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MLA 2026

The legal event of the year is back for 2026

Now in their 17th year, the Manchester Legal Awards are firmly established as the ‘go to’ legal event of the year.

Following last year’s successful move to the iconic Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, the awards ceremony will once again take place there on Thursday 2nd July.

Created to recognise and reward the wide range of skills and talent in the north west legal community, entries are encouraged from individuals, firms, in-house teams and chambers of all sizes.

Membership of the Manchester Law Society is not a requirement of entry and the awards are free to enter.

Charity partner

Greater Manchester Law Centre – Charity Partner

Media partner

The Business Desk

Event host

Manchester Law Society

Marketing partner

RMS PR

The Judges

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

Judges to be announced soon.

“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