcome addition to Wilkin Chapman’s growing portfolio, which has seen it ranked in the Lawyer’s Top 200 law firms nationally.
Justin Graves continued: “I was approached to join Wilkin Chapman directly and I said ‘yes’ to progress my career and explore a new challenge. As the largest law firm in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, they’re certainly well equipped to give me just that. I specialise in licenced property, which I’ll be underpinning as I lead the Beverley office’s commercial property team.
“On a personal level, it certainly helps that the commute to work is now much greener and more pleasant than when I worked in more urban areas – something that’s also reflected in the office. They say the grass isn’t always greener, but on this occasion, it definitely is.
“It’s a refreshing change and I’m honestly very excited to add my own expertise to the team in Beverley as we drive growth, which it’s particularly well placed for geographically, given its wide catchment area.”
