Winners announced at the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards 2025
The Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards have celebrated the region’s lawyers, law students and legal professionals who are transforming lives through free legal advice and representation.
Now in their second year, the awards were hosted by the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre on Thursday 6 November 2025 during Pro Bono Week.
Opening the ceremony, Sophie Cartwright KC said:
“It is heartwarming to celebrate the many ways Manchester’s legal community supports those in need. Nominations were of an incredibly high standard, and we must congratulate not only tonight’s winners, but everyone nominated. Their commitment to access to justice ensures people’s voices are heard and legal challenges aren’t faced alone.”
This year’s Outstanding Contribution to Pro Bono Award went to His Honour Judge Bird, recognising his pivotal role in establishing the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee and his ongoing leadership and advocacy in uniting solicitors, barristers, universities and charities to strengthen access to justice across the region.
Hudgells Solicitors were named Law Firm of the Year for their continued support to Manchester Arena victims, swift response to families affected by the Air India crash and their delivery of free clinical negligence advice in partnership with local charities and trauma centres including Peeps, The Birth Trauma Association, the Greater Manchester Trauma Centre and the Limbless Association.
Christian Weaver of Garden Court North Chambers received Barrister of the Year for his role in laying the groundwork for Awaab’s Law, strengthening tenants’ rights to safe housing, and for his public legal education project The Law in 60 Seconds.
Law Firm Individual of the Year went to Abigail Whelan, Senior Associate at TLT, for her work supporting vulnerable individuals in complex family law cases and helping shape national financial abuse policy. Maseehullah Mahomed, Paralegal at Fairmont Legal, was named Junior Lawyer of the Year for providing 145 hours of pro bono employment advice with The Growth Company, assisting clients facing discrimination, dismissal and tribunal claims.
The Frontline Agency of the Year award was presented to the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), whose collaboration with firms including Clyde & Co, Dechert, Linklaters and Squire Patton Boggs helped 286 individuals navigate the eVisa process and avoid job loss or homelessness. Their model has since been replicated elsewhere in England.
23 Essex Street Chambers received Chambers of the Year for launching the Manchester Chancery Litigant in Person Support Scheme (CLIPS), with every barrister in their Business & Property team volunteering, and for expanding access opportunities for under-represented young people. The University of Manchester’s Justice Hub was named Educational Institution of the Year, recognised for its community partnerships tackling issues from housing and welfare to wrongful convictions.
Finally, Zayd Tariq, an LLM/SQE student at Manchester Metropolitan University, won the Student Contribution Award for more than 150 hours of volunteering with Support Through Court and handling 10 welfare benefits appeals, securing over £50,000 for clients via the Legal Advocacy Support Project.
Reflecting on the event, Jason Tetley, CEO of the Greater Manchester Law Centre and last year’s winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award, said:
“Around 650,000 people across Greater Manchester fall into the ‘justice gap’ – those who earn too much for legal aid but can’t afford private representation. Many issues are no longer covered by legal aid, so lots of people must represent themselves to maintain contact with their children, keep their jobs, or secure essential support. Free legal advice is a lifeline, and the lawyers recognised tonight make that lifeline possible.”