Photos of the winners at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018 are now available to view.
The region’s legal sector celebrated its stunning achievements at the Yorkshire Legal Awards on 11 October.
Some 900 legal professionals attended the Yorkshire Legal Awards at New Dock Hall in Leeds. BBC Breakfast presenter Mike Bushell was the host for the evening. More than 20 sponsors supported the event.
Here’s what some of the winners have had to say about their achievements:
Blacks Solicitors was named Medium Law Firm of the Year. Chris Allen, who also won the Managing Partner of the Year award, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have received these awards and it’s a real honour to be recognised amongst so many great firms in the region.”
“Moving to our new city centre space was a significant change for everyone, but it’s been incredibly rewarding.”
“These awards really are testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire team―it’s all down to them. Everyone should be very proud.”
Stowe Family Law won two awards at the Yorkshire Legal Awards: the Family Law Award and Rising Star of the Year for solicitor Charlotte Newman.
Charles Hartwell, CEO of Stowe Family Law, said: “I am incredibly proud of the whole team at Stowe Family Law. These achievements are a team effort and are a testament to the incredible lawyers and trainees that we have throughout all of our 17 offices and to the hard work and dedication of everyone that enables our lawyers to do such a great job for our clients.”
Walker Morris scooped Large Law Firm of the Year and the Regulatory & Compliance Award.
Commenting on the awards, Walker Morris managing partner Malcolm Simpson said: “We are delighted to have been recognised by our peers to win two Yorkshire Legal Awards. The awards are testament to a lot of hard work and continued focussed effort in continuing to innovate and deliver an outstanding client service. I’d like to congratulate our regulatory and compliance team and everyone across the firm in helping make Walker Morris the truly quality-led and forward thinking firm it is.”
Lupton Fawcett’s employment team received the Employment Award. There was a double celebration for the Yorkshire law firm, as Ellie Leatherday was named Trainee Solicitor of the Year.
Speaking about the two awards, head of the employment team, Andrew Gilchrist, said: “Although we set ourselves very high standards, it is only when you are compared to your competitors that you know how you are viewed by the profession.”
“The fact that this award comes on the back of last year’s national award demonstrates that we are consistently providing our clients with high-quality advice and service.”
“We are equally delighted for Ellie who is already making a great contribution to the firm. It is great to know that her undoubted ability and potential, together with our training and support, have been recognised by the legal profession.”
Irwin Mitchell won the Banking & Finance and Diversity & Inclusion categories. Head of the workplace illness team at the firm’s Leeds office, Ian Toft, was also named Partner of the Year.
Andrew Merrick, the firm’s chief financial officer and regional managing partner in Leeds, was at the awards. He said: “This is a huge achievement and it’s testament to the energy and talent within our teams at Irwin Mitchell.”
“It’s great to see our people and the firm being recognised externally as there is a great deal of competition in the region. Well done to everyone involved on this massive team effort.”
Howard & Byrne won the Criminal Law Award. Paul Singh, President of the Sheffield & District Law Society, paid tribute to the “dedication to the defence of people’s liberties” of all the nominees, and singled out Howard & Byrne for “how hard they had worked for all their clients”.
The firm said in a statement: “We are very proud of what our team have achieved.”
Park Square Barristers was named as Chambers of the Year. Announcing the winner Gerald Jennings, chair of Leeds Chamber of Commerce, said of Park Square Barristers: “The awards panel were impressed with the quality and strength of the barristers in this practice spanning many disciplines of law together with their national exposure and supporting local talent … the well-deserved winner is Park Square Barristers.”
The chambers said in a statement: “This is the eighteenth year of the Yorkshire Legal Awards–an event that recognises outstanding talent across the region and we are absolutely delighted to be recognised as Chambers of the Year.”
