Legal Awards 2011 - Entering the home straight
Published Date: 17 January 2011
By David Lee

THE legal sector has shown great resilience in tough times - and Scotland is increasingly becoming a nation of specialist lawyers.

These are two of the conclusions drawn by the judges in the Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2011, after they named 29 different finalists ahead of the presentation dinner in March.

Judges were delighted by the number and quality of entries - up 30 per cent on last year.

John Campbell QC, a member of the judging panel, said:

"Firms are responding well to the recession and looking for new markets and opportunities in these difficult times. They are not just sitting back waiting for work.

"What stood out was the quality of the personal biographies, which highlighted a wide range of interesting work and an increasing move to specialisation"

Margo MacDonald MSP, who leads the panel, also praised some of the entries as "very interesting and innovative" and added:

"Judging is rigorous and fair. We spend a lot of time analysing entries before we meet to discuss the contenders as a panel, then debate the content of the submissions in detail.

"Many firms have adjusted well to changing business levels and, as such, we've noticed a surge in popularity in the litigation team of the year category, which produced nine finalists. We also reviewed the work of some very good legal specialists."

However, she added: "As always, some entries lack detail or are so bombastic they lack credibility. I urge any firm which hasn't made the finals to contact us for feedback. It is always the case that it's not the quality of the service that we question, but the quality of the entry."

Mr Campbell said it was about getting the balance right: "We don't want firms to go over the top, but in some categories the judges knew from their own experience that there were lots more positive things to be said ."

Areas such as banking, employment and family law attracted a disappointing level of entries. No award will be given in those categories this year.

The increase in entries will benefit Children 1st, as all entrants were invited to make a donation to the charity, which will also be boosted at the awards ceremony.

The event will be a black-tie dinner, rather than a lunch - at the EICC on Thursday 17 March. Guest speakers and entertainment will be announced in the coming weeks.

Only one finalist was selected for the Elevate Commercial Property Team of the Year, so there is no shortlist and the winner will be announced at the dinner - along with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, won last year by Lord Hope.

Scottish legal awards: Optimism is in the wind
Published Date: 08 November 2010
Source: The Scotsman

TWO new categories in the Scott+Co Legal Awards 2010 offer a microcosm of the legal market during the year - for good and for bad.

The Energy Team of the Year reflects the huge growth in activity in the renewables sector, enthusiastically supported by government and one of the few areas of the economy where investment and employment numbers look certain to grow considerably.

The Banking Team of The Year also returns to the awards for 2010 - and while firms have been involved in more "good banking" activity as the year has gone on, much of the work in the sector has focussed on restructuring and insolvency in the face of the worst economic conditions most lawyers can remember.

A third new category - the Innovation Award - will cut across energy, banking and much more. This award will go to a firm which has shown the qualities needed in the face of a recession - adaptability, resourcefulness and an ability to think differently.

One thing that judges will be looking for across all the categories, as well as innovation, is honesty - and genuine expertise in the award category.

Yvonne Brady, DLA Piper's head of restructuring in Scotland, explains: "The Scottish legal sector has been quite fleet of foot and moved fairly fast to adapt to the economic conditions. However, although restructuring and insolvency is not black magic, it does require certain skills and knowledge - firms cannot just re-badge their people from other areas.

"You need relevant experience - or to be learning from people who have been there before. This is the third recession I have seen - and although everybody thinks it's horrific, we will come out of it."

Martin Darroch, chief executive of last year's Firm of the Year Harper MacLeod, makes a similar point about businesses "re-badging". He says: "Legal firms can change their focus, but they have to remain true to what they are. If you pretend to be something you are not, you will be found out pretty quickly.

" This is particularly true in the field of renewable energy. One partner in a large Scottish firm says: "Lots of companies see pound signs in renewable energy, so they just declare themselves specialists in the field - but it can't just be about putting a 'green wash' on the firm. There has to be knowledge and substance."

