Event

The Herald Law Awards for Scotland 2025 in association with 123 Medical Services is on Friday, November 7 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, celebrating the influential figures and firms in the Scottish legal sector.

The evening will include include a welcome drinks reception, 3 course meal, entertainment, official event programme, evening networking and the awards presentation.

ENTRY DEADLINE

Thursday, September 4 – 11pm

EVENT DATE

Friday, November 7, 2025

EVENT TIME

6:30pm

EVENT LOCATION

Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow

Host

To be announced

Categories

Criminal Law Firm of the Year

This category is open to firms across Scotland that focus either specifically or mainly on criminal work. Entry requirements:

  1. Examples of success in the criminal law area
  2. Details of where innovation was used to deliver effective criminal legal services
  3. Evidence of successful achievement over the past 12 months
  4. Details of significant staff recruitment cases or promotions

Rising Star at the Scottish Bar – sponsored by 123 Medical Services

This category is open to all advocates who have been called for five years and under and will also be open to third party entries and Judges’ selection. This award focuses on Advocates tipped for great things by their colleagues, peers, and the solicitor profession.

Entry requirements:

  1. Evidence of significant legal skills and the ability to deliver excellent legal services within their chosen field
  2. Details of significant cases involved in during the past 12 months
  3. Provide a reference from an instructing solicitor

Strategic Transactions Team of the Year – new for 2025!

This category is open to firms or teams that focus specifically on high-value transactions and corporate deals. The award recognises teams who consistently deliver exceptional results in transactional work across various sectors.

Entry requirements:

  1. Detailed examples of significant transactions and corporate deals your team has handled. This could include mergers, acquisitions, financing arrangements, or other major corporate transactions, highlighting your team’s involvement and impact.
  2. Demonstrate the volume and value of deals completed by the team, showcasing a broad spectrum of high-profile transactions and the team’s ability to manage complex, large-scale matters.
  3. Illustrate innovative approaches your team has taken to structure or execute transactions, meeting clients’ evolving needs with creative solutions or new legal strategies
  4. Evidence of how the team’s expertise has added significant value to clients through client feedback or tangible outcomes of your work.
  5. Evidence of how completing major transactions has positively impacted the firm’s financial performance, including growth in revenue, profitability, or market position as a direct result of the team’s work

Junior Counsel of the Year Rising Star at the Scottish Bar

This category is open to all Junior Advocates who have been called for more than five years and have not yet taken silk. Open to third party nominations and Judges’ selection, this award recognises outstanding advocates who have consistently demonstrated excellence in advocacy, professional integrity, and peer respect. These individuals are recognised for making a significant impact at the Bar and are seen as leaders among their peers, with a reputation for excellence across the legal profession.

Entry requirements:

  1. Evidence of consistently high standards of advocacy across a range of cases, including written and oral advocacy, legal analysis, and courtroom performance.
  2. Examples of complex or high-profile work involved in during the past 12 months.
  3. Evidence of a wider contribution to the development of the profession, whether through mentoring junior colleagues, involvement in legal education or training, participation in professional committees, or contributing to legal reform or community legal initiatives.

Digital & Intellectual Property Team of the Year – new for 2025!

This category recognises the outstanding performance and achievements of IT and IP legal teams based in Scotland. The award celebrates teams that have demonstrated excellence in managing complex intellectual property matters, advising on cutting-edge technology law, and adding significant value to clients in sectors such as software, data protection, digital services, and IP law.

Entry Requirements:

  1. Provide examples of significant IT and IP legal matters the team has handled, including notable intellectual property cases, technology transactions, licensing agreements, data protection or cybersecurity work, and other high-impact IT-related legal services.
  2. Demonstrate innovative approaches the team has taken in providing legal advice in emerging areas such as data privacy, AI, blockchain, or digital media. Include examples where the team has led in shaping new legal strategies or practices within the IT/IP field.
  3. Describe how the team’s legal expertise has created value for clients, include case studies or examples that show measurable benefits to clients, such as new business models, expanded market reach, or regulatory compliance achieved through the team’s work.
  4. Provide an overview of the team’s structure, roles, and key specialisms within IT/IP law and demonstrate how the team has contributed to the growth and reputation of the IT/IP legal sector in Scotland.

