Welcome to the Manchester Legal Awards

A huge congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Manchester Legal Awards! The caliber of entries blew us away and highlighted the incredible talent across our city’s legal community.

Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s awards – all entries were of an exceptionally high standard.

The ceremony brought together more than 600 members of the region’s legal community to celebrate exceptional talent, hard work and achievement across all areas of law. This year’s event celebrated over 83 firms and individuals who were shortlisted in a total of 22 categories.

You can find the full list of winners below.

Charity partner

Media partner

Event host

Marketing partner

The 2026 Manchester Legal Awards Winners

Corporate Culture & Wellbeing
Champions of the Year

Winner
Myerson Solicitors
Sponsored by
Boss Office

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Champions of the Year

Winner
BCLP LLP
Sponsored by
Document Direct

Corporate / Commercial
Team of the Year

Winner
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Sponsored by
Shieldpay

Crime Team of the Year

Winner
Tuckers Solicitors North West LLP
Sponsored by
Forensic Equity Limited

Employment Team of the Year

Winner
Government Legal Department Employment Team
Sponsored by
Fletchers Group

Family Law Team of the Year

Winner
Hall Brown Family Law
Sponsored by
William James Recruitment Ltd

In-house Team of the Year

Winner
Peninsula Business Services Limited
Sponsored by
Fletchers Group

Litigation Team of the Year

Winner
TLT LLP
Sponsored by
Quantuma Advisory Ltd

PI / Clinical Negligence
Team of the Year

Winner
Manchester Arena Civil Litigation Team:
Hudgell Solicitors, Slater + Gordon Lawyers, Broudie Jackson Canter, Byrom Street Chambers, Temple Garden Chambers
Sponsored by
Blume

Private Client Team of the Year

Winner
JMW Solicitors LLP
Sponsored by
Hall Brown Family Law

Property Team of the Year

Winner
Fieldfisher LLP
Sponsored by
Landmark Information Group

Regulatory Team of the Year

Winner
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Sponsored by
Orca Call Answering & Live Chat

Unsung Hero of the Year

Winner
Suzie Sutcliffe, Hugh James
Sponsored by
Burton Copeland

Trainee / Paralegal / Apprentice / Legal Executive of the Year

Winner
Katie Southern
Tuckers Solicitors North West LLP
Sponsored by
Manchester Law School
Manchester Metropolitan University

Solicitor of the Year

Winner
Jenni Palmer
Government Legal Department
Sponsored by
Datalaw

Partner of the Year

Winner
Carol Couse
Mills & Reeve LLP
Sponsored by
Hugh James

Barrister / KC of the Year

Winner
Natasha Khalique
Exchange Chambers
Sponsored by
One Claims Management

Barristers Chambers of the Year

Winner
St John’s Buildings Chambers
Sponsored by
Weightmans LLP

Small Law Firm of the Year
(1-5 partners nationally)

Winner
Aequitas Legal
Sponsored by
Lawshare
(JMW Solicitors LLP)

Medium Law Firm of the Year
(6-20 partners nationally)

Winner
IMD Solicitors LLP
Sponsored by
Laurel AI

Large Law Firm of the Year
(21+ partners nationally)

Winner
Brabners LLP
Sponsored by
Miller Insurance Limited LLP

Lifetime Achievement

Winner
Darryl Cooke
gunnercooke LLP
Sponsored by
Manchester Law Society

Sustainability Leadership Special Recognition

Anthony Collins

The Judges

We selected a panel of highly successful and well respected individuals from the business, legal and academic community across the North West.

Alison Loveday

pro-manchester

Amanda Hedayati

University of Law

Andrew Toolan

Invest Manchester

Anna Mee

BPP University

Deborah Walker

Manchester Building Society

Edward Smethurst

Prosperity Law LLP

Fran Eccles-Bech

Manchester Law Society

HHJ Nicholas Dean KC

Honorary Recorder of Manchester Resident Judge, Crown Court at Manchester

HHJ Richard Pearce

Acting Designated Civil Judge

Ian McConkey

Manchester Law Society, Weightmans LLP

John Hyde

Law Society Gazette

Lucy Mulligan

Greater Manchester Chamber

Martyn Best

Document Direct & Legal RSS

Michael Taylor

TheBusinessDesk.com

Mike Ode

Potential Unearthed

Paul Wingfield

William James Recruitment

Professor Andrew Francis

Manchester Metropolitan University

Richard Hathaway

Shieldpay

Ruth Shearn

RMS PR Marketing & Design

“It is an absolute privilege to judge these awards. The legal talent displayed by firms of all sizes is truly astonishing. It’s so lovely to see the winners clutching their awards on the big night!”

Ruth Shearn
Judge and founder, RMS PR Marketing & Design

“A tremendously energetic and fun way to celebrate the incredible presence of the legal sector in the city region. Behind the raucous pursuit of fun and frivolity is a deadly serious and very thorough judging process to decide who wins. Quite frankly, I’ve never been to an awards event quite like it.”

Michael Taylor
Editor, The Business Desk

“Always a fabulous event.”

Ruth Peters
Business development director, Olliers

“When we found out we’d been shortlisted, there was a spontaneous round of applause in the office. It was super.”

Sara Barrett
Partner, Mills & Reeve

“To say it’s the highlight of our year wouldn’t be overplaying the importance of this occasion.”

Richard Bacon
Head of sales and business development, Shard Capital

“We were delighted to win, especially given the other fantastic firms we were up against.”

Clare Campbell
Partner, Leigh Day

“I’m over the moon and really proud. I couldn’t be happier.”

Jack Trowsdale
Paralegal, DWF

“These awards epitomise everything that’s great about Manchester.”

Andrew Francis
Sponsor and deputy pro-vice chancellor, Manchester Law School

“We do some very difficult and emotive work.I’m very honoured and deeply touched to have received this award.”

Kelly Darlington
Farleys

“We’ve been nominated three times and are absolutely delighted to have won this year. It’s amazing and we are ecstatic.”

Iwona Durlak
Senior partner, IMD Solicitors

“It’s a major deal to be shortlisted, let alone win. Manchester is a hardcore legal centre and we’re thrilled to have won.”

James Brown
Senior partner, Hall Brown Family Law

“The most vibrant and packed awards event I’ve ever been to. It’s fantastic.”

Ele Lovering
Senior partner, Evershed Sutherland

“The awards recognise and celebrate the best legal talent. As a legal recruiter, I have the pleasure to witness the breadth of talent in the north west and it’s incredible we have an event which celebrates and brings the legal community together.”

Louis Rosenthal
Sponsor and managing director, Interlink Recruitment

“Really good to celebrate the talent we’ve got in Manchester.”

Carol Spiller
Partner, Weightmans