DWF takes large firm crown at Manchester legal awards
DWF, one of the major winners in a tough legal market through the last few years, was crowned large law firm of the year at the annual Manchester Legal Awards.
The top 20 firm, which in the last 18 months has pulled off no fewer than four mergers and one acquisition, saw off competition from DLA Piper, Eversheds and Slater & Gordon in the large firm category at the dinner at Manchester’s Midland Hotel.
David Pickering, DWF’s executive partner for Manchester says: “We have been consistently growing our offering in Manchester and this award is great recognition of the hard work of our people and the ongoing support of our clients, both of which have made this achievement possible.”
There was success too for Spinningfields-based JMW, which picked-up the award for Medium Sized firm of the year after a continued period of successful growth under the leadership of Bill Jones and Joy Kingsley.
Bott & Co won the small firm of year, while Hale-based Blackstone Solicitors, in the headlines recently for its action on the behalf of clients of Iranian background against the banks, won the litigation award.
Court of Protection expert Hugh Jones, who left Pannone last year to launch his own firm, was awarded Partner of the Year.
Other winners were: Morgan Nash of DAC Beachcroft (legal executive); Coby Benson of Bott & Co (associate); Raana Afsarpour of Express Solicitors (trainee); Wilma Harriman of 9 St. John Street Chambers (Pro bono).
There were two awards each for Burton Copeland (crime and regulatory), recently-acquired Pannone (PI/Clinical Negligence and private client) and Eversheds (corporate and commercial and property).
Brabners won the employment law award, Deans Court chambers was named Barristers’ Chambers of the year, while veteran criminal law expert Michael Mackey of Burton Copeland won the lifetime Achievement Award.
