The winners of Scotland’s national celebration of excellence in the legal profession have been announced at the 22nd Annual Scottish Legal Awards, held at a prestigious gala dinner in Glasgow.
The event, sponsored by Denovo, welcomed 660 guests from across the country and brought together Scotland’s legal community for an evening of recognition and celebration.
The headline accolades of the night, Firm of the Year (Under 250 Employees) and Firm of the Year (250 Employees and Over), sponsored by Amiqus, were awarded to Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents and Thorntons Law, respectively.
The distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to The Rt Hon Lord Hodge, Deputy President of the Supreme Court. Lord Hodge was appointed Deputy President in January 2020, having originally joined the Court as a Justice in October 2013.
The Lawyer of the Year Award, sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland, was awarded to Catriona Watt of Anderson Strathern.
In the Law Champion of the Year category, the judges selected joint winners: Rachel Moon, Partner, and Lorna Walker, Senior Solicitor, of Govan Law Centre. This award recognises individuals who have raised awareness of Scots law or advanced the standing of the legal profession by driving positive change. The judges noted that both stood out as exceptional candidates, nominated by their firm for their outstanding contribution to their community, both individually and as a team.
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents enjoyed notable success, securing three awards in total.
Lorna Jack, Chair of the judging panel, commented:
“It has been a real privilege to chair the judging panel for the Scottish Legal Awards this year. The standard of entries was exceptional and it is inspiring to see the depth of talent, innovation, and commitment to excellence across Scotland’s legal profession. Tonight’s celebration, with over 660 people in the room, was a powerful reminder of the strength of our legal community and the important role it plays in society. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists – your achievements truly set the benchmark for excellence in the sector.”
The awards once again supported two important causes: the LawScot Foundation, which provides opportunities for students pursuing a career in law, and It’s Good 2 Give, a charity offering vital support to young cancer patients and their families.
Full List of Winners:
Firm of the Year (250 employees and over) sponsored by Amiqus
Winner
Thorntons Law LLP
Finalists
Burges Salmon
Digby Brown Solicitors
Gilson Gray
Firm of the Year (Under 250 employees) sponsored by Amiqus
Winner
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents
Finalists
Allan McDougall Solicitors
Blackadders LLP
Clarity Simplicity
Holmes Mackillop
Jones Whyte
Kaur Sutherland (Macrae and Kaur)
Livingstone Brown
MJC LAW
RD Legal
Spanish + Scottish Law Practice Ltd
The Glasgow Law Practice
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by The Times
The Right Hon Lord Hodge
Business Leadership Award
Fraser Oliver, Digby Brown
Law Champion of the Year
Rachel Moon and Lorna Walker
Govan Law Centre
Community Care & Social Responsibility Award sponsored by Frasia Wright Associates
Winner
Clan Childlaw
Digby Brown Solicitors
Finalists
Allan McDougall Solicitors
Brown Owl Legal Support
Clarity Simplicity
Gillespie Macandrew LLP
Innes & MacKay
Mediation Clinic at University of Strathclyde
Shared Parenting Scotland
Legal Technology & Support Team of the Year
Winner
Property Searches Scotland
Finalists
Blackadders LLP
Cashroom
Digby Brown Solicitors
ESPC
Estatesearch Ltd
Jones Whyte
Millar & Bryce
Excellence in Client Care sponsored by Groundsure
Winner
L&M MediLaw
Finalists
Clan Childlaw
Clarity Simplicity
Digby Brown Solicitors
Jamieson Law
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents
RD Legal Services
Spanish + Scottish Law Practice Ltd
Marketing & Business Development Team of the Year (NEW)
Winner
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents
Finalists
Digby Brown Solicitors
Finders International
Gilson Gray LLP
Jones Whyte
Litigation Team of the Year sponsored by Hamiltons Law Accountants
Winner
L&M MediLaw
Finalists
Aberdein Considine
Allan McDougall Solicitors
Clinical Negligence Litigation Team at Balfour+Manson
Digby Brown Solicitors
Gilson Gray
Jones Whyte
Livingstone Brown
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland
Property Team of the Year sponsored by Property Searches Scotland
Winner
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents
Highly Commended
Scullion LAW
Finalists
Aberdein Considine
Kaur Sutherland (Macrae and Kaur)
RD Legal Solicitors Limited
Excellence in Support & Wellbeing
Winner
Jones Whyte
Finalists
Brodies LLP
Thorntons Law LLP
Family Law or Private Client Team of the Year
Winner
MacPhee & Partners
Finalists
Aberdein Considine
Blackadders LLP
Gilson Gray
Jones Whyte
Scullion LAW
Stronachs LLP
Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie
Excellence in Equity & Inclusion sponsored by Law Society of Scotland
Winner
Disabling Barriers Scotland
Finalists
Belmont Solicitors
Brodies LLP
In-House Legal Team of the Year
Winner
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA – Corporate Legal)
Finalists
BAE Systems Naval Ships
Criminal Defence Team of the Year sponsored by Denovo
Winner
Livingstone Brown
Finalists
rradar
McGovern Reid Court Lawyers
The Glasgow Law Practice
Paralegal of the Year
Winner
Emma Hamilton, Clarity Simplicity
Highly Commended
Gillian Ross, Gillespie Mcandrew LLP
Finalists
Pali Dhesi, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Rising Star of the Year
Winner
Nadine Montgomery, L&M MediLaw
Finalists
Christie Allan, Livingstone Brown
Danny Anderson, Aberdein Considine
Ellen Masters, Aberdein Considine
Fiona Anderson, MacPhee & Partners
Gideon Green, CMS
Priya Cunningham, rradar
Sarah Munro, Livingstone Brown
Tom Main, Aberdein Considine
Tom McGovern, McGovern Reid Court Lawyers
Nicola McGorm, Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie
Lawyer of the Year sponsored by Law Society of Scotland
Winner
Catriona Watt, Anderson Strathern
Finalists
Ignacio Chanza-Jordan, Spanish & Scottish Law Practice
Michael Hughes, Serenity Legal Scotland
Stuart Munro, Livingstone Brown