Since the inaugural event in 2000, the Awards have gone from strength to strength; now in its 17th year, the event is a hotly anticipated event in the Yorkshire legal calendar
The ceremony, held this year at the New Dock Hall in the heart of Leeds, is organised by Barker Brooks Communications, publishers of Yorkshire Legal. The 2017 awards were hosted by television presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing winner, Chris Hollins, and preceded by a champagne reception and dinner.
Florit Brooke team members Miguel, Gemma and Andy at the 2017 Yorkshire Legal Awards
When the first Yorkshire Legal Awards was held back in 2000, the event was attended by a modest 200 guests. Each year since, the event has grown in both size and reputation; the 2017 Awards was by far the biggest yet, with 700 legal professionals dressing in their black-tie best to join the celebrations at New Dock Hall. We’ve heard it said that if the event grows any bigger next year, then (apart from some further creative space planning, like this year) the only other local venue big enough will be Leeds Arena…
If anything can quantify the growth of the Yorkshire Legal Awards’ reach and influence, it’s the knowledge that the 2017 Awards saw a 20% increase in entries on the previous year – any legal firm worth their salt knows that a Yorkshire Legal Awards trophy on their shelf is an indicator of their standing in the thriving regional legal sector.
This year, 63 firms, organisations and individuals were shortlisted for the Awards across 23 categories by a judging panel including the presidents of Law Society branches from across Yorkshire, as well as representatives from the JLD and senior partners from various regional law firms. With such a diverse and skilled range of entries this year, compiling the final shortlist must have been no easy task – we certainly don’t envy the judges!
We’d like to take a moment to congratulate all this year’s award winners, as well as those shortlisted in every category. With an increased number of entries in every category, competition was fiercer than ever this year; but with 23 award categories acknowledging everyone from the biggest corporate law firms to individual achievers and trainees, the breadth of the Yorkshire legal scene was well and truly accounted for.
Global firm DLA Piper was the biggest winner on the night, picking up three trophies including the Florit Brooke-sponsored Corporate and Commercial Award. West Yorkshire-based firm Ramsdens was also one of the night’s high achievers, winning awards in the Law Firm (11- 30 partners) and Residential Property categories.
We’d particularly like to extend congratulations to our clients who took home awards on the night:
Addleshaw Goddard, DAC Beachcroft, DLA Piper, Irwin Mitchell, Kempner & Partners, Mills & Reeve, Ramsdens, rradar, Walker Morris, and Woods Whur.
Our very best wishes to all those who entered, and all those who won!
Florit Brooke MD Miguel Florit presents DLA Piper with their ‘Corporate & Commercial Firm’ award at the YLAs
Four members of the FloBro team – directors Miguel and Tony, and fellow legal recruitment experts Andy and Gemma – got dressed up in their black-tie best to attend the Awards, and all enjoyed a fantastic evening (if the sore heads the next day were anything to go by!)
It was great to catch up with people we’ve placed and helped to fill roles, and the people we sat with from ARC Pensions Law, Bond Dickinson and Schofield Sweeney.
The Yorkshire Legal Awards may be a light-hearted evening at times, but it was also an opportunity for the legal community to collaborate in supporting a local charity doing valuable work across the county: the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Established the same year as the Yorkshire Legal Awards, the YAA saves lives across the county, often able to reach areas of Yorkshire’s diverse topography that are inaccessible by road.
As an independent charity, the YAA relies on the generosity of those who donate to continue providing its life-saving services, so its choice as the Yorkshire Legal Awards’ 2017 charity partner was richly deserved. And with nearly £4500 raised by the event, Yorkshire’s legal community can feel proud of its contribution towards keeping the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s helicopters flying.
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Florit Legal Recruitment is one of the top specialists in the search and recruitment of in-house legal counsel in the UK. We are among the best legal recruitment agencies for in-house legal jobs, general counsel, company secretary and head of legal appointments, and a reliable source of UK lawyer salary information and executive coaching for lawyers.
