Each year the Manchester Legal Awards recognise and rewards the wide range of skills and talent in the North West. The written submissions for the varying categories were submitted at the end of 2019 and shortlists were revealed in early January with final interviews taking place on the 19th January.
Burton Copeland were shortlisted for Small Law Firm of the Year and Hannah Costley was once again shortlisted for Trainee/Paralegal/Apprentice of the Year.
Each year hundreds of members of the legal fraternity descend upon the Midland Hotel in Manchester for the prestigious and glamorous black tie award ceremony where leading lawyers are recognised for their work throughout the year.
This year was no exception and Burton Copeland is delighted to have won in the category Small Law Firm of the Year. The firm which started life over 30 years has undergone many changes throughout the years and Managing Partner Louise Straw has seen and been involved in many of those changes.
“When I joined Burton Copeland it was a one stop shop for legal services. As well as dealing with its core practise of criminal law we dealt with many other areas such as conveyancing, licensing and personal injury. There have been many changes and developments in the law since I joined Burton Copeland and changes in the way that solicitors are paid for the work that they do. In criminal law those changes have been radical and has meant that the firm has had to adapt and adjust to changes in the legal landscape”
With 22 lawyers, Burton Copeland is no longer a “one stop shop” for legal services but is now a bespoke and specialist firm in particular areas of the law and concentrating on:
- Criminal law with a particular specialism in serious and complex crime
- Motoring and road traffic law
- Regulatory and professional discipline
- Public inquiries and inquests
We don’t do everything, but we are the best at what we do.
Senior partner Gywn Lewis said;
“The firm has evolved from what it was when I joined and although it is fewer departments it has developed and progressed significantly. We don’t do everything, but we are the best at what we do and I’m extremely proud that this has been recognised again by the Manchester legal awards again this year”
Full list of winners
- Trainee/Paralegal/Apprentice of the Year Award – Annie Hennis, Trowers & Hamlins LLP
- Solicitor of the Year Award – Amanda Lea, DWF Law LLP
- Pro Bono/Community Initiative Award – Irwin Mitchell LLP
- Law Firm Innovation Award – TLT LLP
- Corporate/Commercial – Team of the Year Award – Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
- Crime – Team of the Year Award – Mortons Solicitors Ltd
- Employment – Team of the Year Award – TLT LLP
- Family – Team of the Year Award – AFG Law
- Litigation – Team of the Year Award – Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
- Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence – Team of the Year Award – CFG Law
- Private Client – Team of the Year Award – Hugh Jones Solicitors
- Property – Team of the Year Award – Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
- Regulatory – Team of the Year Award – DWF Law LLP
- Barrister of the Year Award – Jaime Hamilton QC, Nine St John Street
- Barristers’ Chambers of the Year Award – St John’s Buildings
- Partner of the Year Award – Ian Lewis, JMW Solicitors LLP
- Law Firm of the Year – Small (1-5 partners nationally) Award – Burton Copeland LLP
- Highly Commended – Hugh Jones Solicitors
- Law Firm of the Year – Medium (6-20 partners nationally) Award – Horwich Cohen Coghlan Solicitors
- Law Firm of the Year – Large (20+ partners nationally) Award – Irwin Mitchell LLP
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Devlin