On Thursday 9th October, the Yorkshire legal community gathered at Leeds’ New Dock Hall to celebrate the prestigious Yorkshire Legal Awards 2025, 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. The evening was hosted by comedian Maisie Adam and the afterparty kicked off with entertainment from Hipster!
Luke Corcoran, President of Leeds Law Society, who chaired the independent judging panel expressed his congratulations:
“I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists for this year’s awards. On behalf of my fellow judges, I must say we have been thoroughly impressed by the outstanding calibre of entries submitted. The quality and innovation showcased truly reflect the exceptional work being carried out across our industry and region.
As Chair of the judging panel, I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the judges for their dedication and support. Each has generously volunteered their time to review this year’s submissions and has done so with great care and professionalism.
Without further ado, here’s a full list of the categories, sponsors, and the well-deserved winners of the evening:
Commercial Property
Sponsored by Groundsure
Winner: Eaton Smith Solicitors
Judges comments: They’re a smaller firm delivering fantastic work that set them apart in this category. The value of their transactions was particularly strong, with impressive year-on-year growth. This was a well-rounded application, supported by strong evidence of how the firm also contributes to and supports the local community.
Corporate & Commercial
Sponsored by tmGroup
Winner: CMP Legal Limited
Judges comments: This winner provided fantastic examples of how they met the criteria, demonstrating exceptional work despite being a relatively new business. Their achievements to date clearly impressed the judges and set them apart from other entrants.
Criminal Law
Sponsored by Communicourt
Winner: Switalskis
Judges comments: We’re proud to give the Criminal Law award to a firm which has provided compelling examples of recent cases that showcased their capabilities, commitment, and calibre. Their dedication to clients, innovative approaches to legal services, and positive impact on the wider community were all clearly demonstrated. The entry also highlighted recognition received from third parties, making this a well-rounded and deserving winner.
Debt Recovery
Sponsored by High Court Enforcement Group
Winner: Weightmans
Judges’ comments: The winner of the Debt Recovery award impressed the judging panel by this winner’s clear expertise and effectiveness in the debt recovery field. They demonstrated strong performance across all the criteria, showcasing practical solutions, consistent results, and a commitment to delivering excellent client outcomes.
Employment Law
Winner: Schofield Sweeney
Judges’ comments: The winner of the Employment Law Award stood out to the judges. All our judges agreed that the work delivered in this area truly stood out against competitors. The winning entry provided strong reasons and clear evidence of how they met the criteria, demonstrating excellence and impact within employment law.
Family Law
Sponsored by Spire Barristers
Winner: Hall Brown Family Law
Judges’ comments: The judges recognised this entry as the clear winner in the Family Law category. They demonstrated high levels of dedication to clients, applied innovation in their legal services, and made a positive impact on the wider community. Recognition from third parties further underscored the excellence of their work, making them a deserving winner.
Intellectual Property
Winner: Mills & Reeve LLP
Judges’ comments: The judges for this award were impressed by the practical and innovative work this company has delivered, which clearly stood out against other entrants. Their development of priority matrix tools for clients, alongside a free top tech programme, demonstrated creative thinking and a commitment to providing real value. Their approach showed a strong ability to think outside the box while delivering meaningful results.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Sponsored by Court Enforcement Services
Winner: Bailoran Solicitors
Judges’ comments: The Litigation and Dispute Resolution award goes to a winner that consistently delivers exceptional results for their size. This firm has grown significantly over the years, producing impressive work at every stage, with clear evidence in their entry demonstrating both impact and excellence.
Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence
Sponsored by Scala
Winner: Irwin Mitchell LLP
Judges’ comments: The winner of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence award stood out in a category filled with excellence. The judges were impressed by this firm’s proactive approach in addressing a rise in silica-related disease, demonstrating both relevance and innovation in their work. Their focus on this unique area highlighted how they are ahead of the curve in identifying and tackling emerging challenges within personal injury law.
Private Client
Winner: Switalskis Solicitors
Judges’ comments: The judges noted the exceptionally high calibre of entries in this category, making the decision particularly challenging. The winner distinguished themselves by going above and beyond in their work, demonstrating dedication, expertise, and a commitment to delivering outstanding results.
Regulatory & Compliance
Winner: Sophie Mackness – Financial Conduct Authority
Judges’ comments: The judges were particularly impressed by the innovative and impactful projects delivered by this team. Their work, while unusual in nature, made a significant difference within the workplace and received high praise from both stakeholders and peers, helping them stand out in this category.
