2026 Shortlist

Isabelle has been the driving force behind our first move in 20 years. She has completed it on top of her existing role and delivered a first class office which Chambers will be using for many years to come. None of it would have happened without her.

Many support professionals demonstrate excellent administrative skills; few combine those with Sasha’s depth of family law knowledge, instinctive understanding of client needs, commitment to developing colleagues, leadership in key operational functions and genuine dedication to the wider community. She consistently embodies the Brigstow Family Law’s values of professionalism, compassion, collaboration and excellence.

Practice Manager at St John’s Chambers,  Jordan Yandell goes above and beyond to support his barristers and their practices. Whilst balancing a busy a busy home life with a young daughter and a baby on the way, Jordan excels at managing busy diaries and the practice development aspects of a modern clerk with calm confidence and dedication.

Catherine founded Haworth Family Law which delivers completely free family law advice to victims of domestic abuse, and training on domestic abuse and the family court. She funds this entirely on her own and has assisted over 200 people in the first year of launching.

Faye Mepham, Trainee Solicitor at Simmons & Simmons LLP, is nominated for her exceptional pro bono commitment, including establishing and coordinating a strategic partnership with Missing People UK, and assisting NCDV, RNIB and Oxfam with work improving access to justice for vulnerable communities.

Rachel Wood is nominated for her outstanding contribution to pro bono across the West of England, as Co-Chair of the West of England Pro Bono Committee and Business and Law Clinics Director at UWE, where she strengthened regional engagement, supported key initiatives, and inspired future lawyers to embed pro bono in practice.

Summer Brown, Thrings’ first legal apprentice, has combined exceptional legal performance with academic excellence, handling complex, high-value property matters while helping shape a successful apprenticeship pathway for future lawyers. Her resilience, professionalism and impact on clients and colleagues mark her out as one of the firm’s most exciting emerging talents.

In four years, Raegan has progressed from Legal Secretary to Senior Paralegal at CMS Bristol, alongside studying CILEX qualifications. Her work ethic and efficiency sets her apart and she regularly takes responsibility for work typically undertaken by qualified lawyers and makes a huge contribution to colleague wellbeing and office culture.

Emma Orledge has shown exceptional determination, resilience and professionalism throughout her early legal career. While balancing academic study, a demanding caseload and significant caring responsibilities, she has become an invaluable member of Cobb Warren, delivering outstanding client service and demonstrating the commitment, ambition and potential of a future legal leader.

At just two years’ PQE, Kieran Grainger  has demonstrated exceptional technical ability, leadership and client care. He secured outstanding outcomes in complex personal injury claims, including a challenging brain injury case, while contributing to the wider profession through rehabilitation advocacy, mentoring, legal clinics, charity partnerships and community engagement.

Sam Longmore’s exceptional technical expertise, commercial impact and client care have earned him recognition far beyond his years. A Chambers-ranked private client lawyer at just three years PQE, he one of the South West’s brightest legal talents and is the junior every partner wants in their team.

Sophia has made an exceptional impact early in her legal career, securing life-changing SEND outcomes, improving Education Law systems, supporting junior colleagues and maintaining outstanding service during major caseload pressure. Her work combines specialist legal skill, resilience, leadership and a clear commitment to access to justice.

As Head of Department, Gillian Clark has combined outstanding legal expertise with exceptional leadership, securing life-changing outcomes in complex clinical negligence claims, including an eight-year stroke case. Alongside developing future talent and growing team performance, she has strengthened Bristol’s specialist injury community through mentoring, charity partnerships and sector engagement.

Judit Kerese combines exceptional technical expertise and client care with leadership that strengthens Bristol’s legal community. Promoted to Senior Associate during the qualifying period, she led a complex children matter to a life-changing outcome, mentors developing lawyers, delivers measurable pro bono impact and shares accessible family-law expertise with the public.

Sonya May is an exceptional corporate lawyer whose contribution extends well beyond her client work. During the qualifying period, she has combined leadership of complex, high-impact transactions with a sustained commitment to Bristol and Bath’s business and innovation communities, whilst playing a significant role in developing colleagues within her firm.

