Last night, the Yorkshire legal community gathered to celebrate the prestigious Yorkshire Legal Awards 2024, where law firms, in-house teams, and individual practitioners were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the legal profession.
It was an evening filled with inspiring speeches, heartfelt recognition, and a reminder of the incredible talent that continues to thrive across the region.
Here’s a full list of the categories, sponsors, and the well-deserved winners of the evening:
Commercial Property
Sponsored by Strikes
Winner: DAC Beachcroft
Judges comments: “The winner of the Commercial Property Award has showcased an innovative use of technology to drive client impact, and consistently high levels of support reflected in outstanding client feedback.”
Corporate & Commercial
Sponsored by TM Group
Winner: Clarion
Judges comments: “The winner of the Corporate & Commercial Property award stood out to the judges for being one of the most active legal advisers in the field, with a commendable national ranking and a customer-centric approach that truly sets them apart.”
Criminal Law
Sponsored by Communicourt
Winner: Switalskis
Judges comments: “We’re proud to give the Criminal Law award to a firm which has demonstrated a strong commitment to rehabilitation and social responsibility, including by providing employment opportunities to ex-prisoners who had committed low-level offences.”
Debt Recovery
Sponsored by High Court Enforcement Group
Winner: BW Legal
Judges’ comments: “The winner of the Debt Recovery award impressed the judging panel outstanding ability to achieve exceptional results at scale within a specialised and challenging field, showcasing both expertise and dedication.”
Employment Law
Sponsored by SOS Legal
Winner: Frederick Solicitors
Judges’ comments: “The winner of the Employment Law Award stood out to the judges with an impressive client satisfaction rate, a strong commitment to client care, and a commendable level of community involvement which highlights their dedication to making a positive impact.”
Family Law
Sponsored by Spire Barristers
Winner: Stewarts
Judges’ comments: “We’re pleased to present the Family Law award to a winner who impressed the judges with the breadth of their work; their commitment to pro bono services; and their active involvement in local groups and charitable work.”
Intellectual Property
Winner: Mills & Reeve
Judges’ comments: “The winner of the Intellectual Property Award stood out in a fiercely competitive category. The judges commended the exceptional depth of their practice, prioritising quality over quantity, and felt that their cutting-edge use of technology set them miles ahead of the competition.”
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Sponsored by Court Enforcement Services
Winner: Switalskis’ abuse team
Judges’ comments: “The Litigation and Dispute Resolution award goes to a winner with a track record of outstanding achievement in often high-profile cases. Their dedication to client care is remarkable and their innovative approaches to justice further demonstrate their commitment to making a difference.”
Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence
Sponsored by Scala
Winner: Ison Harrison Solicitors
Judges’ comments: “The winner of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence award stood out in a category filled with excellence. The judges were particularly impressed with their far-reaching impact on regional police forces, and their commitment to offering PR and marketing support was recognised as truly commendable.”
Private Client
Sponsored by Perfect Portal
Winner: Clarion
Judges’ comments: “The winner of this impressed the judges with their strong commitment to not only excellence in their specialism, but to giving back to the community through bursaries and pro-bono work for local charities.”
Regulatory & Compliance
Sponsored by Park Square Barristers
Winner: Weightmans
Judges’ comments: “The winner’s unparalleled depth and breadth of work, particularly for high-profile clients with the highest expectations, consistently exceeds all standards of excellence, setting them apart as a leader in the field.”
Residential Property
Sponsored by InfoTrack
Winner: Ison Harrison Solicitors
Judges’ comments: “We are pleased to present the Residential Property Award to a winner who has masterfully developed their technology while staying true to the heart of what truly matters—exceptional client service with a personal touch.”
Best ESG Campaign
Sponsored by Devonshires
Winner: Eversheds Sutherland
Judges’ comments: “The winner of Best ESG Campaign has shown exceptional leadership in environmental, social, and governance initiatives. Their commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, pioneering investment in their responsible business programme, and dedication to broadening access to legal careers, makes them a well-rounded and well-deserving nominee.”
Chambers of the Year
Sponsored by Leigh Day
Winner: Spire Barristers
Judges’ comments: “We are pleased to present the Chambers of the Year Award to a winner that has earned high praise from the judges for their exceptional work in supporting vulnerable members of society. Their strong commitment to social responsibility truly sets them apart.”
