Thorntons, Thompsons big winners at Law Awards of Scotland

Thorntons and Thompsons were among the main winners of the Law Awards of Scotland 2017, unveiled last night.

Held in association with HR Consultancy and supported by Stirling Park, the Law Society of Scotland, Allied Surveyors Scotland and McKinstry Practice Management Service, the awards were presented before an audience of more than 400 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

Thorntons was named Law Firm of the Year in the over 40 fee earners category, sponsored by HR Consultancy. Mental health specialists Ormistons Law Practice of Glenrothes were Law Firm of the Year (under 40 fee earners).

Aidan O’Neill QC was revealed as Silk of the Year, with Vice Dean of Faculty Angela Grahame QC receiving a commendation, while Usman Tariq was named Advocate of the Year. CMS won Real Estate Team of the Year (sponsored by Allied Surveyors Scotland) for its work with Skyscanner and the Edinburgh St James project. Ashurst was named International Firm of the Year Award, sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland, for creating a local centre of excellence to drive change worldwide.

Three titles went to Thompsons Solicitors, whose Lindsay Bruce was named Solicitor of the Year (Fiona McPhail of Shelter Scotland was commended). The firm also won the Litigation Team of the Year, sponsored by Stirling Park, thanks to the efforts of its lung disease team, with Lois Madden being named Junior Solicitor of the Year, alongside Iain Grant of Gilson Gray – who received a commendation in the Litigation Team category.

Morton Fraser won Family Law Team of the Year, Ian Moir & Co won Criminal Law Firm of the Year, McClure Legal took High Street Firm of the Year, Dentons (now incorporating Maclay Murray & Spens) were awarded Corporate Team of the Year, Shepherd & Wedderburn were named Banking & Finance Team of the Year, and Shoosmiths won Debt Recovery Team of the Year.

Carolyn Jameson of Skyscanner was named Senior In-house Lawyer of the Year; Laura Murphy of CYBG won Junior In-house Lawyer iof the Year; and Susan Currie of Cloch Solicitors was awarded Trainee of the Year

The Pro Bono Award went to Edinburgh University Free Legal Advice Centre, with Govan Law Centre receiving a commendation; CSR winners were the recently launched The Glass Network.

Professor Hector MacQueen, the Scottish academic and scholar, received the Outstanding Contribution Award (sponsored by McKinstry Practice Management Service).

Coingratulating all the nominees and winners, Hilary Roberts, chief executive of HR Consultancy, said: "These awards have shown that Scotland’s legal industry is going from strength to strength and has an exciting future ahead."

The event was hosted by Des Clarke and featured entertainment from Sticks N Kicks and The Trueloves. The keynote address was a poem delivered by BBC Scotland’s Stuart Paterson.