 

ESG Award

This category is open to firms, faculties, in-house teams, and legal societies or organisations that can demonstrate a clear commitment to driving sustainable, inclusive, and ethical practices across their operations, culture, and community engagement by following Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within the legal profession in Scotland

Entry requirements:

  1. Clear and concise demonstration of your organisation’s ESG strategy & objectives, including environmental sustainability initiatives, social impact programmes, and governance improvements. Describe how staff are engaged in delivering and shaping this strategy.
  2. Details of your organisation’s financial and operational investment towards delivering ESG goals.
  3. Examples of the of how your ESG work has delivered real impact, both internally (e.g. staff wellbeing, culture, governance) and externally (e.g. community benefit, environmental impact, stakeholder trust).
  4. Provide data or case studies that demonstrate how targets have been met or exceeded, including progress against ESG benchmarks or industry standards.
  5. Examples of client or staff testimonials, third-party recognition, or collaborative initiatives that reinforce the value and visibility of your ESG commitments.

Up and Coming Award – sponsored by 123 Medical Services

This category is open to solicitors with up to five years of post-qualification experience for individual entries, but will also be open to third-party entries and judges selection.

Entry requirements:

  1. Achievements from the past 12 months
  2. Individual’s impact within their team/department
  3. Evidence of client satisfaction & contribution to the success of the firm or organisation
  4. Commitment to developing personal business & leadership skills within the firm or organisation

Solicitor of the Year – sponsored by The Law Society of Scotland

This category is open to all solicitors who hold a Scottish practising certificate with over five years of post-qualification experience. Nominations are open to individual entries, as well as third-party entries and judges’ selection.

Entry requirements:

  1. Evidence of significant legal skills and the ability to deliver legal services within chosen field
  2. Demonstrate innovative approaches to meeting client demands
  3. Examples of significant achievements from the past 12 months
  4. Provide examples of taking the lead on implementing at least one innovative project

Litigation Team of the Year – sponsored by Stirling Park

This category is open to firms or teams that focus specifically on litigation work.

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in legal practice; including commercial disputes, personal injury claims, catastrophic injury cases, public inquiries, or other forms of litigation.
  2. Examples of the impact the team’s work has had to the success of the firm, including client outcomes, business development, financial growth, or enhanced reputation within the legal sector
  3. Overview of the team structure and how it supports success.
  4. Details of significant lateral recruitment and promotions that have strengthened the team and its future capability.

Debt Recovery Team of the Year – sponsored by Stirling Park

This category is open to firms, teams or organisations that focus on debt recovery, bank recovery, insolvency and corporate restrictions work.

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in legal practice handled by the team, such as complex recoveries, insolvency litigation, restructuring advice, enforcement actions, or director disqualification cases.
  2. Examples of the impact the insolvency team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth including financial performance, client retention, reputation enhancement, or market leadership in recovery, insolvency or enforcement work.
  3. Overview of the team structure and how it supports success.
  4. Details of significant lateral recruitment and promotions that have strengthened the team and its future capability.

High Street Firm of the Year – sponsored by Denovo

This category is open to firms across Scotland involved in traditional high street practice.

Entry requirements:

  1. Must be able to demonstrate a strategic vision for developing the firm
  2. Evidence of strong financial management
  3. Examples of success in chosen field of expertise
  4. Details of commitment given to staff development

Employment Team of the Year

This category is open to firms or teams with an Employment focus.

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in Employment Law
  2. Examples of the impact the Employment team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth
  3. Overview of the team structure and how it supports success.
  4. Provide evidence of client satisfaction and the difference the team made

Paralegal of the Year – sponsored by 123 Medical Services

This category is open to accredited Paralegals working within Scotland for individual entries, but will also be open to third-party entries and judges selection.