One legal business that has joined up its thinking in renewable energy with the broader environmental agenda is Tods Murray.

The firm's Green Team brings together all its environmental disciplines - including everything from rural property matters to renewables.

Richard Leslie, partner and head of the Green Team, says there are huge opportunities for good firms. "Scotland has an opportunity to become a world leader in renewable energy," he says. "Over the past year, our team has been involved in a number of renewable energy projects, most notably in on-shore wind farms - including Europe's largest operational wind farm at Whitelee, near Glasgow - and hydro electric schemes and microgeneration projects."

Stuart Rowson, a partner in Tods Murray specialising in renewable energy, said: "Innovation holds the key to whether Scotland can capitalise on the vast renewable resources off its coasts - with a history of world-class inventiveness there's no reason why Scotland can't rise to this challenge."

Yvonne Brady thinks that the Scottish legal sector has been resourceful in the face of new challenges surrounding banking and insolvency practice - but warns that there are many new challenges ahead: "Generally, there is a holding pattern - no-one is doing anything too exciting or edgy. Everyone is waiting for the tipping-point if the economy fails to take a bounce and we see a big rise in business failure. No-one agrees when that might be - any time from the end of this year to the middle of 2012."

Ms Brady says that in terms of the distressed banking sector, there has been a shift away from property. "Until the end of 2009, there was a deluge of problems in the property sector - now there is more of a balance. The leisure sector has been quite badly hit but there have not been the number of retail failures predicted. What we are seeing generally is when businesses do fail, people are buying them - but there isn't sufficient momentum yet to say we are coming out of it.

"There are some clever players increasing their coverage and making some very strategic acquisitions. Massive projects are not happening but many firms still have money to spend."

The DLA Piper team was placed in Band 1 of the latest Chambers and Legal 500 listings for insolvency and restructuring practices. Dundas & Wilson, Shepherd & Wedderburn, Brodies and Maclay Murray & Spens are also prominent in the sector. One source said: "D&W have been a big player for years and Shepherd & Wedderburn have a good, in-depth presence."

Both Dundas & Wilson and Shepherd & Wedderburn also feature in Band 1 of the renewable energy sector of Legal 500 and Chambers, alongside McGrigors, who also feature in Band 2 of the oil and gas sector, an area still dominated by CMS Cameron McKenna.

Joy Glass, a partner in Scott+Co, main sponsor of the awards, sums up the character of the 2011 programme: "The Scottish legal business is looking forward with greater optimism than could have been predicted 12 months ago. With the pace of business picking up, the time is perfect for showing off skills and recognising triumphs."

Scottish Legal Awards 2011: It's quality that will shine through
Published Date: 25 October 2010
Source: The Scotsman
By David Lee

LEGAL firms that are adaptable and innovative can still win business and make decent profits - but the size of the business cake continues to shrink in a stagnant market.

That's the stark warning from the chief executive of the leading firm at last year's Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards as the hunt begins for the stand-out legal business of 2010.

The problems in the market were illustrated starkly by the surprise announcement by McGrigors last week that it was looking to shed 40 jobs across its UK operation. Most observers had suggested McGrigors' expansion into England and Northern Ireland, and Dundas & Wilson's solid retrenchment, had cemented their positions as Scotland's two legal powerhouses.

Before the news broke, one partner in a medum-sized firm said that McGrigors had made "bold strategic moves", with another senior legal figure feeling that they were "powering on". One said of Dundas & Wilson: "They are accustomed to making fundamental change and they have been fleet of foot." The other two of the traditional big four, Shepherd & Wedderburn and Maclay Murray & Spens were generally thought to have found it tougher, with Brodies supplanting S&W in fourth place in revenue. Bill Drummond, managing partner of Brodies LLP, said one key factor had been its long-term outlook.

He added: "Despite the level of business transactions in Scotland and much of the rest of the UK remaining depressed over the past year, our financial results for 2010 were remarkably solid, with a balance sheet demonstrating a strong capital base and increased cash balances.

