Legal talent recognised at Yorkshire awards night

The Yorkshire Legal Awards marked 25 years of celebrating top talent in the region’s legal community. 

The Yorkshire Legal Awards 2024 took place at the Leeds First Direct Arena, marking its 25th anniversary. Lawyers, firms, and teams from across the region gathered for a special evening, hosted by TV star Rob Rinder. 

The awards honoured winners in various categories, with many categories sponsored by industry leaders. DAC Beachcroft won the Commercial Property Award for their smart use of technology, which has been a hit with clients. In the Corporate & Commercial category, Clarion stood out for their customer-focused approach and strong national ranking. 

Switalskis received two awards, one for Criminal Law, where they were praised for helping rehabilitate former prisoners, and another for Litigation and Dispute Resolution, recognising their success in high-profile cases. The Family Law Award went to Stewarts, known for their pro bono work and support for local charities. 

The evening also highlighted individual achievements. James Love of Womble Bond Dickinson was named Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year for his impressive career and voluntary work. Jodie Hill of Thrive Law was awarded Managing Partner of the Year for her focus on employee wellbeing. Rising Star of the Year went to Sofia Wyzkiewicz from DLA Piper, noted for her leadership potential and positive influence in her firm. 

In a nod to environmental and social responsibility, the Best ESG Campaign Award went to Eversheds Sutherland for their efforts to reach Net Zero by 2050. Mills & Reeve won Law Firm of the Year: Large, recognised for their strong growth, charitable work, and international projects. 

Smaller firms were also celebrated. Howard & Byrne Solicitors took the Small Law Firm of the Year award, praised for helping those who most need legal support. Torque Law won Niche Law Firm of the Year for their impressive work with clients from around the world. 

“The 25th Yorkshire Legal Awards was a truly special evening, celebrating the incredible talent and dedication within our legal community,” commented Harry Thomas, account manager for Yorkshire Legal and part of the team behind the awards. “This milestone event at the Leeds First Direct Arena allow us to honour those who have made outstanding contributions to the profession, and we are thrilled to recognise their achievements. We look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence for many more years to come.” 

Marketing manager of headline sponsor LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions, Elizabeth Wing-To, said:

“We can’t believe it has been a week since we had the honour of being headline sponsor of the Yorkshire Legal Awards! The opportunity to speak to some great legal minds and share the room with truly impressive firms, professionals, and colleagues from our Yorkshire region was certainly an opportunity not to be missed. In its 25th year, the event has gone from strength to strength, and as Product Director, Nigel Williams declared on the night, here at LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions we are excited to share our knowledge, solutions and enthusiasm to help mobilise your legal tech, leverage your data and improve efficiencies and profitability. Find out how we can help you today at www.lexisnexis-es.co.uk.”

Image: Yorkshire Legal Awards
Josie Geistfeld
Josie Geistfeld is Editor of Yorkshire Legal News. She welcomes comments and questions.