A night to remember

The profession was celebrated at the Scottish Legal Awards last week, showcasing excellence and innovation across the sector.

The Scottish Legal Awards 2024, sponsored by 123 Medical Services, celebrated the finest achievements in the Scottish legal sector, marking its 21st year on Thursday 19^th September, with more than 550 guests attending the gala dinner in Glasgow.

Among the winners, MBM Commercial took home the prestigious ‘Firm of the Year’ title with their work in the UK and abroad highlighted by the judges as inspiring. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the Rt Hon Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk and President of the Second Division of the Inner House of the Court of Session.  Lady Dorrian is the most senior female figure in the Scottish Courts and earlier this year announced her retirement.  

Other notable awards included ‘Excellence in Client Care,’ awarded to Neilsons Solicitors, and the ‘Law Champion of the Year,’ which was posthumously awarded to Janet Hood. These awards reflect the strength, innovation, and leadership within Scotland’s legal profession.

The other major individual award of the night was presented to Stephen McGowan, partner of TLT Solicitors and one of the nation’s leading licensing lawyers. He was recognised for his work to support the Scottish hospitality sector during a year of unprecedented change driven by the failed Deposit Return Scheme. 

The awards also continue to support the Lawscot Foundation, helping students pursuing a career in law (RM to link https://www.lawscotfoundation.org.uk/) as well as It’s Good 2 Give, a small charity that supports young cancer patients and their families.

Full list of winners:

Firm of the Year sponsored by Amiqus 

WINNER: MBM Commercial

Finalists:
Blackadders LLP 
Clarity Simplicity 
Digby Brown Solicitors 
Livingstone Brown 
MBM Commercial 
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents 
Shoosmiths 

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by The Times

The Rt. Hon Lady Dorrian

The Business Leadership Award sponsored by 123 Medical Services

WINNERS:  Chris Harte and Neil Kennedy, Morton Fraser MacRoberts

Lawyer of the Year, sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland

WINNER:  Stephen McGowan, TLT Solicitors

Finalist: 
Hayley Gibson, Hymans Robertson

Community Care Award sponsored by Frasia Wright Associates

WINNER: Lege Expertia

Highly Commended: Clarity Simplicity

Finalists:
Jackson Boyd Lawyers
Mediation Clinic at University of Strathclyde 
Shared Parenting Scotland 
The Aberdeen Law Project 

Excellence in Legal Technology 

WINNER: Cashroom

Finalists:
DUAL Asset 
Estatesearch 
rradar 

Excellence in Client Care sponsored by ReviewSolicitors  

WINNER: Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents

Finalists:
Jamieson Law – providing new logos (LM) 
L&M MediLaw 

Legal Support Team of the Year 

WINNER: Clarity Simplicity

Finalists:
Cashroom  
ESPC 
Finders International 
Hey Legal 
MBM Commercial 
Millar & Bryce 
MLT Digital 

Litigation Team of the Year sponsored by 123 Medical Services

WINNER: Digby Brown Solicitors

Highly Commended: L&M Medilaw

Finalists:
Balfour+Manson Clinical Negligence Team  
Drummond Miller 
Gilson Gray 
Halliday Campbell WS 
Jackson Boyd Lawyers 
Livingstone Brown  

Property Team of the Year sponsored by Property Searches Scotland 

WINNER: Macleod & MacCallum

Finalists:
Gilson Gray  
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents 

Excellence in Support & Wellbeing  

WINNER: Burness Paull

Finalist:
Shoosmiths 

Family Law or Private Client Team sponsored by 123 Medical Services 

WINNER: Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie

Finalists:
Gilson Gray 
Rooney Family Law 
Scullion LAW 
Stronachs 

Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland 

WINNER: Disabling Barriers Scotland 

Finalists:
Burness Paull 
Shoosmiths 

In-House Legal Team of the Year 

WINNER: SSE

Highly Commended:  Hymans Robertson

Finalists:
Aberdeen City Council 
BayWa r.e. UK 
Insights Learning & Development 
The Springfield Group

Criminal Defence Firm of the Year 

WINNER: rradar

Finalists:
Beltrami and Co 
Duncan and McConnell Solicitors

Paralegal of the Year 

WINNERS:
Nikki Scott, Blackadders LLP
Maisie Wislon, JustRight Scotland

Rising Star of the Year  

WINNER: Sammi Mackie, Shoosmiths

Finalists:
Robyn Lee, Blackadders LLP 
Nadine Montgomery, L&M Medilaw 

For full details, visit Scottish Legal Awards 2024.