We have stayed focused on our long-term plans and maintained and broadened our support to clients. That's involved working with clients to get the right services in place."

Martin Darroch, chief executive of Harper Macleod, Firm of the Year in the Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2010, said there was a lot of hard work ahead for the Scottish legal sector in a flat market.

"At the tail-end of 2008, firms were starting to react and see where the economy was going," he said. "In 2009, they made those reactions and that led to a reasonable amount of activity into early 2010.

"Now we are seeing stagnation and the legal sector is having to look at its cost base properly. Pricing has come down considerably and I cannot see it getting any lower.

If firms are doing the same amount of turnover with lower pricing, then that's growth."

Harper Macleod reported 8 per cent growth in its results in March, and Mr Darroch said price-cutting meant this figure should be seen as higher still.

He said law firms were in for "a very tough time" especially as the levers of power in the banking sector had shifted south and taken business with them. But he added: "The cake might be smaller but there are still good opportunities for good firms. It's about aligning your offering with what the marketplace wants and that does not always mean 'cheap as chips' - it's about quality and delivery."

Mr Darroch said firms doing well were those which were being true to themselves. "Pretend to be something you are not and you'll be found out quickly," he said. "You can change focus but you need to be true to what you are."

Robert Pirrie, chief executive of The WS Society and a member of the Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2011 judging panel, picked up a similar point about firms living up to their claims.

He said: "These remain challenging times. What's important is diversification balanced with maintaining existing strengths. This requires leadership combined with flexibility and adaptability. Despite what they tend to say about themselves, lawyers are not generally renowned for these qualities. The current market favours those who live up to their claims. These are the lawyers and the law firms the judges in the awards are looking for when they scrutinise the nominations."

Observers mentioned Harper Macleod and Burness as two other firms doing well. As in previous years, Harper Macleod won praise for taking a totally business-focused approach to the law, while Burness was one of only two Scottish commercial law firms whose profit and turnover increased in 2009-10. The other was Dickson Minto, which recorded a profit margin of 44 per cent. Dundas & Wilson, with a 41 per cent profit margin, was the only other law firm in the entire UK to go above 40 per cent.

Burness chairman Philip Rodney said his firm reacted to the meltdown of 2008 by "speaking to our clients and carrying out an internal review".

He made a similar point to Martin Darroch that clients did not always want "cheap as chips". Mr Rodney said: "Unlike some, we did not want to move in the direction of being the TK Maxx of law firms.

"Clients come to us because of the quality of our service, not because of our price. So the focus was on continuing improvement of the offering rather than buying work through discounting. It was also useful to have a spring clean and we saw some economies we could make while improving our efficiency.

Finally, we changed our profit-sharing arrangements, moving from being a pure lockstep to a managed lockstep with a bonus pool."

Craig Stirling, partner at Davidson Chalmers, said firms had to innovate: "What these tough trading conditions have demonstrated to us is the need to adapt and expand upon our existing range of services."

Firms that have innovated include HBJ Gateley Wareing, which continued to build its English presence by taking on 200 staff in Manchester after the collapse of Halliwells, and Anderson Strathern, which has just celebrated the first anniversary of opening in Aberdeen.

The criteria for the DX Firm of the Year award stress the need to show "how the firm reacted to changing market conditions" as well as showing "strategic business planning and market effectiveness".

New categories are revealed as Scottish Legal Awards 2011 is launched Published Date: 11 October 2010
Source: The Scotsman
By David Lee

Scotland's most prestigious legal awards programme has been launched - with a number of new categories to attract the country's most talented law professionals.

The Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2011 - now with 19 categories - had its preview party in Edinburgh's Signet Library, hosted by chief executive of the WS Society and Legal Awards judge, Robert Pirrie.

