The shortlist for the highly anticipated 2020 has been announced.
Irwin Mitchell and JMW Solicitors lead the nominations with eight shortlisted entries in categories including Family Team of the Year, Pro Bono/Community Initiative Award and Litigation Team of the Year.
Eversheds Sutherland are a close second, with seven shortlisted entries including Litigation Team of the Year and Employment Team of the Year.
READ MORE: {}
In the coveted Barristers’ Chambers of the Year category, 9 St John Street, Deans Court Chambers, Kings Chambers and St Johns Buildings all made it onto the shortlist.
The awards ceremony, one of the most prestigious events in the Manchester legal sector’s calendar, will take place at the Midland Hotel on Thursday, March 5.
Shortlisted entrants will undertake panel interviews on Friday, January 17 before the final winners are announced at the event.
Speaking about the shortlist announcement, Fran Eccles-Bech, chief executive of the Manchester Law Society, said: “This year, following the tenth anniversary, we took the opportunity to refresh the criteria to keep up with the times.
“The change has been clearly visible in the standard of entries which seem to be getting better each year.
Most Read
“The awards offer the opportunity for the North West legal world to let their hair down and celebrate their fantastic achievements from the past year.
“I look forward to seeing everyone in their glad rags on the night and more importantly to recognise the thriving legal scene in the North.”
The Manchester Legal Awards principle sponsor is Interlink Recruitment, which is a specialist legal recruitment consultancy operating across the country from offices in Manchester and London.
MEN is media partner for the awards, with RMS providing full marketing support.
The full shortlist for the Manchester Legal Awards 2020 is as follows:
Trainee/Paralegal/Apprentice of the Year
Hannah Costley, Burton Copeland
Don’t miss
Hayley Crombleholme, Irwin Mitchell
Annie Hennis, Trowers & Hamlins
Lizzie McPeake, JMW Solicitors LLP
Kurtis Windrow, Eversheds Sutherland
Solicitor of the Year
Saoirse de Bont, Irwin Mitchell
Amanda Lea, DWF Law
Cheryl Palmer-Hughes, Irwin Mitchell
Sarah Sharples, Irwin Mitchell
Pro Bono/Community Initiative Award
Irwin Mitchell
MMU Law School Pro Bono Network
University of Manchester Justice Hub
Weightmans
Law Firm Innovation
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
TLT LLP
TQ Property Lawyers
Team of the Year – Crime
Clifford Johnston & Co
Mortons Solicitors Limited
Olliers Solicitors
Stephensons Solicitors
Team of the Year – Corporate/Commercial
Beyond Corporate Law
Eversheds Sutherland
Mills & Reeve
Weightmans LLP
Team of the Year – Employment
Freeths
Eversheds Sutherland
TLT LLP
Kuits
Team of the Year – Family
AFG Law
Hall Brown
Irwin Mitchell
JMW Solicitors LLP
Team of the Year – Litigation
Brabners LLP
Eversheds Sutherland
JMW Solicitors LLP
Mills & Reeve
Team of the Year – PI/Clinical Negligence
Aequitas Legal
CFG Law
Horwich Cohen Coglan
JMW Solicitors LLP
Team of the Year – Private Client
Irwin Mitchell
Hugh Jones Solicitors
Linder Myers
Weightmans LLP
Team of the Year – Property
Bryan Cave Leighton Pasiner
Eversheds Sutherland
JMW Solicitors LLP
Kuits
Team of the Year – Regulatory
DWF Law
Eversheds Sutherland
JMW Solicitors LLP
Kuits
Barrister of the Year
Jaime Hamilton QC, 9 St John Street Chambers
Henry Blackshaw, Lincoln House Chambers
Mary O’Rourke QC, Deans Court Chambers
Barristers’ Chambers of the Year
9 St John Street
Deans Court Chambers
Kings Chambers
St Johns Buildings
Partner of the Year
Matthew Claughton, Olliers
Ian Lewis, JMW Solicitors LLP
Richard Scorer, Slater and Gordon
Rachel Somerset, Mills & Reeve
Law Firm of the Year – small (1-5 partners)
Burton Copeland
Greenhalgh Kerr
Hugh Jones Solicitors
Latitude Law
Law Firm of the Year – medium (5-20 partners)
Hall Brown
Glaisyers
Horwich Cohen Coghlan
Law Firm of the Year – large (20+ partners)
Eversheds Sutherland
Irwin Mitchell
JMW Solicitors LLP
TLT LLP