Digby Brown has been crowned firm of the year at the 16th annual Scottish Legal Awards in Glasgow.
Twenty-five prizes were presented at the event to celebrate the profession in Scotland with recognition for the best performing individuals, teams and firms in front of 520 guests.
Dundee-based Blackadders collected two awards including Managing Partner of the Year, presented to Johnston Clark, for delivering a three-year growth strategy for the firm.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Professor Lorne Crerar, chairman and co-founding partner of Harper Macleod, for his 30 year career at the forefront of Scottish law, as an independent adviser to various public sector bodies and as chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Crerar, who is Professor Emeritus of Law at Glasgow University, said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award and would like to thank the judging panel for deeming me worthy of joining such an esteemed list of recipients.
“It has been my good fortune to find a career that I love and through which I have had so many opportunities open before me. I have also been very fortunate to work with great clients and many brilliant colleagues in law, in sport and in all my other roles without whom any achievements of mine could not have been realised.
“To this day I am as passionate about Scots law and the Scottish legal profession as ever and on evenings such as this, see every reason why it will have a very bright future.”
The Lawyer of the Year Award went to Jill Sinclair from DWF as head of its Counter Fraud Team, a new department created three years ago.
Glasgow-based firm Livingstone Brown collected team awards for their work in family law and criminal defence, while the in-house legal team awards were presented to the Royal Bank of Scotland (commercial) and The City of Edinburgh Council’s Legal Services division (public sector).
Iin-house Lawyer of the Year was awarded to joint winners Maree Allison from the Scottish Social Services Council, based in Dundee, and Kenny Robertson from Royal Bank of Scotland.
Judging panel chair Shonaig Macpherson said: ” The Scottish legal system is one of the best in the world. We have outstanding lawyers, innovative businesses and very many successful firms.
“The Scottish Legal Awards serve as an annual reminder of the achievements of the year for all of the finalists. We are delighted to be highlighting the excellence that occurs every day. I extend my congratulations to all the finalists and winners and encourage them to take time to celebrate their achievements.”
The awards are operated in support of It’s Good 2 Give and LawScot Foundation.
The winners
Firm of the Year: Digby Brown
Finalists: Dentons, MBM Commercial, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Thompsons Solicitors
Lifetime Achievement Award: Professor Lorne Crerar
Managing Partner of the Year: Johnston Clark, Blackadders
Lawyer of the Year: Jill Sinclair, DWF
Finalists: Aamer Anwar, Aamer Anwar & Co; Stephen Trombala, Shepherd and Wedderburn
In-House Lawyer of the Year (Public Sector): Maree Allison, Scottish Social Services Council
(Commercial): Kenny Robertson, Royal Bank of Scotland
Finalist: Jane Valentine, Wheatley Group
Commercial Property Team of the Year: CMS
Finalists: Blackadders, Shoosmiths, Wheatley Group
Community Contribution Award: Digby Brown and Scullion LAW (joint winners)
Finalists : DWF, Faculty of Advocates, Families Need Fathers Scotland: Both Parents Matter, Glasgow Caledonian University Law Clinic, Macnabs, University of Strathclyde Mediation Clinic
Corporate and Commercial Team of the Year: Shepherd and Wedderburn
Finalist: Dentons
Criminal Defence Firm of the Year: Livingstone Brown
Finalists: Aamer Anwar & Co, Beltrami & Co, Martin Johnston and Socha
Employment Team of the Year: Blackadders
Finalist: Clyde & Co
Family Law Team of the Year: Livingstone Brown
Finalists: Elizabeth Welsh Family Law Practice, Gilson Gray, Macleod & MacCallum
Commercial In-House Legal Team of the Year: Royal Bank of Scotland
Highly commended: Edrington
Finalists: Skyscanner, The Weir Group, Wheatley Group
Public Sector In-House Legal Team of the Year: The City of Edinburgh Council – Legal Services Division
Finalists : Scottish Social Services Council, University of Strathclyde Mediation Clinic
Legal Technology Award: DWF
Finalists: Amiqus Resolution, Blackadders – Blackadders Employment Team, Millar & Bryce and DUAL Asset Underwriting, Nalytics, Property Searches Scotland, Registers of Scotland – The Digital Discharge Service, SnapDragon Monitoring
Litigation Team of the Year: Allan McDougall Solicitors
Highly Commended: Shoosmiths
Finalists: Clyde & Co, Dentons, Digby Brown Solicitors, Halliday Campbell
Paralegal of the Year sponsored by Millar & Bryce: Fiona Anderson, MacPhee and Partners
Finalists: Donna Clark, Macleod & MacCallum, Bilaal Shabbir, MBS Solicitors Residential Property Team of the Year: Coulters
Finalists: Innes & Mackay Limited, McDougall McQueen, Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents
Rising Star of the Year: Jamie Apted, MBM Commercial
Highly Commended: Amy Mackenzie, Harper Macleod; Shawn Wood, Watermans Legal
Finalists: Kelly Fraser, Harper Macleod; Emma Guthrie, Shepherd and Wedderburn
Support Team of the Year: ESPC
Finalists: Millar & Bryce, Moore Legal Technology, Property Searches Scotland