In House Team of the Year
Sponsored by BW Legal
Winner: WM Morrisons Supermarkets Ltd
Judges’ comments: “We are pleased to present the In-House Team of the Year award to a strong contender. Despite being a small team, they consistently deliver exceptional results for a nationally-known corporation with over 101,000 employees which considers them as, quote, ‘Not just the legal team, but part of the team.’”
Law Firm of the Year: Small
Sponsored by St Philips Chambers
Winner: Howard & Byrne Solicitors
Judges’ comments: “The winner of the Small Law Firm of the Year has truly impressed the judges with their unwavering commitment to ensuring access to justice. Their dedication to making legal services available to those who need it most sets them apart as a deserving recipient of this award.”
Law Firm of the Year: Medium
Sponsored by PracticeEvolve
Winner: Devonshires
Judges’ comments: “We are pleased to present the Law Firm of the Year: Medium award to a winner who emerged victorious in one of the strongest categories of the night. They stood out to the judges not only for their exceptional transactional work, boasting outstanding figures, but also for their commitment to corporate social responsibility through their impactful outreach programme in Yorkshire.”
Law Firm of the Year: Large
Sponsored by LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions
Winner: Mills & Reeve
Judges’ comments: “The Law Firm of the Year: Large Award goes to a firm that has experienced a year of exceptional growth and expansion into international work. Their commitment to client recommendation scores, in addition to their impressive charitable activities, pro bono work, and remarkable transactional figures further solidified their position as a standout firm.”
Niche Law Firm of the Year
Sponsored by Miller Insurance
Winner: Torque Law
Judges’ comments: “The Niche Law Firm of the Year Award goes to a firm that has made a remarkable impact. Despite their size, the calibre of their multi-jurisdictional clients is truly exceptional, and they continue to prove themselves as big hitters in the legal world, while maintaining the agility of a small firm.”
Lawtech Initative of the Year
Sponsored by PEXA UK
Winner: Walker Morris
Judges’ comments: “The Lawtech Initiative of the Year Award is presented to a winner whose innovation offers practical solutions that law firms can easily and sensibly adopt. The judges were particularly impressed by the initiatives’ broad applicability, making them valuable tools for the legal industry.”
In House Lawyer of the Year
Winner: David Lukic from Government Legal Department
Judges’ comments: “The winner of the In-House Lawyer of the Year Award has made an outstanding impact as an active and highly valued member of their office. This winner is recognised as a mentor to their colleagues, committed to social responsibility, and has been praised for their support in international negotiations.”
Managing Partner of the Year
Sponsored by Review Solicitors
Winner: Jodie Hill from Thrive Law
Judges’ comments: “We are pleased to present the Managing Partner of the Year Award to a leader whose well-rounded approach truly impressed the judges. Their unwavering commitment to employee wellbeing stood out as a defining feature of their leadership, demonstrating care and dedication to their team’s success and happiness.”
Partner of the Year
Sponsored by SearchFlow
Winner: Leo Jones-Rowe from Schofield Sweeney
Judges’ comments: “We’re proud to present the Partner of the Year Award to a standout leader known for their excellent management of their team. Their charitable work and their support for pro bono initiatives in Yorkshire make them a truly deserving winner.”
Rising Star of the Year
Sponsored by RG Law
Winner: Sofia Wyzkiewicz of DLA Piper UK LLP
Judges’ comments: “The Rising Star of the Year Award is awarded to a remarkable individual who has achieved great success since qualifying just a few short years ago. Described as ‘a partner in the making,’ by colleagues, they are an ambassador for their organisation and clearly a role model for junior fee earners.”
Trainee Solicitor of the Year
Sponsored by Tremark
Winner: Trainee Solicitor of the Year is Maryam Razzaq from Fraser Masood Solicitors
Judges’ comments: “We are pleased to present the Trainee Solicitor of the Year Award in a category with an exceptionally high standard of entries. The judges found it challenging to separate ‘Excellent’ from ‘Very Good,’ but one standout choice emerged. Her initiative in co-founding a networking group that supports fellow trainees and paralegals, and her active presence on LinkedIn offering guidance, truly sets her apart.”
Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year
Sponsored by Groundsure
Winner: James Love from Womble Bond Dickinson
Judges’ comments: “The Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year is an individual who has impressed the judges not only with his professional achievements but also with his extensive voluntary work. His journey from a city firm to establishing his own practice in Yorkshire, while maintaining strong international connections, is commendable.”