New categories include Banking/Restructuring Team of the Year award, targeted at teams of corporate lawyers working in the ever-changing landscape of lending and refinancing. Teams may be acting for banks in their own refinancing arrangements or companies going through their own restructuring.

Another newcomer is Energy Team of the Year, aimed at legal professionals advising traditional energy businesses or showing an innovative approach in the renewable energy field.

For the first time, judges will also recognise the work of Clerks and Practice Managers working for Scotland's advocate stables and organisations. With radical reform of the sector in recent years, these positions have become varied and multi-skilled, covering the areas of marketing, business management and business development.

The return of the Commercial Property Team of the Year reflects the growing levels of activity in this important area.

Finally, Scotland's lawyers are a big-hearted bunch and in recognition of this, the judges have created the Fundraising Achievement of the Year Award. This will go to the firm which has made a significant contribution to the community through its consistent and often imaginative approach to charity work.

Joy Glass, partner of Scott + Co, the main sponsors of the programme, said: "The legal business has learned from the recent challenges of the market and many are now in a stable and clear position which they will try to retain as activity levels improve. Many believe that the sector is in a position of relative strength this year. If firms can keep a steady hand on costs, maintain their marketing efforts to keep clients and retain their best staff, next year could be even better."

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which will take place in Edinburgh next March.

Joy Glass added: "The Scott+Co Legal Awards will give the legal sector a real opportunity to celebrate achievements this year in our annual celebration, which is undoubtedly the best legal event in Scotland."

Entries must be in by Friday 3 December at 5pm and will be marked according to five criteria: 1) Relevance to the category 2) Clarity 3) Evidence 4) Persuasiveness and 5) Effort in Preparation.

Entry is free but everyone is asked to include a voluntary donation to Children 1st, the Awards' charity partner 

The categories
o Advocates Clerk of the Year
o Banking Team of the Year
o Employment Team of the Year
o Fundraising Achievement of the Year
o GP Wolffe Family Law Team of the Year
o Grant Thornton UK LLP Litigation Team of the Year
o Energy Team of the Year
o Innovation Award
o Scottish Paralegal Association Paralegal of the Year
o Hotel du Vin Private Client Team of the Year
o ros.gov.uk Residential Property Team of the Year
o Elevate Commercial Property Team of the Year
o Public Sector Law Team of the Year
o Rising Star of the Year
o Specialist Lawyer of the Year
o Support Team of the Year
o Training Provider of the Year
o The Scotsman Lifetime Achievement Award
o DX Firm of the Year

Who's the best in the business?
Published Date: 27 September 2010
Source: The Scotsman

THE search for the very best in Scottish law begins this week with the launch of the Scott + Co Legal Awards 2011.

Guests from the profession are invited to attend a launch reception on Wednesday evening for the competition which recognises excellence across the legal services industry.

The event, at the Signet Library in Edinburgh, will be co-hosted by the WS Society and Heritage Portfolio and will welcome sponsors, judges and former winners to review the 2011 entry guide, revealed for the first time.

With more than 40 firms entering last year, the organisers are again looking for an upbeat response from all sectors, particularly from new or fast-growing firms and specialist individuals in the areas of banking, insolvency, energy services and advocacy. At the 2010 awards ceremony, Harper Macleod won the DX Firm of the Year Award - and won praise for its strategic handling of the downturn.

The focus will shift slightly this year to firms which are starting to reap the benefits from their performance during the tough times, as business starts to pick up.

Joy Glass, partner of Scott + Co, the main sponsors of the programme, said: "The announcement of the Scottish Legal Awards 2011 finds the industry in better shape and looking forward with great optimism. The pace of business is picking up and the time is perfect for showing skills. We are looking forward to some high-quality entries and celebrating the year's achievements."

Each year the Legal Awards reviews its categories following consultation with legal professionals. While popular categories will remain, some new awards will reflect the changing nature of business. This also means there will be some new faces joining the judging panel, again chaired by Margo Macdonald MSP.

