2025 Winners

Amy Angilley is a driving force of Thrings’ Quality & Risk team. A catalyst for positive change, she’s led firm-wide AML and ESG reforms, mentored new starters, and earned trust across the firm through her legal insight, warmth, and leadership.

Charlie Fearnley is shortlisted for her significant contribution to the GLD Bristol office and her work as a champion of mental health, Mental Health First Aider, culture and behaviour champion and contributor to the work and wellbeing of her colleagues.

Hannah Larkin has worked as a Records and Archiving Coordinator since 2019. During the last year, Hannah has drastically improved efficiency across the firm destroying files, creating an in-house Wills store and uploading 90% of paper files online. Hannah also supports reception, and the Paperlight committee with positive contributions.

In his many years of volunteering, Paul has advised hundreds of individuals, offering specialist family law advice. He has exemplified dedication, reliability and care in his advice sessions. We are grateful for his volunteering that helps people who would otherwise struggle to access the legal advice they need.

Robert Allen, Pro Bono Partner Lead at Simmons & Simmons, has shown unwavering commitment to helping local charities in Bristol, supporting strategic legal funding for migrants facing discrimination, and championing environmental causes, creating a positive and long-lasting impact for individuals and communities most in need of legal help.

Robyn’s journey at Barcan+Kirby showcases her dedication, rapid progression, and commitment to excellence. Starting as a Receptionist in 2016, she advanced to Senior Paralegal, excelling in conveyancing and completing CILEX studies. Beyond her expertise, she mentors colleagues and supports trainees, embodying leadership and client care, making her a true ‘Rising Star.’

Connor’s commitment to social justice is at the heart of  everything he does. Connor is deeply committed to the work he does and the trade union clients he represents. He is a talented and energetic lawyer driven by his political beliefs and desire to fight injustice.

Darcy Lilley is an outstanding newly qualified solicitor with a great future in law. Her legal insight, emotional intelligence, and drive have led to valuable contributions on nationally significant environmental projects and complex land disputes with her authenticity, resilience, and client focus really setting her apart.

Sophie has consistently exceeded expectations since joining in November 2022. She has managed high-value transactions, supported major infrastructure projects, and contributed to team development. Her work on the Bristol Heat Networks project and the sale of a Travelodge hotel highlights her exceptional legal skills and commitment to sustainability.

Dan Gibson, an Associate in Commercial Dispute Resolution, has led a high-profile defamation case with strategic precision and empathy, securing a successful settlement and media takedowns. His early qualification, legal acumen, and collaborative nature make him a standout junior lawyer, shaping best practice in reputational risk and complex litigation.

Kiran Maher is a top-performing associate in Thrings’ Planning and Environment team with legal wins spanning nationally significant planning work and High Court success. Active in Bristol Junior Chamber and the Ethnic Solicitors Network, Kiran combines legal excellence with community impact and a vibrant presence at Thrings.

Deborah Carrivick is not only a widely recognised expert in her field of International Private Client law, but also a people-first leader. In the past year, Deborah has successfully launched the firm’s Bristol office, while maintaining a reputation for delivering outstanding client counsel in an increasingly complex area of law.

Judit has made a profound impact both within the firm and the wider sector. She consistently achieves excellent results and contributes to team success. She is a thoughtful mentor and role model. Her commitment to excellence, support for clients and colleagues and leadership potential make her an outstanding solicitor.

Richie Rees is a Senior Associate in Thrings’ Agriculture team delivering landmark litigation wins and built a niche rural practice. A mentor and culture-builder, Richie supports new starters, leads training, and brings colleagues together, making a lasting impact both legally and personally.

Enable Law’s Bristol specialist Personal Injury Team has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2019.

The team now boasts nine fee-earners and a team that is nationally-renowned for its high-value personal injury work, and its bold and fearless approach to taking on – and winning – the most complex cases.

The Bristol Employment Rights Team, Edward Williams and Rachael Goddard-Rebstein, played a pivotal role in delivering important legislative reforms, and their expert legal advice helped drive forward legislation with significant wider impact across the country.

The Thompsons’ South West Clinical Negligence team is based in the heart of Bristol and is one of many specialist teams nationally within Thompsons who are repeatedly recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for their specialism in this legal field. The South West team is well versed in a wide spectrum of complex clinical negligence disputes, but is perhaps best known for its expertise in group claims and cases of maximum severity. Thompsons is proud to be recognised as the leading legal advisers to the trade union movement and remains committed to campaigning to create positive change for mistreated and injured people and to accessing justice for all.

