The Gazette Legal Personality of the Year is a new addition to the Law Society Excellence Awards which is open to everyone in the legal sector. The Law Society Gazette's editorial team drew up a shortlist of people who have recently made an outstanding public contribution to the legal profession based on nominations from readers of the Law Society Gazette.
Civil litigation specialist Des Collins has been involved in several high-profile cases. Most recently, he successfully led the firm’s work on a landmark negligence claim against Corby Borough Council brought on behalf of children born with birth defects owing to their mothers being exposed to toxic waste and poisonous dust as a result of the demolition of a former British Steel Works. The 11-year battle has been dubbed the UK’s equivalent of the Erin Brockovich case.
As LAPG director since April 2008, Carol has worked with dedication to support legal aid lawyers, their clients and safeguard access to justice. During a time of unprecedented change, she has lobbied against measures that would reduce the quality of legal advice and access to justice for vulnerable clients. She was instrumental in setting up the All Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid, which aims to promote MPs understanding of legal aid and encourage them to scrutinise reform proposals.
A prominent general counsel who has the ear of private practice, Okoro has shown the confidence that in-house counsel can bring to the role. She has used her platform as a media-friendly GC and chair of the Chief Legal Officer Programme to challenge law firms to be more innovative. As a trustee of LawWorks, she has brought in in-house counsel to play a stronger role in governance and direction-setting. Okoro is a Law Society diversity ambassador, and a mentor to younger in-house counsel.
A partner at London’s largest family law firm, Blacklaws Davis, Christina specialises in child care and mediation. She is the child care representative on the Law Society’s council, chief assessor of the Society’s children panel and chair of the legal affairs and policy board. She fulfils her roles with commitment and enthusiasm and is a passionate and respected commentator on children and family court, and legal aid matters.
Bernard is a highly respected and well-liked role model for lawyers in the West Midlands. He recently landed the accolade of Inspiring Leader 2010 at the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards, run by Birmingham Future. He is president of the West Midland Association of Law Societies and past-president of Birmingham Law Society.