Abigail Ringer, a Bath-based partner in RWK Goodman’s Clinical Negligence team, has had an exemplary year not only supporting clients through highly complex and large-scale claims, but also championing the local community and wider legal profession while developing her team.

The Support & Rehabilitation team works with Irwin Mitchell’s legal teams to help clients access rehabilitation, healthcare, financial support, housing, equipment, and community resources following serious injury or illness. Through a holistic, client-centred approach, SRC’s promote recovery, independence, wellbeing, and improved quality of life for clients and their families.

We support mentorship within the team and encourage upskilling wherever available to enhance knowledge that can then be shared both within Chambers and by bespoke training externally.  Both of our junior clerks have been encouraged to self-develop as well as learn from Elaine and Marcus, and have started their respective courses via The Institute of Barristers Clerks in 2026.

We have shown what a modern professional support team can achieve. We have transformed the St John’s brand, created a new digital presence, delivered an ambitious events programme, strengthened relationships across the legal community and supported our barristers and Chambers through a period of significant growth and change.

Freeths’ Built and Natural Environment Team is making an impact in the Bristol area. Often innovative, they go above and beyond for their clients with work that makes a difference socially (St Philip’s Marsh Logistics and Distribution Hub) and environmentally (North Somerset Council Biodiversity Net Gain Habitat Banking Programme).

Osborne Clarke’s Bristol Corporate team delivers market‑leading corporate advice, underpinned by a strong, long‑standing presence in the South West business community. Acting for major clients on transformative deals across multiple sectors, the team combines innovation, multidisciplinary strength and outstanding client feedback, driving social impact and investment across the region today.

VWV’s Charity Law & Governance team supports its charity clients by using technical excellence, pragmatism and commerciality and deep sector understanding, with a focus on a wide range of charities and other social enterprises in and around Bristol, from historic local institutions to smaller community based organisations.

Since 2020, Burges Salmon’s partnership with Women’s Work Lab has helped unemployed mothers overcome barriers to sustainable employment through tailored placements, mentoring, employability training and Insight Days. The partnership has supported five placements, five mentoring relationships and 25 Insight Day participants, with 60% of placement participants progressing into permanent roles.

My mission is to make business development effective and enjoyable for all in Bristol. Harbour Run Club encourages first-timers to try running; BD Without Barriers is a safe space for those who usually struggle with events, and Founders Lounge connects isolated entrepreneurs with fellow founders who understand. Inclusivity and positive energy at the heart.

The CMS Bristol LGBTQ+ Committee’s project “The Importance of Community” loudly and proudly promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion and supports our trans friends and colleagues in a way which has a real impact on our office and the wider Bristol professional community.

Burges Salmon’s Responsible Business programme delivers lasting community impact across Bristol through volunteering, fundraising and strategic partnerships. Led by support for the Pony Farm Bus, alongside collaborations with Voscur and Avon Needs Trees, the firm’s people are helping create fairer opportunities, stronger communities and a more resilient future

Foot Anstey’s Bristol-focused social mobility programme combines strategic investment, employee volunteering and partnerships with Young Enterprise, the Foyer Federation, UWE Futures, Bristol Works and the West of England Legal Careers Network. Its work has supported hundreds of young people, building confidence, employability skills, enterprise capability and access to professional role models.

At Wards, community engagement is part of who we are as a locally rooted law firm. Across our 13 offices, we strongly support the people and places around us. Our support is wide-ranging, but there is a common thread: we particularly want to support people who are vulnerable, at risk of loneliness or who otherwise may be overlooked.

Buckles Law has embedded sustainability into every aspect of its operations, from achieving B Corp Certification and implementing a firmwide Environmental Management System to empowering employees through its Green Group and responsible procurement practices. Through measurable action, accountability and continuous improvement across all offices, including its growing Bristol office and the wider Bristol area, Buckles is building a more sustainable legal business for the future.

