The Herald

Law Awards of Scotland

These awards are the leading legal event in Scotland bringing together the country’s most influential figures. Established in 2004, they shine a spotlight on the excellent quality of work being undertaken by Scotland’s most respected lawyers and law firms. A broad range of categories ensure that the best in-house teams, individuals, law firms and suppliers across Scotland are recognised and rewarded.

#ScotLawAwards

EVENT DATE

Friday, November 11

Countdown to event

2022/11/11 19:00:00

Sponsors

We would like to thank our 2022 sponsors for their support

IDEX Consulting is an innovative, independent Recruitment & Business Growth Consultancy, servicing clients across the UK, Europe, Middle East and US.

We have been providing a bespoke service to the Legal sector since 2006, focusing on quality service, innovative solutions and a unique methodology. We take pride in assisting our partner clients achieve and exceed their growth objectives through a unique combination of Talent management, Advisory services and M&A consultancy, while simultaneously offering talented individuals advice on securing their career goals.

Visit us at www.idexconsulting.com

The Law Society of Scotland is the statutory regulator and professional body for over 12,000 Scottish solicitors with a pivotal role in the Scottish legal landscape. We are a strong regulator and powerful voice for the public, the profession, and the Scottish jurisdiction, while playing our part in Scotland’s civic and business communities.

The foundation of our work is strong relationships with our members however and wherever they practise. Our support and voice for all solicitors in Scotland earns our members’ trust and respect so that we are a professional body they take pride in.  We support our members to deliver legal excellence as well as providing invaluable specialist support for policy and law makers across the UK. We are well respected globally which gives us a platform to support the rule of law around the world as well as promoting the profession and Scottish jurisdiction internationally.

The Scottish legal profession is truly world-class and our members play a vital role in the deals that fuel our economy at home and beyond our borders. We are delighted to support the Solicitor of the Year and Innovation award categories and recognise and celebrate legal excellence.

Stirling Park LLP is one of Scotland’s largest Messengers-at-Arms & Sheriff Officers providers, covering the whole of the country offering a wide range of sheriff officer and debt collection services to both private and public sectors.

We strive to lead the way, by maximising our use of technology, people, and process to deliver a truly customer-centric service. Our people have expert knowledge, and offer a first class, reliable service tailored to the needs of our clients, ensuring they know that their instructions are in good hands.

We work in partnership with many of Scotland’s leading legal firms, and our personable approach and proactive communication has been the foundation to forging long-term relations with our clients.

Our ongoing investment in innovative technology allows us to deliver an automated digitally and insight driven solution based around client and customer needs. We offer speed of service through real-time systems, such as-car printing to deal with urgent service of legal documents anywhere in Scotland, along with live reporting, and at the heart of everything we do are social value and welfare to achieve better outcomes for customers and clients.

Our services include service of legal documents, citation, enforcement, and tracing services.

For all citation and enforcement instructions, please contact:

Ronnie Murison | Director of Sheriff Officer Services | Stirling Park LLP

24 Blythswood Square, Glasgow, G2 4BG | 0141 565 5767
r.murison@stirlingpark.co.uk

officers@stirlingpark.co.uk

www.stirlingpark.co.uk

Support Sponsor

LOCALIQ

LOCALiQ is one of the UK’s fastest growing digital marketing agencies

We combine our best in class marketing technology, the data insights this provides, with our huge audience reach. We can help our customers grow, and take their business to the next level.

At LOCALiQ we focus on you. As part of Newsquest Media Group, the UK’s leading local publisher, LOCALiQ gives you access to a network of 200+ trusted news brands, both in print and online, an award-winning events division, recruitment platforms and a wide range of multimedia marketing solutions.

www.localiq.co.uk

Explore our site to learn more about who we are, and what we can do to help your business.

SPONSORSHIP – Sponsorship of the awards is a unique opportunity to become synonymous with the legal sector in Scotland.