Entry requirements:

  1. Evidence of significant skills and the ability to deliver paralegal services within chosen field
  2. Demonstrate innovative approaches to meeting and exceeding client expectations
  3. Examples of significant achievements from the past 12 months
  4. Provide a reference from a partner or manager from within your firm or organisation

Family and Child Law Team of the Year

This category is open to firms or teams with a Family & Child Law focus.

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in their specialism.
  2. Examples of the impact the Family & Child Law team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth
  3. Overview of the team structure
  4. Provide evidence of client satisfaction and the difference the team made

Pro-Bono Award

This category is open to firms, faculties, in-house teams or legal societies/organisations that can demonstrate a clear commitment to pro-bono work.

Entry requirements:

  1. Clear and concise demonstration of your organisation’s approach to pro-bono work
  2. Details of your organisation’s financial investment in pro-bono, for example in terms of billable hours committed
  3. Evidence of proven results that show your firm’s investment has had a beneficial effect and achieved targets
  4. Examples of client and staff testimonials that value your activity

Innovation Award – sponsored by The Law Society of Scotland

This category recognises those who are transforming legal services and delivering measurable impact in the legal sector, through innovative technology, new working practices, business models, or internal process improvement. The category is open to individuals, law firms, faculties, in-house legal teams, legal organisations, and legal technology providers that can demonstrate how innovation is helping to reshape the delivery of legal services in Scotland.

Entry requirements:

  1. Evidence of innovative solutions, technology or process implemented with a clear description and explain the rationale behind its development or adoption.  
  2. Evidence of new business streams and how they have enhanced the overall business offering including performance, productivity, client outcomes, or access to legal services
  3. Evidence of how the innovation has transformed internal operations, case management, service delivery, or client engagement.

Law Firm of the Year – up to 150 certificates – Sponsored by IDEX Consulting

This category is open to independent law firms which are headquartered in Scotland and firms that are headquartered outside Scotland but which either have a strong presence inside Scotland OR can demonstrate significant success working on Scottish matters.

Firms must be able to evidence up to 150 solicitors who hold a Scottish practising certificate.

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of a strategic vision that achieved significant success for your firm, either across the whole firm (for Scottish-headquartered firms) or enhancing your presence and impact in the Scottish legal market (for firms headquartered outside Scotland).
  2. Provide evidence of strong financial performance, including overall firm growth or Scottish practice-specific growth, where applicable.
  3. Examples of success in your firm’s chosen field of expertise including notable mandates, client impact, or market leadership.
  4. Details of the commitment to staff development specifically in relation to Scottish teams.
  5. Evidence of a commitment to promoting equality & diversity in the legal profession with examples of initiatives, outcomes, and engagement in Scotland

Law Firm of the Year – over 150 certificates – Sponsored by IDEX Consulting

This category is open to independent law firms which are headquartered in Scotland and firms that are headquartered outside Scotland but which either have a strong presence inside Scotland OR can demonstrate significant success working on Scottish matters.

Firms must be able to evidence over 150 solicitors who hold a Scottish practising certificate.

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of a strategic vision that achieved significant success for your firm, either across the whole firm (for Scottish-headquartered firms) or enhancing your presence and impact in the Scottish legal market (for firms headquartered outside Scotland).
  2. Provide evidence of strong financial performance, including overall firm growth or Scottish practice-specific growth, where applicable.

 

  1. Examples of success in your firm’s chosen field of expertise including notable mandates, client impact, or market leadership.
  2. Details of the commitment to staff development specifically in relation to Scottish teams.

 

  1. Evidence of a commitment to promoting equality & diversity in the legal profession with examples of initiatives, outcomes, and engagement in Scotland

Outstanding Contribution Award – sponsored by Border

This award will pay tribute to an individual in law who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the Scottish legal profession. Judges will look for evidence of how this individual has advanced the field of law and whose efforts, dedication, and commitment has supported the legal industry in Scotland.

Entry Requirements

Once you have decided on the category, or categories, you would like to enter, please click the Enter Now button where you will be directed to our Awards Entry form.

A Word document version of the form will be available for working offline.

If you have any questions regarding the entry process, please see the FAQ section below or get in touch via the details at the bottom of this page.

Entries for the 2025 awards are now open. Entry deadline is Thursday, September 4th.

