Thompsons named Firm of Year at Scottish Legal Awards
Thompsons Solicitors has been named Firm of the Year at the 2023 Scottish Legal Awards.
The firm took the trophy at the gala presentation dinner ahead of finalists Digby Brown, MBM Commercial and Neilsons, following a series of high-profile winning campaigns and a successful strategic expansion into new areas of work.
Digby Brown however took the award for Litigation Team of the Year, and shared the Community Contribution Award – a category with no fewer than 11 finalists – with the University of Strathclyde Mediation Clinic. Neilsons meantime took home the Residential Property Team of the Year award.
Lawyer of the Year was Elizabeth Rose of L&M MediLaw – her firm also took the prize for Excellence in Client Care – while Jennifer Young of Ledingham Chalmers collected Managing Partner of the Year. Rosalind McInnes of BBC Scotland won In-house Lawyer of the Year, and Susan Currie of Blackadders was named Rising Star of the Year.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to an in-house lawyer who has championed social inclusion and equal access to legal careers. Donald Macdonald, deputy general counsel for RBS Natwest Group, collected the award on the day of his retirement from the bank he joined as a trainee 33 years ago.
Natwest also celebrated collecting the In-house Legal Team of the Year title. Other Team of the Year awards went to Blackadders (Family Law or Private Client Team), Shoosmiths (Employment Team), Duncan & McConnell (Criminal Defence Firm), and Cashroom (Support Team). Amiqus collected the Legal Technology Award.
Lorna Jack, chair of the judging and former CEO of the Law Society of Scotland, commented: "The Scottish Legal Awards has served a comforting reminder that the Scottish legal profession is indeed of the highest standard. Scottish law and its practitioners continue to shine brilliantly, serving their clients and their colleagues with the utmost dedication. I extend my congratulations to all our contestants for their achievements, and I hope all the winners receive the recognition they deserve."
Sairah Din, managing director of headline sponsors 123 Medical Services added: "This year's Scottish Legal Awards served as an encouraging reminder that the legal profession in Scotland is, in fact, of the finest calibre. The award serves as a reminder of the outstanding work being done by Scottish law and all its practitioners in serving their customers.
"We want to congratulations all the finalists and winners for all their hard work!"
The awards continue to support the LawScot Foundation, which supports less advantaged students pursuing a career in law, and It’s Good 2 Give, a small charity that supports young cancer patients and their families.