If you would like more information on the opportunities available, please contact Nina Holmes on 07500 998 357 or Nina.Holmes@newsquest.co.uk

Categories

Transactions Team of the Year

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

Entry Requirements:

  1. Examples of standout achievements across a wide range of disciplines within the finance industry including lending, debt capital, investment, acquisition finance and structured finance
  2. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in legal practice
  3. Examples of achievements, as a result from expert knowledge and experience
High Street Firm of the Year

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
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

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

Entry requirements:

  1. Must be able to demonstrate the contribution the firm makes to the Scottish legal profession
  2. Evidence of work on Scottish matters. A Scottish matter is one that involves at least one significant Scottish party
  3. Details of commitment given to staff development in Scotland
  4. Details of the firm’s strategic vision for developing its Scottish practice

This category is open to independent law firms that are headquartered in Scotland.

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of a strategic vision that achieved significant success for your firm
  2. Evidence of strong financial performance
  3. Examples of success in your firm’s chosen field of expertise
  4. A demonstration of commitment to staff development
  5. Evidence of a commitment to promoting diversity in the legal profession
Junior Solicitor of the Year

This category is open to solicitors with up to seven years of post-qualification experience.

Entry requirements (at least two):

  1. Must provide examples of how they have added value to their firm over and above normal working requirements
  2. Demonstrate professional development
  3. Provide examples of commercial awareness
  4. Provide examples of a significant contribution made to at least one innovative project

This category is open to solicitors with seven or more years of post-qualification experience.

Entry requirements (at least two):

  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 professional achievements from the past 12 months
  4. Provide examples of taking the lead on implementing at least one innovative project
Manager of the Year

This category is open to managing partners, chief executives or chairmen of law firms of any size that are either headquartered in Scotland or, if not headquartered in Scotland, have a significant presence in the Scottish market.

Entry requirements (at least three):

  1. Demonstrate successful experience in leadership,
  2. Evidence of strong financial management, including turning performance around
  3. Examples of delivering a consistent strategy
  4. Demonstrate leadership in staff development
  5. Examples of innovative solutions for develop the firm
  6. Demonstrate a commitment to diversity
Silk of the Year

This category is open to all advocates of QC level.

Entry requirements:

  1. Evidence of longstanding success and career development
  2. Details of three significant cases led in the past 12 months
  3. Examples of contributions made to the legal profession as a whole
  4. A demonstration of professional development and successful partnerships
In-House Lawyer of the Year

This category is open to all in-house lawyers that work in the legal department of either a Scottish business or organisation OR a non-Scottish business or organisation that has a demonstrably strong presence in Scotland.

Entry requirements (at least two):

  1. A demonstration of individual strengths and recognised areas for development
  2. Examples of professional achievements from the past 12 months and areas recognised for career growth
  3. A demonstration of dedication and excellent work ethic while building client relations
  4. Details of how the individual has helped achieve results as part of a team initiative
In-House Team of the Year

This category is open to all that work in the legal department of either a Scottish business or organisation OR a non-Scottish business or organisation that has a demonstrably strong presence in Scotland.

Entry requirements (at least three):

  1. Evidence of an outstanding legal achievement from the past 12 months. Supporting evidence can include client testimonials
  2. Demonstrate how the legal department has contributed to the success of the wider business/organisation
  3. Evidence of strong leadership, including examples (where appropriate)
Private Client Team of the Year

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

Entry requirements:

  1. Examples of ground-breaking advice and client service solutions
  2. A demonstration of dedication for your practice area
  3. Evidence of success and development within the team

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
  2. Examples of the impact the litigation team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth
  3. Overview of the team structure
  4. Details of significant lateral recruitment cases and promotions

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

Entry requirements:

  1. Details of significant cases and examples of excellence in legal practice
  2. Examples of the impact the insolvency team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth
  3. Overview of the team structure
  4. Details of significant lateral recruitment cases and promotions
Real Estate Team of the Year

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

Entry requirements:

  1. Examples of successful real estate-related work including development or construction
  2. Details of a successful environmental or regeneration project
  3. A demonstration of successful cases and transactions in planning
CSR Award

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

Entry requirements:

  1. Clear and concise demonstration of your organisation’s CSR strategy, including how this involves staff and what activities are involved
  2. Details of your organisation’s financial investment towards your CSR strategy
  3. Examples of the tangible benefits to both the organisation and external parties involved in your CSR strategy
  4. Evidence of proven results that show your organisation’s investment has had a beneficial effect and achieved targets
  5. Examples of client and staff testimonials that value your activity
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

This category is open to individuals, firms, faculties, in-house teams or legal societies/organisations that can demonstrate how they have improved the practice of law using new techniques.