Residential Property
Sponsored by InfoTrack
Winner: Switalskis Solicitors
Judges’ comments: Our judges recognised firm as the clear winner, achieving outstanding scores across all criteria. Their work demonstrated consistently high standards, professionalism, and impact within the residential property sector.
Best ESG and Pro Bono Initiative
Winner: Clarion
Judges’ comments: The winner impressed judges by their comprehensive and impactful ESG initiatives showcased in this entry. From a clear commitment to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2040, with measurable progress already made, to being a living wage employer and supporting employee-led volunteer groups, every function of the business is engaged with ESG goals.
Chambers of the Year
Sponsored by Leigh Day
Winner: Park Square Barristers
Judges’ comments: “What set them apart was the quality and diversity of their work, which has made a real difference to the wider community. Against strong competition, they stood out for being a step ahead of other entries this year.”
In House Team of the Year
Sponsored by BW Legal
Winner: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Judges’ comments: The judges praised this team for its impressive achievements in a particularly challenging area of law, significantly reducing the number of PNO cases. They were also struck by the quality of work delivered for an organisation under considerable pressure, demonstrating resilience and real impact.
Law Firm of the Year: Small
Sponsored by St Philips Chambers
Winner: Howarths
Judges’ comments: The Small Law Firm of the Year has truly impressed the judges, who highlighted the firm’s recent track record of success for clients. The firm stood out for practising and championing excellent client care and engagement, as well as making a positive difference in the wider community, reflecting a well-rounded and impactful approach to legal practice.
Law Firm of the Year: Medium
Sponsored by ReviewSolicitors
Winner: Hudgell Solicitors
Judges’ comments: Their recent successes reflect a strategic and client-focused approach, with standout cases showcasing the expertise, dedication, and professionalism of the team. Beyond delivering excellent legal services, the firm has demonstrated strong engagement with clients and a meaningful commitment to positively impacting the wider community.
Law Firm of the Year: Large
Sponsored by Thomson Reuters
Winner: Brabners
Judges’ comments: The judges highlighted the outstanding caliber of the firm’s clients and the high-quality work they are delivering. Their growing national reputation, combined with recognition as one of the best places to work, set them apart and demonstrated a well-rounded commitment to excellence both in their legal practice and workplace culture.
Niche Law Firm of the Year
Sponsored by Miller Insurance
Winner: Thrive Law
Judges’ comments: The winner stood out for their clear demonstration of community engagement, delivering aspirational work with real impact. The judges were also impressed by the way this firm champions client care, supported by compelling evidence and examples throughout the entry.
Lawtech Initiative of the Year
Sponsored by PEXA UK
Winner: IDR Law
Judges’ comments: The judges highlighted the practical application of technology at the heart of this initiative. By automating a process that could otherwise lead to significant issues, the project demonstrated real foresight and innovation, providing a solution with clear long-term benefits.
In House Lawyer of the Year
Winner: Christopher Bates 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 ReviewSolicitors
Winner: Jodie Hill from Thrive Law
Judges’ comments: The winning application stood out with impressive examples that clearly met the criteria, backed by a strong online presence and robust supporting evidence. The judges were also impressed by the organisation’s growth under their leadership, alongside a real commitment to nurturing future talent through apprenticeships and trainee development.
Partner of the Year
Sponsored by SearchFlow
Winner: Helen Moody from Ridley & Hall Solicitors
Judges’ comments: This individual provided a particularly outstanding submission, highlighting the significant progress and achievements the firm has made over the past five years. The winning partner has made a notable impact through extensive legal training and pro bono work, demonstrating both professional excellence and commitment to giving back to the wider community.
Rising Star of the Year
Sponsored by RG Law
Winner: Daniel Bates from Minster Law
Judges’ comments: This winner stood out as an excellent entry, providing exceptional evidence of how they met the criteria. It was heartwarming to see such promise from the junior profession, with this individual shining brightest among a very strong field.
Trainee Solicitor of the Year
Winner: Pippa Bradley from Knights PLC
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed by the strength and quality of this application, which was supported by clear and compelling evidence. Notably, the trainee’s impact was recognised early, receiving a promotion within their first year, highlighting both talent and dedication.
Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year
Winner: Colin Byrne from Howard & Byrne
Judges’ comments: The winner distinguished themselves through their role as a positive role model for the profession, with extensive charity involvement and significant pro bono contributions. Backed by strong feedback from the community, this individual stood out as a truly worthy winner.