Clarke Willmott has embedded environmental sustainability across its operations through strong governance, science-based targets, and measurable action. Achievements include a 90% reduction in Scope 1&2 emissions, Bronze Carbon Literate Organisation status, 61 tonnes of CO₂e savings from employee pledges, the Clarke Willmott Climategames Challenge and impactful community environmental volunteering.

As a certified B Corp law firm, Freeths places sustainability and responsible business at the heart of its operations. Its Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability practice supports clients across environmental law, clean energy and sustainable development, delivering projects that advance ESG ambitions and contribute to a net-zero future.

University of the West of England, Bristol Legal and Contracts team has developed an innovative self-serve process for research contracts. This process has provided a streamlined contracting process by incorporating available self-serve templates and guidance. The team has created a solution focused approach aligning with strategic aims of the university.

The South-west Litigation Network, launched in Bristol in July 2026, connects government litigators across national teams. Through training, knowledge-sharing, mentoring and local partnerships, it strengthens litigation capability, reduces professional isolation, improves collaboration and increases GLD’s regional visibility. The practitioner-led model supports consistent advice and can be replicated across offices

Albion Chambers has strengthened client service, expanded its recruitment and development programs, celebrated a historic High Court appointment, increased its social impact and enhanced governance standards. Through sustained investment in people, clients and communities, Albion continues to demonstrate ambition, innovation and excellence across every aspect of Chambers life.

Working across the country, from the Bristol courts to the Supreme Court, Guildhall continues to enjoy a national reputation, but we are very firmly rooted in Bristol, supporting and investing in the region, its people and our clients. Guildhall is a busy, thriving, happy and successful place in every respect.

For the combination of legal excellence, client service, innovation, people development, community contribution, we believe St John’s Chambers is a compelling choice for Chambers of the Year 2026.

Brigstow exemplifies the best of a boutique firm. It has achieved sustained growth, strengthened its reputation across the region, expanded its team, invested in the next generation of legal talent and deepened its commitment to the local community, establishing itself as a leading family law practice in the South West.

Cobb Warren is a specialist housing management and property litigation boutique firm, delivering partner-led advice to housing associations across the South West. Combining sector expertise, exceptional client service and community commitment, the firm’s pragmatic, responsive approach has earned industry recognition and trusted adviser status throughout the social housing sector.

Estate Legal is a six-person Bristol boutique law firm achieving 37.9% revenue growth while delivering high-value local work and nationally significant property litigation. Directories ranked and director-led, we combine specialist expertise with exceptional client care, measurable community engagement, investment in Bristol talent and funded alternative CILEX pathways into the profession.

Rothley Law is a Bristol boutique specialising in private client law, including Court of Protection, Private Wealth, and Disputed Wills. By removing fee targets and ensuring partner-led care, the firm has achieved national recognition, doubled its Bristol team, and projected £2.75m in revenue for 2026.

Barcan+Kirby has had a stand-out year. Widening access to legal careers, investing in colleague wellbeing, developing talent from within, growing sustainability and making a visible contribution to the Bristol community.

Wards Solicitors stands out from the competition with its accessible High Street branch network and its focus on continually improving client service. In the qualifying period, this includes opening a new office in Yate, carrying out an extensive client listening programme, recruiting more lawyers, launching an apprenticeship scheme and linking with new charities and community initiatives.

Birketts’ Bristol office has rapidly established itself as a national force with deep local impact. In its first full financial year, it delivered exceptional growth, nationally significant client work, expanded specialist capability, meaningful community investment and inclusive talent initiatives, while showcasing Bristol’s legal expertise through its UK Top 50 platform.

Irwin Mitchell combines market-leading legal expertise with meaningful community impact. In Bristol, our nationally ranked top tier teams secure consistently excellent results for a diverse client base. The teams support local and national communities through charitable partnerships, advanced diversity and inclusion, and deliver nationally recognised advice from the South West.

RWK Goodman is a UK top 100 firm with heritage dating back to 1873, with Bristol and Bath key offices for the firm’s long term strategic plan and growth – amplifying local legal talent on a national and international stage. The firm has achieved record revenue in the previous financial year and marked strong growth in the Bristol office, setting a platform for further excellence as one of the region’s leading law firms.

To be awarded on the night!