Entry requirements (at least one):

  1. Evidence of new working practices and the impact they have had
  2. Evidence of how the use of technology has improved working practices
  3. Evidence of new business streams and how they have enhanced the overall business offering
  4. Evidence on technology developed in-house and the impact it has had
Outstanding Contribution Award

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.

Employment Team of the Year

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

Entry requirements:

Details of significant matters and examples of excellence in legal practice
2. Examples of the impact the employment team’s performance has had on the firm’s financial growth
3. Overview of the team structure
4. Details of significant lateral recruitment cases and promotions

How to Enter

Once you have decided on the category, or categories, you would like to enter, please complete an entry form.

You can submit an entry online by clicking the ‘Enter Now’ button below or if you would like to be able to save your form and come back to it, please click ‘Download Entry Form’ and submit it by email to nina.holmes@newsquest.co.uk when ready.

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 ARE NOW CLOSED FOR 2022. TO BE ADDED TO THE MAILING LIST FOR 2023 EMAIL nina.holmes@newsquest.co.uk

Judges

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.

Colin Anderson
Director and Company Secretary, LEAD Scotland

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.

Meena Bahanda
Head of Legal – Scotland, Idex Consulting

As Head of the Davidson Chalmers Stewart Dispute Resolution team, I represent clients in a wide range of property and commercial disputes across various courts and tribunals in Scotland, and have been involved in several cases in the House of Lords and more recently the Supreme Court.

Since I recognise that court action does not appeal to many clients, I also act as a mediator and handle many issues outside the confines of the courtroom. Whilst I enjoy the challenge of the courtroom, I recognise that it is not always the best way to resolve disputes. My skills as a mediator and my work in arbitration mean that my team will always work to find the most appropriate way to resolve business issues.

By identifying your commercial objectives from the outset, my aim is to achieve them as swiftly and as beneficially to you as I can.

As well as my legal practice, I’m a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Area Committee for the WS Society in assessing Signet Accreditation, and am also a member of the Scottish committee of the Property Litigation Association and regularly speak at and chair conferences and seminars on the subject of property disputes.

Sheila Webster
Vice President of the Law Society of 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.

Arlene McDaid
Founder, Legal Hackers Scotland

In addition to her work as defence counsel, mostly in the High Court, her highly regarded experience has led, over the years, to a number of appointments. From 1991 to 2013, she was a visiting lecturer at The Scottish Police College. She was a Temporary Sheriff from 1991 until her appointment as an Advocate Depute in 1997. From then until 2000, she prosecuted High Court trials and represented the Crown in the Appeal Court. Thereafter she returned to establish a very busy practise in the High Court as Senior Counsel for the defence, having taken silk in 1998. In 2009 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Strathclyde University. In 2010 she was appointed to be a member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission until 2018 and in 2019 she was appointed consultant legal adviser to the Commission, a post which she still holds. In 2014, Lord Bonomy invited her to be one of his expert group to assist with his Post Corroboration Review, published in April 2015 and in 2019, she was appointed by Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk to her Review Group on the Management of Sexual Offences, which reported in 2021. Since then, she has been appointed by the Scottish Government to various working groups to oversee consultation on and implementation of Lady Dorrian’s recommendations. She receives many invitations to lecture on many aspects of criminal law and practice. She is the senior woman practising at the Scottish Bar.

Frances McMenamin KC

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.

Usman Tariq
Advocate, Ampersand Advocates

Event

The Awards Ceremony

The Law Awards of Scotland 2022 will took place on Friday 11th November in Glasgow.

