THE city's inaugural Legal Awards took place over the weekend, as the cream of the profession were recognised for their efforts.
The awards dinner, organised by the Liverpool Law Society, was held in the Crowne Plaza hotel on Saturday night.
A black tie event, it attracted some of the city's biggest and best firms, and was created to celebrate legal excellence in the region.
The winner of each category was decided by a ballot of all law society members, who could not vote for their own firms, after the shortlist had been drawn up by a panel including Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Steel and Daily Post assistant business editor Tony McDonough.
Individual winners included Terri McMillan, of Jackson & Canter, as assistant solicitor of the year for her outstanding work in asylum and immigration cases.
Tanya Griffiths QC, the only female silk in Liverpool, was named barrister of the year; and management partner of the year went to Helen Broughton of Morecrofts.
A special lifetime achievement award was presented to Veronica Wright of the Law Society, who plans to retire later this year.
Specialist law firm was named as John Pickering & Partners for its work in pursuing claims of clients suffering asbestos-related diseases.
Firm of the year was Harkin Lloyd Solicitors, a team of seven established in 2004 by Jean Harkin and Rachel Lloyd.
Donal Bannon, president of Liverpool Law Society, said the event was now likely to become a regular fixture on its social calendar.
He added: "It was a successful evening that everyone enjoyed, and I think it will become if not an annual, then a biennial event.
"The event was all about promoting legal excellence, because certainly the expertise in Liverpool is as good as anywhere in the country, and we wanted to highlight that fact.
"Considering it was the first legal awards dinner, I was very pleased with the number of people who were nominated for awards and with the quality of those nominations, it all bodes well for the future."
He paid tribute to Ronnie Wright, saying: "There's no doubt about it, she deserved recognition after all the work she has done for the society."
Award-winner Helen Broughton, last year's society president, said: "I was thrilled to win and think over the last few years Liverpool lawyers are really getting to know each other again, because we had got into the habit of being very inward-looking to our firm or patch."
The evening was compered by Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips.
WINNERS
Assistant Solicitor of the Year: Terri McMillan, Jackson & Canter
Barrister of the Year: Tania Griffiths, QC, Exchange Chambers
President's Award for Pro-Bono Work (sponsored by the Daily Post): Percy Hughes & Roberts Solicitors
Employment Team of the Year: Mace & Jones
Dispute Resolution Team of the Year: EAD Solicitors
Real Estate Team of the Year: Weightmans
Corporate Team of the Year: DLA Piper
Specialist Law Firm of the Year: John Pickering & Partners LLP
Management Partner of the Year: Helen Broughton, Morecrofts Solicitors
Law Firm of the Year: Harkin Lloyd Solicitors
Log on later this week for full pictures from the event