Law Awards reveal runners and riders for prizes of 2017

IT is one of the most coveted award schemes for the Scottish legal sector. And now the identities of the firms and solicitors which have made the short-list for the 2017 Law Awards of Scotland, run by The Herald in association with HR Consultancy, can be revealed.

Now in their 14th year, the awards will recognise excellence across 20 contested categories. A special accolade for outstanding contribution will also be presented when the event takes place at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel on Thursday November 30.

The awards will highlight the commitment legal firms and solicitors make to ensure clients accessing the Scottish judicial system receive the highest standards of advice and service. The Herald is running this year’s contest with HR Consultancy, Stirling Park, the Law Society of Scotland, Allied Surveyors Scotland and McKinstry Practice Management.

Hilary Roberts, chief executive of HR Consultancy, sponsor of the award for Law Firm of the Year with over 40 fee earners, said: “Congratulations to all four shortlisted firms in the Law Firm of the Year – it really will be a tough decision to pick just one. As well as the usual financial markers of growth and development, these firms have also shown a high standard of excellence in their areas of expertise and their staffing. As a professional services recruitment firm, we are so impressed with the level of commitment the firms have shown to personnel development, cementing their place in the awards final.”

Ronnie Murison, director of services at Stirling Park, said: “Congratulations to every firm that has been shortlisted across all categories, in particular, those in both the Litigation and Debt Recovery awards, which Stirling Park is sponsoring again this year. The quality of entry has been extremely high, which is testament to the high standards within the legal sector throughout Scotland. The final will be a real celebration of the achievements in 2017 and we are very much looking forward to the evening.”

Graham Matthews, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “Given the current political climate it is essential that the quality of the Scottish legal profession is highlighted internationally. As the professional body for Scotland’s 11,000 solicitors we are delighted to support the International Law Firm of the Year award and to recognise and celebrate excellence in international law firms.”

Ian Thomson, managing director of Allied Surveyors Scotland, said: “We are very much looking forward to attending with our guests on the evening and to see those in the legal industry being rewarded for their hard and conscientious work which is so important to our society.”

Graeme McKinstry, managing director of McKinstry Practice Management, said: “We are privileged and delighted to sponsor the flagship accolade the award for outstanding contribution. This award is the pinnacle of both the Law Awards of Scotland and the achievements of the distinguished winner. This is a difficult award to judge, especially given the calibre and outstanding qualities of those nominated.”

DLA Piper and Shepherd & Wedderburn are on the short-list in four categories. DLA is in the running for Law Firm of the Year Over 40 Fee Earners, International Firm of the Year, the CSR Award and Corporate Team of the Year, while Shepherd & Wedderburn has made the final cut for Banking and Finance Team of the Year, Litigation Team of the Year, Real Estate Team of the Year and Corporate Team of the Year.

Shorlist

Law Firm of the Year Under 40 Fee Earners

BBM Solicitors

Leslie Wolfson & Co

Macleod & MacCallum

Ormistons Law Practice

McClure Solicitors

 

Law Firm of the Year Over 40 Fee Earners – sponsored by HR Consultancy

DLA Piper

Gillespie Macandrew

Morton Fraser

Thorntons Law LLP

Solicitor of the Year

Lindsay Bruce – Thompsons Solicitors

Alan Gravelle – Beltrami & Co

Fiona McPhail – Shelter Scotland

Lynda Ross – Burness Paull

High Street Firm of the Year

McQueen Legal

McSherry Halliday

Paris Steele

McClure Solicitors

Junior Solicitor of the Year

Courtney Clelland – Shoosmiths

Iain Grant – Gilson Gray

Eilish Lindsay – Thompsons Solicitors

Lois Madden – Thompsons Solicitors

Banking and Finance Team of the Year

Brodies

Harper Macleod

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

International Firm of the Year – sponsored by Law Society of Scotland

Ashurst

Clyde & Co

DLA Piper

Pinsent Masons

Slaughter and May

Advocate of the Year

Gavin Dewar

Jacqueline Fordyce

Usman Tariq

Trainee of the Year

Scott Connor – Aberdeen City Council

Susan Currie – Cloch Solicitors

Rebecca Fraser – MacPhee & Partners

Irzum Mahmood – Govan Law Centre

Criminal Law Firm of the Year

Beltrami & Co

Capital Defence Lawyers

Ian Moir & Company

Silk of the Year

Angela Grahame QC

Jonathan Mitchell QC

Aidan O’Neill QC (Scot) QC

John Scott QC

Janys Scott QC

Litigation Team of the Year – sponsored by Stirling Park

Allan McDougall Solicitors

Gilson Gray

MBM Commercial Dispute Resolution Team

Shepherd and Wedderburn

Thompsons Solicitors  – Lung Disease Team

Real Estate Team of the Year – sponsored by Allied Surveyors Scotland

CMS

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Junior In-House Lawyer of the Year

Fiona Closs – Aberdeen City Council

Anna Gilmore – Lloyds Banking Group

Laura Murphy – Clydesdale Bank

Debt Recovery Team of the Year – sponsored by Stirling Park

BBM Solicitors

Gilson Gray

Shoosmiths LLP

Senior In-House Lawyer of the Year

Rushad Abadan – Standard Life Aberdeen

Carolyn Jameson – Skyscanner

Christopher Morgan – Weir Group

Martin McIntyre – Wood Group

James Peirson – CYBG

Family Team of the Year

Family Law Matters

Gilson Gray

Morton Fraser Lawyers

CSR Award

DLA Piper

Irwin Mitchell

The Glass Network

Pro Bono Award

University of Edinburgh Free Legal Advice Centre

Govan Law Centre

The Law Clinic at Glasgow Caledonian University

Corporate Team of the Year

DLA Piper

Macdonald Henderson

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by McKinstry Practice Management Service

To be announced on the evening.