Winners of the Law Society Excellence Awards 2012

The outstanding achievements of the legal profession in England and Wales have been celebrated by the Law Society at a prestigious ceremony in London.

Over 600 legal professionals and their guests joined the President of the Law Society Lucy Scott-Moncrieff and BBC Broadcaster Mishal Husain at a presentation ceremony at Old Billingsgate last night.

The annual awards recognise the most outstanding legal practitioners in their field and are open to individuals and teams across the entire legal sector. 

They are designed to recognise best practice and to celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in areas that are central to the profession today. 

The awards highlight innovative business practices, successful approaches to practice management as well as contributions through social responsibility and equality and diversity initiatives.

Law Society President Lucy Scott-Moncrieff said: 'Every year the number, range and quality of the entries gets greater, and this year is no exception. The winners and highly commended entrants should be extremely proud. Winning a Law Society Excellence Award is a huge achievement that brings valuable recognition for individuals and firms. These awards reflect the Law Society's commitment to the promotion of quality, innovation and client service across the legal profession. 

'This year our annual awards were bigger and better than ever with well over 600 people gathered to celebrate the individual and team achievements of solicitors from across England and Wales.' 

The Law Society Gazette Legal Personality of the Year was presented to Karen Todner of Kaim Todner.

Roger Smith OBE, solicitor and Director of JUSTICE since 2001 received the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The winners

Excellence in Community Investment 

• Winner: Unity Law Ltd

Highly commended 

• Stephensons Solicitors LLP & Barnardo's
• Gordons LLP

Excellence in Equality and Diversity 

• Winner: AMV LAW

Highly commended 

• Eversheds LLP
• Hogan Lovells - Global Diversity Business Plan

Legal Sector Alliance Award for Excellence in Environmental Responsibility

• Winner: Muckle LLP

Highly Commended

• Allen & Overy LLP
• Eversheds LLP

Excellence in Client Service

• Winner: Turpin & Miller LLP

Highly Commended

• The Royal College of Nursing - Legal Services Team
• Mayo Wynne Baxter LLP

Excellence in Marketing & Business Development

• Winner: Fosters Solicitors

Highly Commended: Quality Solicitors

Excellence in Conveyancing  Practice

• Winner: Coodes

Highly Commended:

• Comptons Solicitors LLP
• KJ Commons Solicitors

Lexcel Award for Excellence in Practice Management

• Winner: J.D Spicer & Co

Highly Commended:

• Trowers & Hamlins LLP
• London Borough OF Enfield - Legal Services
• Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors

Excellence in Innovation

• Winner: Paris Smith LLP
• Highly Commended: Clifford Chance

Excellence in Learning and Development

• Winner: The Clifford Chance Academy

Highly Commended:

• Hugh James Training Team - Hugh James Academy
• The Hogan Lovells -  Litigation Foundation

 Law Society Gazette Legal Personality of the Year 

• Winner: Karen Todner of Kaim Todner
• Highly Commended: Kathryn Ludlow from Linklaters

Association of Women Solicitors Legal Business Woman of the Year 

• Winner: Sarah Goulbourne of Gunnercooke LLP
• Highly commended: Jackie Newstead of Hogan Lovells

Chartered Legal Executive of the Year 

• Winner: Ian Ashley-Smith of Heringtons Solicitors

Solicitor Advocate of the Year

• Winner: Craig Connal QC of Pinsent Masons LLP

Junior Lawyer of the Year

• Winner: Myles Jackman of Hodge Jones Allen
• Highly commended: Kevin Timms of Garden House Solicitors

Solicitor of the Year - In-house

• Winner: Paul Heron of Hackney Community Law Centre
• Highly Commended: Carolyn Osbourne of Streetwise Community Law Centre

Solicitor of the Year - Private Practice

• Winner: David Enright of Howe & Co Solicitors

Ends

Notes to editors:

Photographs of the winners and the Law Society President will be available via www.lawsocietyawards.co.uk from 12pm on 19 October 2012

Download instructions will be available on the website.

Details of the awards and the achievements of the winners and highly commended are available from the press office.

Winners are permitted to use the Excellence Awards logo for one year.

For more information call the Law Society Press Office on 020 7320 5902