Judges

Colin Anderson

Director and Company Secretary, LEAD Scotland

Colin took early retirement from the position of Legal Manager at Standard Life in April 2012, having worked there in a variety of roles for 26 years.   A graduate of Dundee University, his legal career began with his apprenticeship at the then firm of Baillie & Gifford in Edinburgh followed by 8 years at Shepherd & Wedderburn.  During his time at Standard Life, he was involved in a wide variety of legal work, and latterly managed a team of some 25, both lawyers and non-lawyers.

Colin joined the Committee of the In-House Lawyers Group in 1988, serving until October 2012 and was the Vice-Chairman for the last 15 years he was on the Committee.  He was made an Honorary Life Member of the In-House Lawyers Group in February 2013.  Colin has been a Fellow of The Law Society of Scotland since October 2019.

He represented the Edinburgh constituency on the Council of The Law Society of Scotland from May 2014 to May 2020. He served on the Society’s Management Board from October 2015 to May 2020. He is a current Member of the Society’s Admissions sub-Committee; Nominations Committee and the Planning Law sub-Committee.

Colin was appointed a Director and Company Secretary of the Scottish Charity, Lead Scotland in October 2015.

Colin was given a Special Recognition Award for “Doing” at the 2013 Law Awards of Scotland Dinner.

Outwith work, Colin enjoys foreign travel and is a keen follower of football and golf, and a collector of antiquarian law books.

Meena Bahanda

Head of Legal – Scotland, Idex Consulting

Meena has over 20 years’ experience recruiting in the legal sector and has recruited at all levels from Paralegal up to Senior Associate and Partner level. Although she focusses predominately on the Scottish market, she also has extensive experience operating with firms in the Channel Islands and London.

She deals with both in-house and private practice clients including international, magic & silver circle and mid-tier to boutique firms, covering a range of specialism’s including IP/IT, Corporate, Banking, Contracts, Employment, Family, Commercial and Residential Property and Private Client.

Arlene McDaid

Founder, Legal Hackers Scotland

Arlene is an experienced commercial lawyer – Solicitor Advocate (Scotland, England & Wales) and Attorney-at-Law (New York) – and an accredited civil & commercial mediator. She is the founder of Legal Hackers Scotland, which is part of a global movement of lawyers, technologists, academics and policymakers working at the intersection of law and technology. She has a particular interest in harnessing legal technology to advance access to justice around the world. She serves on the Law Society of Scotland’s Access to Justice and Legal Technologist Accreditation committees.

Usman Tariq

Advocate, Ampersand Advocates

Usman Tariq is an Advocate. He specialises in commercial dispute resolution and public law. He has appeared at all levels of the Scottish court system, including the UK Supreme Court. He has held various professional appointments, including as Standing Junior Counsel to the UK Government in Scotland, a full-time Advocate Depute at the Crown Office, Junior Counsel to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and as a member of the Judicial Panel of the Scottish Football Association. He is a recent alumnus of the US Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). He is a co-founder of Scottish Ethnic Minorities Lawyers Association (SEMLA). He was named “Advocate of the Year” at the Law Awards of Scotland 2017. He was also named by the Legal 500 as “Junior Counsel of the Year” at the Scottish Bar at its UK Awards 2019.

Alex Prentice KC, Crown Counsel

Having been an experienced defence lawyer for many years, Mr. Prentice was appointed as an Advocate Depute in 2005 and has prosecuted many of Scotland’s high-profile cases, including the recent “cold cases” relating to the murders of Renee MacRae and her son near Inverness in 1976 and Brenda Page in Aberdeen in 1978 . He has secured convictions in six murder cases where the bodies have never been recovered.
He took silk in 2007
He has held all of the senior positions in the Crown Counsel team and is presently responsible for prosecuting complex and significant cases along with a training role for High Court prosecutors. Mr Prentice KC was the winner of The Herald Law Awards of Scotland Outstanding Achievement Award in 2022.

