Fond farewell to Neal Porter

Neal Porter, Director at the firm who has served over 4000 clients in Selby is retiring on 30 April 2018 after 29 years of service.

Neal moved to Selby in 1989 to take over the running of the Selby office at Stamp Jackson & Procter. In 1991 the Selby office of Stamp Jackson merged with Crombie Wilkinson where Neal has worked for 27 years. He took on a management role and was responsible for the development and growth of the Selby office.

Initially there were only 3 legal advisors based at Selby, but this has grown over the years to 8 and 21 staff overall.

Neal said, “Throughout my time with Crombie Wilkinson I have been fortunate to have served and worked with the firm’s clients across the Selby district and wider afield and with legal work of a variety and nature which has been interesting and rewarding and would like to take the opportunity of thanking the firm’s clients for entrusting me and the firm with their legal work.

“I have always tried to make myself readily available to clients and to be responsive to their needs and to provide common sense legal advice. It is also an opportunity to thank colleagues in the legal profession and other professions both in Selby and wider afield for their professional friendship over the years. I have met and worked with a great group of other professionals including solicitors, surveyors, agricultural and commercial bank managers, barristers and court staff.”

Jennifer Bartram, Senior Director said, "It has been a great pleasure to work with Neal from 1991 (when his Selby office joined with Crombie Wilkinson and Robinson of York and Selby to form the current firm of Crombie Wilkinson) to date.

It has been a very busy and fast moving period of 27 years in the legal profession and Neal's contribution to the growth and development of the firm has been immense.

He has lead and developed the Selby office for that period looking always to the needs of his clients to provide an excellent legal service for the community and he will be greatly missed by us and by his clients to the gain however of his wife Sue and their family. Have a great retirement Neal you have more than earned it."

Darren Norgate will be Head of Department for the Selby office going forward after Neal’s retirement. He will manage the team and contribute to the continued growth of the Selby office. Darren joined the firm in 1997 and has been a Director in the firm for many years and has been based at the Selby office for over 21 years. Joseph McCullough has recently joined the Commercial Property team at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors and will work with clients in both Selby and York.

Joseph will be focusing his 10 years of experience acting for both landlords and tenants, on servicing the many independent shops and café’s in the region.

Duncan Morter, Managing Director said “Joseph is a welcome addition to our growing team. His knowledge of commercial property transactions in leisure and tourism, retail, property & land development and local breweries will enhance and expand the commercial property work we already undertake in the city for our many clients. It is our intention to continue to expand these legal services across the county.”

The firm now employs over 100 lawyers and support staff at its four offices across North Yorkshire in York, Selby, Malton and Pickering.