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.