Birmingham Law Society unveils awards shortlist

The shortlist for the 2023 Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards has been unveiled ahead of next month's ceremony.

Squire Patton Boggs, Weightmans and Irwin Mitchell are among those firms to receive multiple nominations across the 12 different categories.

Almost 60 individuals and firms have been named in this year's shortlist, with the winners set to be crowned at a ceremony on March 9 at the ICC.

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The judging panel was led by Martin Hall, managing director of M Hall Management, alongside Sarah Ramsey, dean at the University of Law in Birmingham and Anjum Khan, director of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce.

Further interviews with finalists will take place later this month ahead of the award ceremony.

Mr Hall said: "We were extremely impressed with the high quality of the submissions in 2023. All firms and individuals should be very proud of their submissions as it gave the shortlisting committee a very difficult but enjoyable challenge."

Birmingham Law Society President Tony McDaid added: "It is no surprise that the quality of entrants to this year's Legal Awards is so high.

"Birmingham is blessed with some of the legal sector's most influential and sector-leading firms and individuals - all of whom choose to flourish here in our city."

The 2023 shortlist is:

Trainee Solicitor of the Year

Monika Gagat, Squire Patton Boggs

Grace Hallam, Weightmans

Nikita Pierpoint, Bevan Brittan

Phoebe Smart, Irwin Mitchell

Sophie Warren, Shoosmiths

Apprentice of the Year

Caira Baker, Capsticks Solicitors

Alexander Bradbury, Squire Patton Boggs

Sinead Jones, Kennedys Law

Tom Reeves, Weightmans

Renee Tombs, Bevan Brittan

Paralegal of the Year

Manaar Dayoub, Capsticks Solicitors

Liberty Green, Weightmans

Raipreet Singh Phull, Weightmans

Chanel Quigley, Anthony Collins Solicitors

Hayley Webb, Greens Solicitors

Solicitor of the Year

Michelle Chapman, Irwin Mitchell

Fiona Farrell, Irwin Mitchell

Mariyam Harunah, Squire Patton Boggs

Jonathan Lewis, Capsticks Solicitors

Sharon Thandi, Devonshires Solicitors

Barrister of the Year

Marc Brown, St Philips Chambers

Louise Corfield, No5 Barristers' Chambers

Aimee Fox, 3PB Barristers

Yolanda Pemberton, St Philips Chambers

Alexander Pritchard-Jones, No5 Barristers' Chambers

Partner of the Year

Ruth Griffin, Gowling WLG

Mark Hands, Irwin Mitchell

Ian Jones, Spencer Shaw Solicitors

Christopher Plumley, Trowers & Hamlins

Shivaji Shiva, VWV

Pro Bono Award

Elena Goodfellow, Bevan Brittan

William Horwood, St Philips Chambers

Sibon Phiri, United Legal Access

Faizan Sadiq, Greens Solicitors

Equality and Diversity Award (Law firm)

Bridging the Bar, 3PB Barristers

Capsticks Solicitors

Shakespeare Martineau

Squire Patton Boggs

Thursfields Solicitors

In-House Award

Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Bal Atwal, West Midlands Police

Tamina Greaves, Crown Prosecution Service

Neena Janda, Zappi

Kuldip Kaur, HSBC

Law Firm of the Year (Sole practitioners and firms up to five partners)

Chase Morgan Solicitors

Fountain Solicitors

Neil Davies & Partners

Spencer Shaw Solicitors

Tenet Compliance & Litigation

Law Firm of the Year (Regional)

Enoch Evans

George Green

Higgs

Sydney Mitchell

The Wilkes Partnership

Law Firm of the Year (National)

Anthony Collins Solicitors

Gateley Legal

Gowling WLG

Shoosmiths