Neil Hudgell (left) and Dominic Gibbons from Wykeland at the new site.
Hudgell Solicitors says its move into new headquarters on a £15m commercial development in Hull’s Fruit Market demonstrates both its long-term commitment to the city and its desire to be at the heart of its continued regeneration.
The medical negligence and personal injury specialist law firm, which is marking 20 years in business this year, moved into the three-story accommodation on the @TheDock development shortly before the New Year, with the finishing external touches and signage now complete.
The 10,500 sq ft offices, which overlook the city’s new amphitheatre created within the historic former Central Dry Dock and The Deep tourist attraction, were bought directly from the developer, Hull-based regeneration company Wykeland Group.
Hudgell Solicitors’ new offices form part of the same development as the Centre For Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub, which has accelerated the growth of the region’s digital sector as well as acting as a major catalyst for the transformation of the Fruit Market.
Managing director Neil Hudgell says it is a significant move for the firm, and one which reflects its passion and commitment for the city.
“As a business with its roots firmly set in Hull, and with a large number of staff who live in the city and have their lives engrained in it, we are very proud to have moved into such an impressive building on a key area of redevelopment,” he said.
“By purchasing these impressive premises we have demonstrated our long-term commitment to the city. It reflects our belief that Hull is a great place to do business, and it certainly has been for us for 20 years now.
“We also felt it was important to support an ambitious development in a part of the city which has so much potential to become a focal point, particularly on the back of being UK City of Culture this year and the excitement and positivity that has brought.
“It is a perfect base for us and will help further raise our profile and commitment to the city.”
Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland Group, said: “We’re delighted Hudgell Solicitors has chosen @TheDock as the location for its headquarters and the base for the company’s impressive and ongoing growth.
“This is yet another major investment as part of the exciting regeneration of the Fruit Market and means the area is home to yet another high-profile company.
“It also underlines the credentials of the Fruit Market as a highly-desirable location for professionals, following our successful revitalisation of Marina Court and development of C4DI. The Fruit Market is now a thriving commercial centre as well as Hull’s cultural and creative quarter.”
The move in Hull, where Hudgell Solicitors is supporting the UK City of Culture as a Business Club member, follows the purchase of new premises in both London and Leeds in 2016.
The firm moved its team in the capital into offices in Fleet Street last January, before its 30-strong Leeds team moved into the heart of the legal district in the city, taking offices over four floors in Park Place.
“Our profile and reputation is growing in both London and Leeds, and the locations of all of our office purchases have been carefully selected. They are all high-profile locations which we are confident will bring good returns and benefits as well as give us the platform from which to broaden our service offering into other areas of private client work ” added Mr Hudgell.
“Having a growing presence in Leeds has helped us establish a really strong reputation and to cement our position in the north of England as a leader in personal injury and medical negligence, and we’ve been securing cases of increasingly high-profile and value in London in recent times, in all areas of our work.
“We are fully confident the investments we have made will only strengthen our position in each of these markets, and that we can continue to grow our service and client base.”
Wykeland Group has spearheaded the development of Hull’s waterfront area, through projects such as Marina Court and @TheDock, as well as the company’s work on the wider regeneration of the Fruit Market in a joint venture with housebuilder Beal Homes, working in partnership with Hull City Council.
Further opportunities are available at @TheDock, with Wykeland marketing a 3,100 sq ft ground floor restaurant overlooking the amphitheatre and 8,100 sq ft of offices on the two storeys above, which can be sub-divided as required.
Mr Gibbons added: “A site that had been derelict for many years is now established as the region’s most exciting new business quarter, offering a superb working environment and great location in this ever-evolving waterside community.
“We’re receiving a great deal of interest in the remaining opportunities as part of the @TheDock development, as well as commercial units in and around Humber Street in the heart of the Fruit Market.”