The evening included an arrival drink, three course meal, half bottle of wine, entertainment and the awards presentation. There was also the fantastic opportunity to network with other attendees from working within the legal industry in Scotland.

The event will be hosted by Jennifer Reoch.

HOST
Jennifer Reoch

Interested in finding out who has been shortlisted and won these awards in the past? Download or previous winners PDF.

2022 Winners and Finalists

Transactions Team of the Year

MacDonald Henderson – Commendation
Shepherd and Wedderburn – Winner

High Street Firm of the Year

Complete Clarity Solicitors & Simplicity Legal
Innes & MacKay Solicitors and Estate Agents
Lockharts Law LLP – Winner
McDougall McQueen
McSherry Halliday
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents

Criminal Law Firm of the Year

Livingstone Brown
McGovern Reid – Winner

Law Firm of the Year – Sponsored by IDEX Consulting

DLA Piper LLP
Jamieson Law Ltd – Commendation
Spanish + Scottish Law Practice Ltd
TLT LLP – Winner

CSR Award

The CMS Social Impact Programme – Winner
DLA Piper

Pro-Bono Award

DLA Piper – Winner
McGlashan MacKay Solicitors – Commendation
Trauma Aware Law

Law Firm of the Year – Scottish Independents – Sponsored by IDEX Consulting

Allan McDougall Solicitors
Digby Brown
Ledingham Chalmers Solicitors – Winner
Livingstone Brown

Junior Solicitor of the Year

Craig Chisholm – Complete Clarity Solicitors & Simplicity Legal
Rachel Munro – Shoosmiths – Winner

Solicitor of the Year – Sponsored by Law Society of Scotland

Ignacio Chanza-Jordan – Spanish + Scottish Law Practice Ltd
Mike Dailly – Govan Law Centre – Winner

Manager of the Year

Emma King – Complete Clarity Solicitors & Simplicity Legal
Simon Rae – DLA Piper – Winner

In-House Lawyer of the Year

Kenny Roberton – Head of NAT West IP and Tech Team
Laura Edison – Skyrora Limited
Sheekha Saha – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – Winner

Private Client Team of the Year

Anderson Strathern
MacNabs – Winner

Litigation Team of the Year – Sponsored by Stirling Park

Allan McDougall Solicitors
Digby Brown – Non-Accidental team
Digby Brown – Serious injury team
DLA Piper
Halliday Campbell WS
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland – Winner

Debt Recovery Team of the Year – Sponsored by Stirling Park

Gilson Gray – Winner
Yuill & Kyle
Shoosmiths LLP

Innovation Award – Sponsored by Law Society of Scotland

Alegrant
Hey Legal
Trauma Aware Law – Winner

Outstanding Contribution Award

Alex Prentice QC

Lifetime Achievement Award

Paul Brown – Legal Services Agency

FAQ

Anyone working within the legal sector in Scotland.

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!

You must complete our entry form to submit a nomination. Head to the ‘How to Enter’ section above for instructions.

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.

Due to the unexpected events in recent weeks, we have taken the decision to extend the entry deadline to Wednesday September, 28

It is free to enter the awards.

Tickets to attend the awards are as follows:

Table of 12 – £1,800+VAT+Fees
Table of 10 – £1,650+VAT+Fees
Individual tickets – £170+VAT+Fees

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.

All the entries we receive will be considered by our judging panel at the judging session in October. 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.

The shortlist will be announced in The Herald and on this website in October.

The winners will be announced at our glamourous awards ceremony on Friday 11th November in Glasgow. For more information and to purchase tickets, head to ‘The Awards Ceremony’ section.

We are happy to answer any additional questions you may have regarding the entry process or event. Please contact Events Manager, Nina Holmes via nina.holmes@newsquest.co.uk with any enquiries.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions or need more information on the awards, please contact Nina Holmes, Head of Events, on 07500 998 357 or Nina.Holmes@newsquest.co.uk.

nina

Nina Holmes

Head of Events
Instagram

#ScotLawAwards

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