Rebecca Samaras

Director of Clinical Legal Education, University of Dundee

A practising solicitor, Rebecca was appointed Director of Clinical Legal Education and Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Dundee in April 2023 where she is responsible for leading Dundee Law School’s clinical legal education programme. This includes the development of a new Dundee Law Clinic which will serve Dundee and surrounding areas. A former Director of the Diploma in Professional Legal Studies and more recently, the Director of Clinical Legal Education and Pro Bono at the University of Edinburgh where she was also the Director of the Free Legal Advice Centre, she has extensive experience in teaching legal and core skills. Rebecca is a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Access to Justice Committee, the Access to Justice Foundation Scotland Committee and the Scottish University Law Clinic Network. She is a Trustee of both the Clinical Legal Education Organisation and the Access to Justice Foundation.

Murray McCall

Managing Partner, Anderson Strathern

Murray is Managing Partner of Scotland’s oldest law firm and plays a key role delivering the firm’s strategy.

Before moving to management, Murray was a specialist employment lawyer acting for major companies and public bodies.  He joined Anderson Strathern in 2006, combining a busy caseload whilst also establishing the Glasgow office.  He was elected MP in September 2014 and is about to enter his fourth term of office.

Murray has won various awards including Manager of the Year at the Herald Law Awards 2021 and Law Firm of the Year at the Herald Law Awards 2019

Kenny Robertson

Head of Outsourcing, Technology & IP, Legal, Governance & Regulatory Affairs, The Royal Bank of Scotland

Kenny heads the Outsourcing, Technology & IP legal team at NatWest, leading a progressive and award-winning team which supports some of the largest technology transactions in the UK.   He is heavily involved in the legal department’s innovation agenda, and Chairs the Law Society of Scotland’s Wellbeing Steering Group.  He was named the In-House Lawyer of the Year at the 2018 Law Awards of Scotland and the 2019 Scottish Legal Awards and is a Fellow of the US-based College of Law Practice Management.

FAQ

Who can enter?

Anyone working within the legal sector in Scotland.

Any entries received for a 3rd party will be notified of those submitting the entry should they be selected as a finalist within the shortlist.

Why should I enter?

Not only does being shortlisted for (or better yet, winning) an award present a fantastic opportunity to be recognised as outstanding within the legal sector, it is also a major morale boost for you, or your workforce, and is a great PR opportunity both at the event and long after. If you win, you will also receive a trophy for your display cabinet as well as winners badges you can use online and in print collateral!

How do I enter?

You must complete our online entry form to submit a nomination or download the Word document and submit directly. Head to the ‘How to Enter’ section above for instructions.

Can I enter more than one category?

You can submit as many nominations as you like across all the different categories. The categories and the criteria for each can be found in the ‘Categories’ section above.

What is the deadline for entries?

The entry deadline is Thursday, September 4 2025 at 11pm.

Can I submit additional information?

Yes, you can upload supporting documents within the application form as applicable to the criteria.

How much does it cost?

It is free to enter the awards.

Tickets to attend the awards are available and prices are:

Individual Ticket – £200

Table of 10 – £2,000

Table of 12 – £2,250

Prices are ex VAT and fees.

What happens next once I’ve entered?

Once you have submitted an entry, we will add your nomination to the judging pack for consideration. Once the judging has taken place, we will contact you to let you know if your entry has been shortlisted or not.

How does the judging process work?

All the entries we receive will be considered by our judging panel at the judging session in September. Please note that the shortlist and winners are decided solely by our panel and do not come down to a public vote or number of nominations received.

We reserve the right to move entrants within categories if we feel their criteria is better suited to another award, to remove categories or to update or add new categories during the awards process.

When will the shortlist be announced?

The shortlist will be announced on heraldscotland.com, in The Herald, and on this website in September 2025.

When will the winners be announced?

The winners will be announced at our glamourous awards ceremony on Friday 7th November in Glasgow. For more information and to purchase tickets, head to the Event section.

What do I do if I have more questions?

We are happy to answer any additional questions you may have regarding the entry process or event. Please contact Events Manager, Sharon Franchetti on 07990 551 065 or Sharon.Franchetti@newsquest.co.uk with any enquiries.