LEGAL AWARDS 2009 - Launch

By Ben Schofield on Jan 20, 09 08:00 AM

Charlie Jones.jpg

LIVERPOOL'S Law Society today launches its second biannual Legal
Awards.

At a glittering ceremony planned for June, Merseyside's top legal professionals will be praised for their "excellence".

Charlie Jones, president of Liverpool Law Society and a partner at Weightmans, told LDP Legal: "Two years ago we had the first legal awards ceremony and dinner in Liverpool, run by Liverpool Law Society. The idea of that was to celebrate the excellence of Liverpool lawyers and the
excellence of the work done in Liverpool - and it was a resounding success.

"The fact remains that excellent work is still done in Liverpool. The lawyers in Liverpool are just as good as in London, indeed they are a lot cheaper, so they might be regarded as better.

"We believe that this should be celebrated.

"Competition will very tough. Wherever there is excellence competition is always tough."

In 2007, the black tie event saw Harkin Lloyd Solicitors, a team of seven established in 2004 by Jean Harkin and Rachel Lloyd, named Firm of the Year.

Tanya Griffiths QC, then the only female silk in Liverpool, was named barrister of the year. Management partner of the year went to Helen Broughton of Morecrofts.

Last year the society held a charity ball and now plans to rotate the two events so each is held every other year.

The Liverpool Daily Post is again sponsoring one of the awards. The President's Awards for Human Rights Work will be presented by Daily Post editor Mark Thomas.

He said: "We are delighted to be involved in the Legal Awards for the second time.

"The city's lawyers are a key part of what makes Liverpool such a great place to do business.

"This year we are particularly excited to help celebrate the crucial role of our human rights experts."

There are also individual categories for the best employment, real estate and environment, dispute resolution and corporate teams.

Nominations are open for the top junior law division practitioner, barrister and niche law firm of the year, as well as for the coveted Firm of the Year trophy.

A dinner and prize-giving will take place in Liverpool's Crowne Plaza hotel on June 27. Click on www.liverpoollawsociety.org.uk for full details of how to
enter. Nominations close on April 3.

To mark the awards LDP Legal is asking the city's legal community for their views on the state of the city's legal sector. We have launched an online survey about the challenges ahead. Check back to this site soon for more information.