Leah, founder of The BD Partner, leads initiatives that remove barriers to BD participation, promote mental wellbeing, and champion inclusion in the legal sector. From accessible networking events to cross-firm wellness clubs, her work inspires collaboration, celebrates diversity, and creates lasting cultural change across the Bristol and Bath legal community.

Our Early Careers strategy focuses on making the legal sector accessible.  Through data-driven recruitment, impactful school outreach, and tailored trainee support, Michelmores is outperforming national benchmarks for social mobility. With measurable success and deep internal commitment, we’re creating a more inclusive, supportive, and accessible pathway into the legal profession.

Burges Salmon lives and breathes responsible business. Our authentic, collaborative community engagement and our focus on our charitable theme ‘Fairer Futures for Young People’ is delivering tangible impact. From £424,000 and 3,400 volunteer hours invested in our communities to partnerships with Young Bristol, we inspire the next generation.

Foot Anstey’s partnership with My Future, My Choice delivers Curious About Law and Finance, a pioneering programme inspiring 8–12-year-olds in Bristol to explore law and finance careers. Through card decks, videos and school engagement, the initiative promotes social mobility, ambition, and long-term impact, creating a scalable resource for thousands of young people.

Sustainability is central to DAC Beachcroft’s strategy, underpinned by a firm-wide commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2030. Our recent move to the Welcome Building in Bristol has marked a significant milestone in our environmental journey and sets a new bar for future-focused, low-impact workspaces.

Freeths, the UK’s largest B Corp law firm, leads in sustainability and ethical governance. Its Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability practice drives impactful change across environmental law, clean energy, and sustainable development, while supporting clients’ ESG goals and progressing toward net-zero.

Maui is TLT’s strategic GenAI programme, designed to embed AI into legal practice through a people-centred approach. Using a three-stage strategy—Adopt, Adapt, Adept—it builds firm-wide expertise, enhances client delivery, and fosters innovation. Results include faster turnaround, cost savings, and a culture of confident, values-led AI adoption.

VWV’s firmwide AI Accelerator embeds practical AI into legal delivery through three pillars: Literacy, Champions and an Adoption Framework centred on our Mosaic platform. Between Nov 2024 and Aug 2025, it delivered repeatable, practice centred skills measurable time savings and quality gains across teams, accelerating AI adoption, consistency and value.

This nomination highlights Albion’s focus on ‘doing the right thing’ in supporting our membership and staff to deliver a first-class service. We are a progressive and ambitious set, always looking for ways to adapt to the ever-increasing challenges presented to the independent Bar.

Working across the country, from the Supreme Court to the District Bench, Guildhall continues to enjoy a truly 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 and successful place in every respect.

Following on from last years unprecedented growth, Chambers continues to go from strength to strength. Chambers continues to maintain our traditional, village feeling alongside this growth which is testament to the members and staff.

Sedgwick Legal Services has grown its client base by 85%, gained 220% more instructions, and expanded its legal team by 40% through innovative service developments in specialised areas of insurance recovery work. This dynamic growth creates more local job opportunities and highlights Bristol as a centre for insurance litigation talent.

Founded in 2012, The Family Law Practice (‘TFLP’) was the first boutique firm to specialise in Family Law in Bristol.  The firm has grown since its inception with 7 practicising solicitors, including 3 directors. It quickly established itself locally and nationally as a leader in its field, and is recognised in both Chambers & Partners as well as Legal500.

In the past year, as we celebrated our 10th anniversary and welcomed new leadership, Barcan+Kirby achieved strong financial growth while deepening community engagement and staff development. With Commercial division expansion, charitable projects, academies, apprenticeships, and new tech-led initiatives, we continue to drive innovation, efficiency, and strategic growth.

As we celebrate 120 years in business, 2025 is proving to be a big year for Wards.  Our established reputation means we have continued to grow as a trusted firm, we have one of the largest and most respected Wills and Probate teams in the South West, and a loyal, committed workforce – people join us and stay with us.  We recently opened our new Clifton branch, and our brand new Bristol city centre office which brings our Bristol teams under one roof for the first time.

Leading commercial law firm Bevan Brittan has achieved twelve consecutive years of revenue and profit growth. Teams in Bristol and beyond support clients across construction, energy and resource management, higher education and financial services. This complements our market leadership within housing, local government and health and social care.

Defined by exceptional client service, an inclusive culture and a collaborative, innovative approach – the firm has seen strong financial growth, delivered excellent results for clients and is making bold moves with its responsible business agenda. Combining national scale with local knowledge, the firm delivers outstanding outcomes for clients and communities.

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.