The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2010 went to The Right Honourable Lord Hope of Craighead, while Simpson & Marwick collected two awards - Property Team of the Year, and Family Law Team of the Year.

The Scottish Legal Awards is sponsored by Scott + Co, ros.gov.uk, DX and The Scotsman. Entrance to the event is ticketed so please register your attendance by emailing info@thelegalawards.co.uk. Go to www.thelegalawards.com for more details.

The Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court collected a Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2010 held in Edinburgh On Friday 19 March 2010.

The Right Honourable Lord Hope of Craighead PC KT collected his award in person at the annual event which celebrates excellence and achievement in the Scottish legal profession.

Twelve other winners were also announced with Harper Macleod collecting the ultimate award of the day, the DX Firm of the Year Award 2010. The firm was commended for their strategic handling of the downturn and their upturn in turnover in 2009.

Edinburgh firm, Simpson & Marwick collected two awards for Property Team of the Year, sponsored by ros.gov.uk, and Family Law team of the Year, sponsored by Edinburgh design house Pointsize Wolffe.

In the team award categories, presentations were made to Paull & Williamsons of Aberdeen for Employment Team of the Year sponsored by PRG; Digby Brown won Litigation Team of the Year, sponsored by Grant Thornton; Morton Fraser won Private Client Team of the Year sponsored by Hotel du Vin and Biggart Baillie won Public Sector Law Team of the Year, sponsored by MCL.

Individual achievement was also recognised with shipping law expert, Ed Watt of HBJ Gateley Wareing collecting the hotly contended Specialist Lawyer of the Year, sponsored by Pilgrim Systems. Audrey Dishington of Pagan Osborne collected the award for Rising Star of the Year sponsored by Scottish Law Directory and Paralegal of the Year, sponsored by Scottish Paralegal Association, went to Mary Anne Swan of Scullion of Nicholas J Scullion & Co.

The Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards recognises and celebrates the nation’s most talented and aspiring lawyers and exists to promote the sector-leading work of the profession. The event also raises funds for Children 1st Scotland’s leading child welfare charity.

Joy Glass, Partner of Scott + Co, the title sponsors of the Scottish Legal Awards 2010, commented;

“The Scottish legal business is highly regarded all round the world, but too often we are reticent about singing our own praises. The current economic climate is not the time to be hiding our lights under bushels. Celebrating success is something we don’t do often enough in Scotland so we should overcome our customary modesty and recognise just how good we are and how well we deliver for clients.”

THE WINNERS IN FULL:
DX Firm of the Year
Digby Brown
Harper Macleod
Morton Fraser
Winner: Harper Macleod

The Scotsman Lifetime Achievement Award
The Rt Hon Lord Hope of Craighead PC KT

GP Wolffe Family Law Team of the Year
Winner: Simpson & Marwick

Law Society of Scotland Support Team of the Year
Ampersand
Millar & Bryce
Morton Fraser
Winner: Millar & Bryce

PRG Employment Team of the Year
Burness
Miller Samuel
Morton Fraser
Paull & Williamsons
Winner: Paull & Williamsons

MCL Public Sector Law Team of the Year
Anderson Strathern
Biggart Baillie
Harper Macleod
Winner: Biggart Baillie

Grant Thornton Litigation Team of the Year
Digby Brown
Govan Law Centre
Harper Macleod
HBJ Gateley Wareing
Winner: Digby Brown

Pilgrim Systems Specialist Lawyer of the Year
Alison MacNeil, Miller Samuel
Andrew Rigby, Brodies
Ed Watt, HBJ Gateley Wareing
Graham Walker, Road Traffic Law
Iain Nisbet, Govan Law Centre
Karyn Watt, Anderson Strathern
Winner: Ed Watt, HBJ Gateley Wareing

Scottish Law Directory Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Audrey Dishington, Pagan Osborne

Ros.gov.uk Property Team of the Year
Maloco + Associates
Morton Fraser
Simpson & Marwick
Winner: Simpson & Marwick

Scottish Paralegal Association Paralegal of the Year
Winner: Mary Anne Swan, Nicholas J Scullion & Co

Woods of Perth Training Provider of the Year
Central Law Training
The Law Society of Scotland
Winner: Central Law Training

Hotel du Vin Private Client of the Year
Archibald Campbell & Harley
Morton Fraser
Winner: Morton Fraser

Scotland’s most promising new comedian will give an exclusive Edinburgh performance at the Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards lunch and ceremony which takes place on Friday 19 March 2010.

