BLS Annual Awards Dinner 2021 – Shortlist announced!

Posted on15 September 2021

Congratulations to all the individuals, teams and organisations that were nominated this year with particular congratulations to those who were shortlisted by our judging panel. The outstanding quality of the nominations, made for some lively discussion and tough decisions for the panel!

Our thanks to the Judging Panel:

Nick Lee, Immediate Past President BLS; Erin Sawyer, Senior Vice President BLS; Sheldon Carlisle, Hays; Roger Isaacs, Milsted Langdon; Matthew Baker, Howden; Zara Nanu, Gapsquare, and HHJ Paul Matthews

Good Luck to all shortlisted candidates on 14th October! We look forward to celebrating with you!

You can download the shortlist here

Law Student of the Year
Sarah Barnes, University of the West of England
Laura Meredith and Eleanor Lewis (Joint), University of Bristol Law Clinic Inquest Team

Support Team Member of the Year
Siobhan Fagan, Senior Digital Marketing Executive, Barcan+Kirby
Catherine Smith, Head of Facilities, TLT

Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Award
Foot Anstey
IP Inclusive
Womble Bond Dickinson

Junior Lawyer of the Year
Sophie Brown, Cook Corporate
Grace Humphries, TLT
India Jenkins, Burges Salmon
Stephanie Pugh, Barcan+Kirby

Legal Innovators Award
Burges Salmon
Osborne Clarke

Chambers of the Year
3PB Barristers
Albion Chambers
Guildhall Chambers

Lawyer of the Year
Robin Denford, Bristol City Council
Joanna Newton, Stowe Family Law
Heledd Wyn, GL Law

Team of the Year
Property Team, GL Law
Stowe Family Law, Bristol
VWV approach/NET

Community Engagement Law Firm of the Year
Burges Salmon
DAC Beachcroft
Irwin Mitchell
Womble Bond Dickinson

Sustainable Business of the Year
Burges Salmon
Womble Bond Dickinson

Law Firm of the Year (Up to 20 Partners)
Barcan+Kirby
Cook Corporate
GL Law

Law Firm of the Year (Over 20 Partners)
Bevan Brittan
DAC Beachcroft
VWV

President's Outstanding Achievement Award

To be awarded on the night

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS