Success for Jones, Holt and Addleshaws at legal awards
MANCHESTER lawyers Bill Jones of JMW and Emma Holt of Pannone were the major individual winners at last night’s Manchester Legal Awards.
Mr Jones, senior partner at JMW Solicitors, was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award, while Emma Holt, managing parrner of Deansgate-based Pannone was recognised as Partner of the year.
Jones set up JMW Solicitors in 1978 as Jones Maidment Wilson, mainly offering legal aid and criminal advocacy. The firm now has more than 30 partners and 145 staff. He said: “I am very proud to receive this most prestigious award. I am very lucky to work with so many talented and committed people and over the years we have together made JMW what it is today.
“Manchester has great talent in the legal sector and to receive this outstanding achievement award is a great honour.”
More than 500 people from across the city’s legal scene attended the event, organised by Manchester Law Society, at the Midland Hotel.
Addleshaw Goddard won a hat-trick of awards – included the coveted title of Large Law firm of the year. Its other wins were in the litigation team and pro bono categories.
It was a night of success too for Pannone – which is in the throes of major change under the leadership of Emma Holt.- the firm’s Stephen Cook was named Property partner of the year, while Gemma Harrison won Trainee of the Year.
George Davies beat stiff competition to take Medium firm of the Year, while
Cheadle firm Abney Garsden Mcdonald – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – won Small Firm of the Year.
David McGlennon, general counnsel and company secretary at listed telecoms group Daisy, which is based in Nelson, Lancashire, won the In-House Lawyer of the Year.
His former firm Eversheds, won the prestigious Corporate/Commercial Team of the Year award, while the firm’s David McGuirk was named Associate of the Year.
Other winners were: Legal Aid Lawyer: Ben Taylor of Glaisyers; Barristers’ Set: Kings Chambers; Private Client Firm- Russell Jones and Walker; Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence lawyer – Clare Stevens from Hillary Meredith; Crime/Regulatory lawyer of the Year- Matt Claughton of Olliers; Employment: Paul Chamberlain from Brabners Chaffe Street; Legal Executive of the Year: Stuart Cartwright of JMW.
