Shortlist announced for Manchester legal awards

THE shortlist has been announced for the annual Manchester Legal Awards.
Ambitious firm JMW Solicitors is shortlisted in no fewer than eight categories, with nominations including medium-sized firm of the year, associate of the year and partner of the year, where senior partner Joy Kingsley will compete with Hugh Jones of Hugh Jones Solicitors, DLA Piper corporate partner Elia Montorio, and Chris Murray from Clyde & Co.
Reflecting the changing legal landscape in the city there are maiden nominations for several firms including Court of Protection firm Hugh Jones Solicitors, which was founded last year after Mr Jones left Pannone.
Other new names in the frame include Slater & Gordon – the Australian consolidator which in the last two years has swallowed up the likes of Russell Jones & Walker and Fentons and is nearing completion on a deal to buy the bulk of Pannone.
Winners will be announced at a dinner in March.
The list of finalists are:
Corporate/Commercial Team of the Year
DLA Piper
Eversheds
JMW Solicitors
Turner Parkinson
Associate of the Year
Coby Benson, Bott & Co
Michael Buchanan, Eversheds
Jennifer Smith,, JMW Solicitors
Jennifer Corris, Roberts Jackson Solicitors
Crime Team of the Year
Burton Copeland
Farleys Solicitors
Hill Dickinson
Large Firm of the Year
DLA Piper
DWF
Eversheds
Slater & Gordon
Regulatory Team of the Year
Burton Copeland
Slater & Gordon
Weightmans
Barristers Chambers of the Year
9 St John Street
Deans Court Chambers
St Johns Buildings
Lincoln House Chambers
Property Team of the Year
Eversheds
Gorvins Solicitors
Trowers & Hamlins
Litigation Team of the Year
Blackstone Solicitors
Eversheds
JMW Solicitors
Weightmans
Trainee of the Year
Raana Afsarpour, Express Solicitors
Daniel Collin, Hill Dickinson
Anoushka Shepherd, JMW Solicitors
Tom Slinger Ward Hadaway
PI/Clinical Negligence Team of the Year
Irwin Mitchell
JMW Solicitors
Pannone
Private Client Team of the Year
Hugh Jones Solicitors
JMW Solicitors
Pannone
Slater & Gordon
Medium Firm of the Year
Croftons Solicitors
JMW Solicitors
Kuits Solicitors
Turner Parkinson
Partner of the Year
Hugh Jones, Hugh Jones Solicitors
Joy Kinglsey, JMW Solicitors LLP
Elia Montorio, DLA Piper UK LLP
Chris Murray, Clyde & Co LLP
Small Firm of the Year
Bott & Co
e3 employment law
Just Costs Solicitors
Mason Hayes Solicitors
Pro Bono/Community Initiative of the Year
DLA Piper
Eversheds
9 St John Street Chambers
Legal Executive of the Year
Karen Barker, SAS Daniels
Morgan Nash, DAC Beachcroft
Paul McGladdery, Nexus Solicitors
Rachel Oldham, Weightmans
Employment Team of the Year
St John Street Chambers
Brabners
DLA Piper
Eversheds