Kevin Bridges, one of the UK’s hottest new comedians and guest star of BBC’s Mock the Week, has confirmed that he will perform to an audience of some 400 guests at the lunch and awards ceremony which takes place at the EICC.

His performance is a major coup for organisers as this event will be his only Edinburgh show despite a UK tour which starts in April in Hull and finishes in his home town of Glasgow where he will perform for 10,000 fans.

Bridges, who hosted a sell-out run at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and earned and Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination for Best Newcomer, has appeared on ‘BBC ONE’s Live at the Apollo’ and ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’.

Joy Glass, Partner at Scott+ Co, the sponsors of the Scottish Legal Awards, commented;

“Pundits predict that 2010 will be Kevin’s year so we’re delighted to secure him for the Legal Awards. He’s had an astonishing rise to prominence and is guaranteed to give the Legal Awards a lot of fun and laughter as we reveal our winners in this important competition.”

Fans of Kevin can watch an extended version of his show at Live at the Apollo to be shown on Saturday 13th February on BBC ONE at 9.45pm. He will also be appearing as a guest on Mock the Week on BBC ONE on Thursday 18th February. Agents acting for Bridges expect to confirm that he will also return to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010 performing two dates at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Bridges will be introduced on stage by master of ceremonies, Dougie Vipond, who returns to the event for a second year.

The Scottish Legal Awards competition is the national programme for recognising excellence in Scottish Law. Winners from 21 firms will be announced at the event and finalists include Burness, Biggart Baillie, Brodies are joined by HBJ Gateley Wareing, Morton Fraser, Harper Macleod, Digby Brown and Anderson Strathern. Complementing the field, a number of smaller firms have also been recognised with Miller Samuel, Maloco + Associates and Govan Law Centre also making an appearance.

Limited tickets for the event remain but can be booked by emailing isla@kdmedia.co.uk. Tables of ten cost £900 + VAT including wine and a three course lunch.


About Kevin Bridges

Bridges’ debut show reveals his inner-most thoughts on a variety of topics from his homeland of Scotland to the world beyond. His unique brand of social commentary, astute observations and sharp one-liners arguable make him the hottest comedian to come from Scotland in recent times.

In 2004, aged just 17, Kevin showed his natural gift for comedy when he took his first open mic spot. Now aged 22 his natural gift makes him a regular at major comedy events up and down the country. Kevin stars in the new series of Rab C Nesbitt and will also appear on Mock the Week this month.

Read the coverage in The Scotsman here
Read the article in The Edinburgh Evening News here

The finalists of the Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2010 have been revealed.

21 firms and companies have progressed to the awards finals of the prestigious programme which recognises excellence in the Scottish legal profession.

Firms large and small have been announced as finalists in 12 categories, covering major aspects of private practice in Scotland.

Burness, Biggart Baillie, Brodies are joined by HBJ Gateley Wareing, Morton Fraser, Harper Macleod, Digby Brown and Anderson Strathern. Complementing the field, a number of smaller firms have also been recognised with Miller Samuel, Maloco + Associates and Govan Law Centre also making an appearance.

Joy Glass, Partner at headline sponsor Scott + Co said,

‘Once again it was a privilege to be on the judging panel. Our judges this year were a lively mix of the established and some new faces. While the number of entries overall were marginally down on last year, the number of firms who had entered were up on 2009. Despite the tough economic times, it is clear that firms still see advantages in entering the Awards. The competitive environment has become more robust in the last twelve months, so picking up an award is extremely valuable in helping to attract new clients.

