Manchester Legal Awards – all winners

The winners of this year’s Manchester Legal Awards were revealed during a prestigious black tie ceremony at The Midland Hotel last night.

The Manchester Legal Awards saw a fairly even spread of awards this year, with Fletchers Solicitors, Weightmans LLP, Olliers Solicitors and McAlister Family Law each winning two awards.

The event celebrated over 81 shortlisted companies and individuals across a total of 21 categories.

The prestigious lifetime achievement award went to Hugh Potter, founder and senior partner of Potter Rees Dolan.

In a warm acceptance speech the personal injury specialist thanked “inspirational” Rodger Pannone, once senior partner. Maurice Watkins. The “awesome and wonderful” Joy Kingsley and Katherine Mellor “who kindly provided me with the articles – a training contract – with Elliott and Company back in 1985”, which he called “Hugh’s Who’s List!”

After thanking colleagues, family, clients and opponents, Potter took a swipe at successive governments that have eroded access to justice.

“However, I do not want to thank any government over the past 25 years for systematically eroding access to justice by removing legal aid and substantially underfunding ombudsmen. I see this as fundamentally wrong, and as the election approaches, I’m sure everyone in this room will do everything we can to restore what is surely a fundamental human right,” he said.

Fran Eccles-Bech, chief executive of Manchester Law Society, said: “Year after year I am amazed to hear about the outstanding work undertaken by the legal community in our region.

“We know Manchester is home to some of the best legal talent in the UK and the awards are an opportunity to share and celebrate this work.”

Michael Taylor, Editor at TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Manchester Law Society again as media partners for this year’s Manchester Legal Awards.

“Legal practices continue to demonstrate the agility and innovation that puts them at the forefront of the Manchester economy, which was evident in the outstanding range of entries for these excellent awards.

“Fran Eccles-Bech and her team at Manchester Law Society have done an incredible job in preparing this year’s awards. Every shortlisted team and individual can be rightly proud of what they have achieved.”

Ruth Shearn, founder of RMS PR, Marketing & Design, who has worked on the awards since their launch, said: “We are proud to have worked on the Manchester Legal Awards since they were an idea on a page 15 years ago.

“I still get a kick out of seeing the design work and website my team creates each year, not to mention the social and media coverage.”

Launched by the Law Society of Manchester in 2010, the awards celebrate the best legal talent from across the region. The categories cover all areas of law with organizational, team and individual awards.

Full list of event winners and sponsors:

CSR Champions of the Year

WINNER: Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

SPONSOR: RMS – PR | DESIGN | MARKETING

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions of the Year

WINNER: Brabners LLP

SPONSOR: Denovo Business Intelligence

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Health and Wellness Champions of the Year

WINNER: Fletchers Solicitors

SPONSOR: MFL Insurance Group Limited

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Team of the year – Corporate/Commercial

WINNER: Pannone Corporate

SPONSOR: Sparkle Capital

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Team of the year – Crime

WINNER: Olliers Solicitors

SPONSOR: Docutech Office Solutions Ltd

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Team of the Year – Employment

WINNER: Myerson Solicitors

SPONSOR: Employment legal advice service

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Team of the year – Family

WINNER: McAlister Family Law

SPONSOR: Interlink Talent Solutions

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Team of the year – Litigation

WINNER: Addleshaw Goddard LLP

SPONSOR: Quantum

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Team of the Year – PI/Clinical Negligence

WINNER: Fletchers Solicitors

SPONSOR: Cain Knight Costs Lawyers

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Team of the Year – Private Client

WINNER: Weightmans LLP

SPONSOR: Fletchers Solicitors

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Team of the Year – Property

WINNER: Fieldfisher LLP

SPONSOR: Landmark information

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Team of the Year – Regulation

WINNER: Kuits lawyers

SPONSOR: Kroll Advisory Ltd

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Intern/Paralegal/Apprentice of the Year

WINNER: Martha Odysseos, Olliers Solicitors

SPONSOR: Manchester Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University

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Lawyer of the year

WINNER: Ryan Bradshaw, Leigh Day

SPONSOR: Azets

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Partner of the year

WINNER: Ruth Hetherington, McAlister Family Law

SPONSOR: Excello Law

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Lawyer/KC of the Year

WINNER: Sophie Cartwright KC

SPONSOR: Leigh Day

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Bars of the Year

WINNER: 23ES (23 Essex Street)

SPONSOR: Weightmans LLP

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Law Firm of the Year – Small (1-5 partners)

WINNER: Bromleys

SPONSOR: Lawshare

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Law firm of the year – medium (5-20 partners)

WINNER: Hall Brown Family Law

SPONSOR: ground

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Law Firm of the Year – Large (20+ partners)

WINNER: Weightmans LLP

SPONSOR: Fletchers Solicitors

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Lifetime Achievement Award

WINNER: Hugh Potter

SPONSOR: Manchester Law Society