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Chris Crystal

Partner and Head of Commercial Property

Chris heads up our Commercial Property team, and his work spans all aspects of commercial property work. He acts for a wide range of clients, including commercial landlords, land and property developers, and portfolio investors.

As a key member of the department, from the outset Chris always tries to see things from the client’s perspective and understand from them what their ultimate goal is. Once this has been established he will work closely with clients keeping them and their team fully informed.

Chris is passionate about meeting clients and helping them! Working to ensure the team offers the best advice it can is rewarding and growing the firm’s reputation and skill gives him great satisfaction.

For the past few years Chris has been recognised as an elite "Leading Lawyer" in The Legal 500 United Kingdom guide to outstanding lawyers nationwide.

  • "Excellent understanding and awareness of client needs; excellent communication skills, very clear and responsive; pragmatic and able to help problem solve and advise upon options"

    UK Legal 500 2020 - Commercial Property

Career

A law graduate from Newcastle University, Chris trained at a law firm in North Yorkshire. Following qualification in 2003 he moved to Hull to join another local practice, moving to Rollits two years later to join the commercial property team.

Promoted to Partner in 2012, Chris has spent the last 10 years helping grow the commercial property team which he says has been the most satisfying stage of his career to date.

Expertise

Chris’s work spans all aspects of commercial property work including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, conditional contracts, options to purchase and secured lending.

He works closely with our corporate team dealing with the property elements of acquisitions, disposals and mergers.

Chris also plays an integral part in the firm’s well respected education team advising mainly FE Colleges, Academy Trusts and schools in connection with their property transactions and general estate advice.