The Annual Dinner 2024

The Annual Dinner – Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa

Friday 10 May 2024

What an amazing turnout. We have to give huge thanks to our fantastic sponsors: Barclays UK, No. 18 Chambers, Dye & Durham Corporation, Orion Legal Marketing, Review Solicitors, On Point Data, Finders International Probate Genealogists and Iceberg Group. Their valuable contributions and support allowed us to have a photo pod, a DJ, a professional photographer, pre-dinner drinks, dinner drinks and an awesome speaker.

This outstanding evening was at the Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa and we had a splendid 3 course meal alongside all the other entertainments (including a DJ) and then the presentation of the 2024 Legal Awards and a raffle to raise funds for our charity –Wessex Cancer.

Wessex Cancer Support (originally Wessex Cancer Trust) was formed in 1981 and was originally focused on raising funds for major projects and research. Improving the lives of people affected by cancer has always been at the hear of their work so in 2012 they expanded to start delivering community based services close to people’s homes. They have 34 cancer support centres along with a range of other non-clinical support services in this region. For more information on what they do and what they may need support with please visit www.wessexcancerg.org.uk.

Once again we were very fortunate to have some extremely generous raffle prizes donated and we finished on a high with these being drawn. We raised an amazing £745.00 for our charity which was very gratefully received. A brilliant effort by everyone to raise money for a very valuable local resource and charity.

We were also privileged to have an after dinner speaker: Shaun Jardine – a former litigation solicitor with a tilt towards mediation even before this became more mainstream. He is also involved in law firm management of a top 200 law firm. Shaun founded the Big Yellow Penguin in 2021 to try and help lawyers and law firms adopt up to date and more innovative practices including value

pricing with the aim of making lawyers’ futures more secure, both financially and operationally. In essence, Shaun’s message to us was to embrace change and act on it. Wise words indeed!

Following the above we had the 2024 Legal Awards. Very well done to all who were nominated and of course our Runners Up and Winners set out below:

WINNER Large Firm of the Year: Paris Smith LLP

RUNNER UP Large Firm of the Year: Stowe Family Law

WINNER Small Firm of the Year: Biscoes Solicitors

RUNNER UP Small Firm of the Year: Larcomes

WINNER Lawyer of the Year: Sarra Gravestock of Biscoes Solicitors

RUNNER UP Lawyer of the Year: Clare Strachan of Phillips Law

WINNER Junior Lawyer of the Year: Sam Longmore of Thrings Solicitors

RUNNER UP Junior Lawyer of the Year: Jade Bray of Stowe Family law

The evening continued following the formal part of the event with some relaxed social time and mingling. Lots of fun was had with the photo pod and some innovative dance moves to the DJ’s music. I believe the evening was a great success with plenty of laughs and entertainment. We very much hope that everyone had a great time and will join us again next year. ■