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