SCOTLAND’S leading law firms and solicitors were celebrated as the winners of the Scottish legal sector’s most prestigious awards were unveiled last night.

The Law Awards of Scotland 2017, held in association with HR Consultancy and supported by Stirling Park, the Law Society of Scotland, Allied Surveyors Scotland and McKinstry Practice Management Service, were presented before an audience of more than 400 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

The awards are held to highlight the dedication and expertise shown by law firms and solicitors in ensuring clients accessing the Scottish judicial system receive the highest standard of service and advice.

Thorntons was named Law Firm of the Year in the Over 40 Fee Earners category, sponsored by HR Consultancy.

Aidan O’Neill of Ampersand Advocates and Matrix Chambers was revealed as Silk of the Year, while CMS won Real Estate Team of the Year (sponsored by Allied Surveyors Scotland) for its work with Skyscanner and the Edinburgh St James project. Ashurst was named International Firm of the Year Award, sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland, for creating a local centre of excellence to drive change worldwide.

And it proved to be a memorable night for Thompsons Solicitors, whose Lindsay Bruce was named Solicitor of the Year. Thompsons emerged victorious in the Litigation Team of the Year, sponsored by Stirling Park, thanks to the efforts of its lung disease team, with the firm’s Lois Madden named Junior Solicitor of the Year, alongside Iain Grant of Gilson Gray.

Professor Hector MacQueen, the Scottish academic and scholar, received the prestigious Outstanding Contribution Award (sponsored by McKinstry Practice Management Service).

Hilary Roberts, chief executive of HR Consultancy, said: “My warmest congratulations to all the nominees and winners last night – what a truly fantastic event The Herald team have put on once again. We are thrilled to have sponsored the night; the room was bursting with the very brightest and best of Scottish legal talent. Firms showed best practice in delivering the best possible service to clients as well as developing and shaping the next generation of legal experts. These awards have shown that Scotland’s legal industry is going from strength to strength and has an exciting future ahead.”

Ronnie Murison, director of sheriff officer services at Stirling Park, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and winners; the event was a great success and it allowed Scotland’s legal profession to come together to recognise and reward the high achievers within 2017.”

Graham Matthews, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “We were delighted to see such strong competition for the awards this year and all of the winners deserve hearty congratulations for their achievements. The awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the breadth of talent in the Scottish legal profession and for us to recognise excellence in international law firms.”

Graeme McKinstry, director of McKinstry Practice Management Service, said the firm was “delighted to sponsor the Outstanding Contribution Award which recognises a distinguished year of achievement by Professor Hector MacQueen who has made a special contribution to the shaping and development of the practice of law in Scotland.”

Ian Thomson, managing director of Allied Surveyors Scotland, said: “Allied Surveyors Scotland would like to congratulate all the finalists and particularly the winners at the Law Awards of Scotland 2017.

“The standard of legal services provided throughout Scotland is incredibly high and the awards are recognition for those who achieved excellence in their specialist field.”

The event was hosted by Des Clarke and featured entertainment from Sticks N Kicks and The Trueloves. The keynote address was a poem delivered by BBC Scotland’s Stuart Paterson.

For information on the 2018 event, contact Kerry Medford on 0141 302 7319 or kerry.medford@newsquest.co.uk.