Thompsons named Firm of Year at Law Awards of Scotland

Thompsons Solicitors were prominent among the winners at the 2023 Law Awards of Scotland last night, as the firm was named Law Firm of the Year – Scottish Independents. 

The litigation-focused practice took the title ahead of seven other finalists, on a night that also saw Andy Sirel of JustRight Scotland named Solicitor of the Year.

Other firms celebrating included Allan McDougall, for both Litigation Team of the Year and the Corporate Social Responsibility Award; Macnabs, for Family and Child Team of the Year, and the Paralegal of the Year Award for their Sharon Connolly; MBM Commercial, for Corporate Team of the Year, and the Up and Coming Award for their Ruairidh Morrison; Moir & Sweeney Litigation (Criminal Law Firm of the Year), Gilson Gray (Debt Recovery Team of the Year), and Dallas McMillan (Employment and Pensions Team of the Year).

Customs consultancy Alegrant won the Innovation Award, and the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic the Pro-Bono Award, while David Welsh of Axiom Advocates was named Rising Star at the Scottish Bar.

Honours for career achievements went to the Faculty of Advocates' senior female practising counsel, Frances McMenamin KC (Chairman's Award), Trevor Ormiston of Ormiston Mental Health Law Practice (Outstanding Contribution Award), and (much to his surprise) retiring Journal editor Peter Nicholson, who was cited for the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 40 years of editing legal publications, including 20 at the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland and before that another 20 on the Scots Law Times and Greens Weekly Digest, of which latter he was founding editor.

Colin Anderson, director and company secretary at LEAD Scotland and chair of the judging panel, praised the standard of this year’s entries, commenting: "The Herald Law Awards of Scotland are always a highlight in the Scottish legal calendar.

"They are where we recognise the collective effort of the Scottish legal profession in fostering a legal landscape that empowers individuals, protects rights and ensures that justice is accessible for all."

Susan Murray, Vice President of the Law Society of Scotland (a sponsor of the Awards along with IDEX Consulting, Stirling Park and Thomson Reuters), added: "The annual Herald Law Awards provide an important opportunity to demonstrate a cross-section of the excellent work embodied within our sector, and this year’s event was a wonderfully fitting celebration of some of the exceptional people working in the Scottish legal profession.

"Seeing Peter Nicholson’s outstanding contribution as editor of the Journal recognised was a highlight of the evening and it was an honour to be present as he collected his Lifetime Achievement Award, while it was a privilege for me to announce the Solicitor of the Year Award to Andy Sirel."