Acquisition sees law firm strengthen its recoveries expertise

Grimsby-headquartered Wilkin Chapman Solicitors has marked a major expansion with the acquisition of a company in South Yorkshire.

The firm has completed the takeover of Silke & Co, a Doncaster-based business solutions company. In acquiring Silke & Co, Wilkin Chapman solicitors is growing its work in the area of recoveries – a team headed up by Partner Chris Grocock.

The new Doncaster branch is known as Wilkin Chapman Business Solutions and incorporates the existing Silke team of 50, which includes three corporate insolvency specialists. Existing director and Licensed Insolvency Practitioner Ian Rose is a Director of the new business.

This development for Wilkin Chapman’s Recoveries team follows previous growth which saw it take over personal insolvency practice Carrick Read four years ago. With the latest Doncaster team included, it currently employs 130 people in this field of work with an expected annual turnover of £7m.

Grocock said: “The acquisition of Silke & Co is the final piece of the jigsaw for our Recoveries team, meaning we can offer clients corporate insolvency expertise, alongside our market leading debt recovery litigation and personal insolvency services.

“We have a true legal and insolvency ‘One Stop Shop’ that we hope will be attractive to existing and potential clients.”

Wilkin Chapman has offices in Grimsby, Lincoln, Beverley, Louth, Horncastle, Alford and now Doncaster, where its commitment to the business community sees it sponsoring the SME Business of the Year at the town’s annual business awards.

The firm’s Chief Executive, Des Mannion, said: “This latest acquisition highlights Wilkin Chapman’s progressive and innovative approach when looking to grow as both a law firm, but also as an organisation that can successfully offer a range of complementary services.”