The shortlisted and winning entries are of a very high standard, showing that the Scottish legal industry has lost none if its capacity for effective, innovative work.’

The winning entries will be revealed at the awards ceremony on Friday 19 March 2010 at Edinburgh’s EICC when over 400 practitioners from across Scotland join to celebrate the legal profession’s most celebrated annual event.

The finalists emerged following the judges debate, a panel discussion of all the entries chaired by Margo MacDonald MSP. 14 experts from business, law and politics including Andrew Cubie, Michael Walker, former chairman of Maclay Murray Spens, and Professor Robert Black of Edinburgh University participated in the day’s events.

THE 2010 FINALISTS

The Hotel du Vin Private Client Team of the Year
Archibald Campbell and Harley
Morton Fraser

PRG Employment Team of the Year
Burness
Miller Samuel
Morton Fraser
Paull & Williamsons

Grant Thornton Litigation Team of the Year
Digby Brown
Govan Law Centre
Harper Macleod
HBJ Gateley Wareing

The Scottish Paralegal Association Paralegal of the Year
Mary Anne Swan, Nicholas J Scullion & Co.
Sarah Chambers, Archibald Campbell & Harley

The MCL Public Sector Law Team of the Year
Anderson Strathern
Biggart Baillie
Harper Macleod

Ros.gov.uk Property Team of the Year
Maloco + Associates
Morton Fraser
Simpson & Marwick

Pilgrim Systems Specialist Lawyer of the Year
Alison MacNeil, Miller Samuel
Andrew Rigby, Brodies
Ed Watt, HBJ Gateley Wareing
Graham Walker, Road Traffic Law
Iain Nisbet, Govan Law Centre
Karyn Watt, Anderson Strathern

The Law Society of Scotland Support Team of the Year
Ampersand Advocates
Millar & Bryce
Morton Fraser

Woods of Perth Training Provider of the Year
Central Law Training
The Law Society of Scotland

The DX Firm of the Year
Digby Brown
Harper Macleod
Morton Fraser

There will be no finalists announced for Family Law Team of the Year or The Scottish Law Directory Rising Star of the Year and the winners will be announced on the day.

The Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards lunch and ceremony takes place on Friday 19 March 2010. To book at table please click here.

LEGAL AWARDS SET TO RECOGNISE EXCELLENCE IN A NEW LANDSCAPE

Coping with a difficult market, winning in 2009 has been a boost for firms, writes The Scotsman’s Christopher Mackie

In March, minutes after Pagan Osborne had been named firm of the year at the Legal Awards 2009, an emotional chief executive, Alistair Morris, explained how much the accolade meant.

"When you read the newspapers and watch the television, you wonder if you are doing the right things, and something like this underlines that we are doing the right things," he told The Scotsman.

The prize came after a stressful 12 months for Mr Morris and his firm. Faced with dwindling residential conveyancing and financial transactions, the firm undertook a fundamental review of the way it did business, a process unflinchingly laid before the judging panel and one for which it got great credit.

As well as the top prize, Pagan Osborne picked up the Property Team of the Year award and staff member Fiona Shields was named Paralegal of the Year.

Reflecting on the achievement seven months later, Alistair Morris says winning the three awards gave his firm a boost: "The past 18 months have presented a different economic environment to operate in but the team has done a great job in adapting," he says. "The success at the awards reinforced that."

He continues: "It gave us the confidence we were going in the right direction, and eight months on I am pleased to say that belief was justified.

"The Scottish Legal Awards are an important event and highly regarded in the legal profession. I am still immensely proud of our success in such competitive categories."

The problems faced by Pagan Osborne were not uncommon in the law last year. The slightly subdued atmosphere at the awards ceremony was a clear recognition the sector had some challenges to overcome, but given the quality of the winners on show, it was clear it also had much to celebrate.

