We had a chat with Chris Drinkall and James Marsden, joint Heads of the Hull office at Wilkin Chapman Rollits, the newly merged law firm following the union of Wilkin Chapman and Rollits.
Partner Chris Drinkall was the former head of Rollits’ Dispute Resolution department, whereas James Marsden, a Partner and Head of the Family Law team, previously headed up Wilkin Chapman’s Beverley office. Together, they are now leading the next phase of growth for what has become the largest law firm in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Although historically based in different locations, the two firms had long respected each other, as Chris explained:
“The nature of the matters that I deal with means that relations between the Parties can often be fraught. Part of our role as legal advisors is often to try and cool tempers, and where possible, help to facilitate a resolution, whilst at the same time fighting our client’s corner. Unfortunately, I have plenty of experience of dealing with other legal advisors over the years who, through their abruptness and intransigence, fan the flames of a dispute. That was never the case in the dealings that I had with Wilkin Chapman.”
This longstanding mutual respect helped make the merger progress smoothly, despite the pace and complexity of the process. Completed on 1st April 2025, it included an early welcome event that set the tone for collaboration. Combining systems, teams, marketing and day-to-day operations could have been a logistical challenge, but Chris and James agree that it went better than anyone could have hoped.
“It had the potential to be problematic,” said James, “but it couldn’t have gone much better as both firms have the same culture and the same approach to client service.”
As a result, the Hull office has grown from 60 to over 100 staff, contributing to a total headcount of over 500 across the wider firm, including 70 partners. Offices now span Hull, Beverley, York, Grimsby, Lincoln and Louth, making Wilkin Chapman Rollits a regional legal powerhouse.
“Wilkin Chapman had the South Bank covered, whilst also having a growing presence and reputation in Beverley and the surrounding areas,” said James. “Rollits were strong in Hull and the East Riding and the wider Yorkshire region. Together, we are now one of the largest law firms in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and truly pan-Humber.”
Both Chris and James are keen to maintain the firm’s strong community links, including relationships with the University of Hull, University of Lincoln, and local colleges and schools.
The focus on hiring and developing local talent remains core to the identity of Wilkin Chapman Rollits. At the same time, the merger gives the law firm far greater depth, including a specialist insolvency and debt recovery team, sector-leading expertise in charities and corporate law, and a risk management team to rival firms in Leeds, Manchester and London.
“We cover every area of law, but we’ve kept our local focus,” said James. “Clients still see a familiar face and staff still enjoy a strong work-life balance.”
“It’s busy every day and there’s a real buzz in the office again,” Chris added. “Even with hybrid working, the atmosphere is positive, energetic, with plenty of room to grow.”
Incredibly, neither firm has seen a single redundancy during the merger process and the response from clients and employees has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’ve always said our people are just as important as clients,” said James, “and this philosophy will remain in place as we continue to build the business.”
The merger may have come together quickly, but its foundations were years in the making. Built on shared values, mutual respect and a belief in better serving the region through collaboration, Wilkin Chapman Rollits didn’t miss a beat and is now helping more individuals, families and businesses than ever before.
“It’s a great fit,” concluded Chris. “Same mindset, same mission, just on a much bigger scale.”
To find out more about how Wilkin Chapman Rollits can support you, visit www.wilkinchapmanrollits.co.uk