The winners of the 21st Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards have been announced with Fiona Farrell, Irwin Mitchell LLP scooping the award for Solicitor of the Year, Gowling WLG winning Law Firm of the Year (National) and Eileen Schofield of Schofield & Associates honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award.
Held at the ICC Birmingham on Thursday 9th March, the glittering awards ceremony was hosted by ITV’s Emma Jesson and recognised and celebrated the high calibre of legal work that takes place in Birmingham whilst shining a spotlight on the exceptional quality of professional talent that the city’s legal community has to offer.
Tony McDaid, President of Birmingham Law Society, said: “The judging panel had an immensely difficult task selecting this year’s winners due to the phenomenally high standards of nominees for this year’s awards. The West Midlands is blessed with some of the legal sector’s most influential and sector-leading firms and individuals – all of whom choose to flourish here in our region. The Birmingham Law Society is proud to be part of its success and honour it with this fantastic awards ceremony.”
Over 250 entries for this year’s awards were shortlisted to a final 58 nominees before the 12 winners were selected by a panel of judges made up of representatives of the Birmingham Legal community.
The full list of winners are:
Trainee Solicitor of the Year sponsored by The University of Law
Monika Gagat, Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
Apprentice of the Year sponsored by BPP University
Renee Tombs, Bevan Brittan LLP
Paralegal of the Year sponsored by Landmark Information Group
Liberty Green, Weightmans LLP
Solicitor of the Year sponsored by Cornwall Street Barristers
Fiona Farrell, Irwin Mitchell LLP
Barrister of the Year sponsored by Birmingham City University
Louise Corfield, No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Partner of the Year sponsored by Eminent Crisis Management Group Ltd
Christopher Plumley, Trowers & Hamlins
Birmingham Law Society Pro Bono Award sponsored by Keele University
William Horwood, St Philips Chambers
Birmingham Law Society Equality and Diversity Award (Law firm)
sponsored by The College of Legal Practice
Bridging the Bar
Birmingham Law Society In-House Award sponsored by Eminent Crisis Management Group Ltd
Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Law Firm of the Year (Sole practitioners and firms up to five partners)
sponsored by Index Property Information
Fountain Solicitors
Law Firm of the Year (Regional) sponsored by LEAP Legal Software
Higgs LLP
Law Firm of the Year (National) sponsored by St Philips Chambers
Gowling WLG
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Eileen Schofield, Schofield & Associates
This year’s awards are sponsored by Birmingham City University, BPP University, Cornwall Street Barristers, Eminent Crisis Management Group, Fazenda, Index Property Information, Keele University, Landmark Information Group, LEAP Legal Software, No5 Barristers’ Chambers, Oosha, St Ives Chambers, St Philips Chambers, The College of Legal Practice and The University of Law.