Not least was the calibre of its young lawyers. Unusually, the Rising Star of the Year prize was shared by two solicitors from the same firm, namely Alison Gilson and Stuart Clubb of HBJ Gateley Wareing.

Looking back, Mrs Gilson, a senior associate in the firm's corporate department says the hard work required to win the award had been worth it: "The recognition by the judges of the effort and progress I have made, and my impact within the legal fraternity, was great," she says. "The award is also testament to the confidence and support the firm has invested in me and which I am glad to have been able to repay."

Stuart Clubb adds: "It has been a challenging economic climate for all legal firms, but winning this accolade has certainly boosted my career and reputation, both within the firm and when dealing with both current and potential clients."

Elsewhere, Kim Patullo, a partner in the employment team at Shepherd+ Wedderburn, which also picked up an award, says the prize represented a recognition of the hard work done in the previous year, work that has continued since the ceremony. "Our success at these influential industry awards is a superb testimony to the team's strength, commitment and expertise," she adds.

Meanwhile, McGrigors, which won the Community Initiative of the Year prize, hopes that the recognition it achieved might spur other firms into thinking about their own corporate-responsibility offering.

Senior partner Kirk Murdoch says: "Everyone at McGrigors who volunteers their time and expertise gets a lot of reward from seeing the benefit of their work with the charities, schools and many other organisations that we support; but of course it also means a lot to see our efforts recognised at the Scottish Legal Awards and hopefully encourages other law firms to promote good CSR practices too."

And Martin Darroch, the chief executive of Harper MacLeod pays warm tribute to his support team after it picked up Support Team of the Year: "As well as supporting existing clients, recognition from the Legal Awards has helped supplement our service offering in attracting new clients."

Seven months on, as the awards programme for 2010 gets under way, some signs of optimism have begun to return to the law. The legal services bill has pointed the way for ambitious firms, and the Gill Review offered some hope that Scotland could indeed become a forum of choice for many litigators.

Despite ongoing reports of three-day weeks and unpaid leave among some firms, others have noted the first stirrings of a return to transactional work, offering hopes that this year's programme will be held in more positive times.

With firms now considering their applications, many will be pitching for the new categories on offer in the expanding programme.

As well as prizes for old favourites, such as Property Team of the Year and Employment Team of the Year, this year entries will be considered in four new categories.

Young Advocate of the Year will recognise achievement by outstanding individuals with up to seven years' experience in the field. Specialist Lawyer of the Year will be given to an individual who holds expertise within a specific area of law such as media or renewable energy.

The Training Provider of the Year gong has been introduced to reward excellent post-qualification training, and the Public Sector Law Team of the Year will offer recognition to a team that offers a consistent and reliable service to local authorities, government or related agencies.

The judges will also decide on another recipient for the lifetime achievement award, aware that whoever receives it will have some big shoes to fill.

In March, that award was given to Lord Mackay of Clashfern, a monumental figure in Scottish law, who described the accolade as "absolutely extraordinary".

* Criteria and guidelines for the Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2010 are available from www.thelegalawards.com. Nominations close on 2 December and the results will be announced at a ceremony on 19 March 2010

To read this article in The Scotsman click here.

FOUR NEW CATEGORIES MAKE IT INTO SCOTTISH LEGAL AWARDS


Firms will now be considering which of the 15 categories to enter in the Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2010. Included in this year’s line up are four new categories appearing for the first time.

The Young Advocate of the Year category has been developed to recognise outstanding individuals with up to seven years experience at the Bar. Confident, able and focused, this category will reward a Young Advocate who is determined to succeed.

The popular award for Specialist Lawyer of the Year returns to this year’s programme. It seeks to recognise an individual who holds expertise within a specific field for example renewable energy, charities, agriculture, technology or the media. The judges are looking for someone who is dedicated to the needs of a particular business or provides a unique resource within private practice.