A senior lawyer from Lincolnshire and Yorkshire’s biggest law firm, Wilkin Chapman Rollits, has been named among the UK’s ‘Hot 100’ legal professionals for 2026.
Chris Grocock, senior partner, has been included in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2026 list – a prestigious list celebrating lawyers who have shaped the profession over the past 12 months.
Chris, who is head of Wilkin Chapman Rollits’ recoveries department, made this year’s list after almost 37 years with the firm, which was preceded by two seasons as a left-winger for Grimsby Town.
He became senior partner in 2024 and was instrumental as Wilkin Chapman and Rollits merged last year to form Lincolnshire and Yorkshire’s largest law firm.
The Hot 100 is one of the UK legal sector’s most respected annual lists, recognising individuals who demonstrate exceptional influence and innovation in the industry.
In its profile of Chris, The Lawyer says: “Former Grimsby Town footballer Chris Grocock never intended to become a lawyer, taking up a paralegal role at Wilkin Chapman in 1989 only because he didn’t secure a job paying twice as much at Lloyds Bank.
“From there, he became a trainee legal executive in the firm’s three-person debt recovery department, before qualifying as a solicitor and growing the team into a practice of national scope.
“Now he’s the firm’s senior partner and last year he pulled off a merger with neighbour Rollits to create a £40m Yorkshire and Lincolnshire powerhouse.
“With a new vision and values outlined for the merged firm, and an increasingly professionalised operations team, Grocock is setting his sights on taking Wilkin Chapman Rollits to another level. That means winning better-quality work, and moving out from its home turf to build its presence in nearby towns and cities that larger players have neglected.”
Chris Grocock, senior partner and head of the recoveries team at Wilkin Chapman Rollits, said: “I’m surprised but delighted to be included in the Hot 100. I’m truly honoured, but this endorsement is not just about me – it’s recognition of the efforts of the fantastic team at Wilkin Chapman Rollits.
“I’m proud of what we’ve built together since I joined the firm way back in 1989, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Robin Simmonds, chief executive of Wilkin Chapman Rollits, said: “Chris didn’t know he had been nominated, so it was a complete surprise to him when The Lawyer called to tell him the news. But it is very well deserved, and I look forward to working closely with Chris as we continue to shape the future of the firm. His inclusion truly reflects the outstanding contribution he has made and continues to make after an incredible 36 years with the firm.”
With more than 530 partners and staff located in Grimsby, Lincoln, Louth, Hull, York and Beverley, Wilkin Chapman Rollits is the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.