Manchester Legal Awards 2025 winners announced

  • 04/07/2025

The winners of the Manchester Legal Awards were announced on Thursday 3rd July 2025 at a black tie ceremony held at the glamourous Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.

Every year we are blown away by the brilliant work being done in the legal community of Manchester and we are very proud to be able to showcase these achievements.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors, partners and supporters. We would not be able do this without you!

Special thanks to our headline sponsors Shieldpay and William James Recruitment, our judging day sponsor Squire Patton Boggs, and our welcome drinks sponsor Docutech Office Solutions.

Not forgetting a massive thank you to our media partner TheBusinessDesk.com, our marketing partner RMS and our charity partner We Love MCR.

Check out the brochure from the evening here.

Please see our winners and sponsors below:

Corporate Culture & Wellbeing Champions of the Year
WINNER: Leigh Day
SPONSOR: Docutech Office Solutions

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Champions of the Year
WINNER: Gateley
SPONSOR: Fletchers Group

Sustainability Champions of the Year
WINNER: Irwin Mitchell
SPONSOR: Document Direct

Team of the Year – Corporate/Commercial 
WINNER:     Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
SPONSOR:   Shieldpay

Team of the Year – Crime 
WINNER:       Olliers Solicitors
SPONSOR:   ALLDOQ

Team of the Year – Employment
WINNER:       TLT LLP
SPONSOR:   RMS PR, Marketing & Design

Team of the Year – Family  
WINNER:       Hall Brown Family Law
SPONSOR:   William James Recruitment

Team of the Year – In-house
WINNER:        Lookers
SPONSOR:    Manchester Law Society

Team of the Year – Litigation  
WINNER:      TLT LLP
SPONSOR:    Quantuma

Team of the Year – PI/Clinical Negligence
WINNER:       Serious Injury Law
SPONSOR:   Kain KnightCosts Lawyers

Team of the Year – Private Client 
WINNER:       Private Client Solicitors
SPONSOR:   Sterling Event Group

Team of the Year – Property 
WINNER:     Mills & Reeve
SPONSOR: Landmark Information Group     

Team of the Year – Regulatory
WINNER: DWF Law LLP
SPONSOR: Sytech  

Unsung Hero of the Year
WINNER:      Cath Garner, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
SPONSOR:    Hall Brown Family Law

Trainee/Paralegal/Apprentice of the Year 
WINNER:      Isabella Lloyd, Duncan Lewis Solicitors
SPONSOR:  Manchester Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University

Solicitor of the Year
WINNER:      Saoirse DeBont, Irwin Mitchell
SPONSOR:  LegalVision

Partner of the Year 
WINNER:       Stephen Jones, Leigh Day
SPONSOR:    RMS PR, Marketing & Design

Barrister/KC of the Year 
WINNER:      Tom Gosling, 23 Essex Street Chambers
SPONSOR:  Leigh Day

Barristers Chambers of the Year 
WINNER:      18 St John Street Chambers
SPONSOR:    Weightmans LLP

Law Firm of the Year – Small (1-5 partners) 
WINNER:       Venus Legal
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Pearsons Solicitors & Financial Advisers Ltd
SPONSOR: Lawshare (JMW Solicitors LLP)

Law Firm of the Year – Medium (6-20 partners) 
WINNER:       Hudgell Solicitors
SPONSOR:   Consortium – more than marketing & Might Moxie Consulting

Law Firm of the Year – Large (21+ partners) 
WINNER:      Brabners
SPONSOR:   Fletchers Group

Lifetime Achievement Award 
WINNER:       Nick Johnson
SPONSOR:   Manchester Law Society