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SLS AWARDS 2024
SLS AWARDS 2024
On Thursday, 3rd October 2024, Surrey’s legal community gathered once again for a night of celebration and recognition at the prestigious Surrey Law Society’s SLS Legal Awards sponsored by Evelyn Partners, which returned to G Live in Guildford. With 265 attendees, including finalists, judges, sponsors, and distinguished guests, the event continues to grow as a showcase of the exceptional talent and hard work within Surrey’s legal sector.
Guests enjoyed a gala dinner and drinks reception, with a chance to experience the evening’s entertainment, sponsored by Clio, which featured everything from live music by The Knights of Swing to close-up magic, a caricaturist, casino tables, and a 360-degree photo booth.
The evening began with a warm welcome from SLS President, Dawn Lawson, who introduced the night’s proceedings and expressed her gratitude to sponsors, participants, and the wider legal community. She also took the opportunity to award a special recognition to Rosewood Solicitors, for their exceptional work over the year in promoting Access to the Profession.
As the night unfolded, the focus shifted to celebrating the outstanding achievements of the 56 finalists across 12 categories. This year’s awards saw fierce competition and a difficult task for the 13 judges who selected the winners from a truly remarkable group of nominees.
We were delighted to offer congratulations to all our very worthy finalists, but in particular to our winners and highly commended nominees, who were:
• Family Law Team of the Year: Winner - DMH Stallard LLP;
Commendation - Russell-Cooke Solicitors
• Private Client Team of the Year: Winner - Russell-Cooke
Solicitors
• Property Law Team of the Year: Winner - Howell-Jones LLP;
Commendation - Peacock & Co Solicitors
• Client Experience Award: Winner - Nichols Marcy Dawson;
Commendation - Russell-Cooke Solicitors
• Junior Lawyer of the Year: Winner - Niamh Phelan, Peacock &
Co Solicitors
• Support Team Member of the Year: Winner - Ashley Burrow,
Meadows & Co; Commendation - Lauren Keir, Rosewood
Solicitors
• Employer of the Year: Winner - Rosewood Solicitors
• Team of the Year: Winner - DMH Stallard LLP (Corporate
Team Guildford); Commendation - Moore Barlow (Wealth
Disputes Team)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Winner - June Venters KC,
Venters Solicitors
• Lawyer of the Year: Winner - Victoria Clarke, Elite Law
Solicitors; Commendation - Karin Walker, KGW Family Law
• Law Firm of the Year (Under 20 Fee Earners): Winner -
KGW Family Law; Commendation - Rosewood Solicitors
• Law Firm of the Year (20+ Fee Earners): Winner -
DMH Stallard LLP; Commendation - Peacock & Co Solicitors
The evening was filled with joy and celebration, not just for the winners but for everyone who has contributed to Surrey’s vibrant legal landscape. Special congratulations go to DMH Stallard LLP, who took home the prestigious Law Firm of the Year Award (20+ fee earners) and to June Venters KC, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for her remarkable contribution to family law and the Surrey legal community.
Our silent auction, held in aid of Cancer Research UK, was another highlight, with generous donations from attendees making a significant impact for this worthy cause.
In conclusion, this year's Legal Awards exemplified the best of Surrey’s legal professionals, with an evening of fun, networking, and celebration. A special thank you goes out to our sponsors, whose generous support made this event possible:
Headline Sponsor & Sponsor of the Law Firm of the Year Award: Evelyn Partners
• Entertainment Sponsor & Support Team Member of the Year
Award - Clio
• Law Firm of the Year (Under 20 Fee Earners) Award -
ReviewSolicitors
• Lawyer of the Year Award - Verify 365
• Client Experience Award - insight6
• Employer of the Year Award - On Point Data
• Family Law Team of the Year Award - Guildford Chambers
• Junior Lawyer of the Year Award - Actionstep
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Pro Drive IT
• Private Client Team of the Year Award - Ochresoft
• Property Law Team of the Year Award - Landmark
Information
• Team of the Year Award – NetDocuments
We look forward to continuing this tradition next year and celebrating more of Surrey’s incredible legal talent. We very much hope that you get involved in our 2025 Awards programme, the categories will be announced in the coming months, so be sure to start thinking about who you might like to nominate! ■
A Night to Remember
The Results are in!
CLIENT EXPERIENCE AWARD:
Winner: Nichols Marcy Dawson LLP with Paul Matthews (insight6)
The judges commented, ‘the winning firm has demonstrated the outcomes of its investments in people and resources to achieve praiseworthy, positive impact for the clients, and others, in the community that it serves. They show themselves to be a creative and client-centric firm who are not happy to 'rest on their laurels' and strive for continuous improvement’.
Highly Commended Nominee: Russell-Cooke Solicitors
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Rosewood Solicitors with Kevin Johnson (On Point Data)
The judges commented, ‘in a highly competitive contest, the scores for all submissions were incredibly close highlighting the fantastic employers within the Surrey Law Society membership. Eventually the winning firm was agreed, after they ably demonstrated how small firms can offer their staff a highly supportive and nurturing work environment, just as much as their larger counterparts’.
FAMILY LAW TEAM OF THE YEAR:
Winner: DMH Stallard LLP with Suzanne Kelly (Guildford Chambers)
The judges commented, ‘the winning firm clearly offers an excellent service to their clients as well as making a huge contribution to the community. This quality shines out from the testimonials from their clients and from other lawyers’.
Highly Commended Nominee: Russell-Cooke Solicitors
JUNIOR LAWYER OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Niamh Phelan (Peacock & Co Solicitors) with John Gomez (Actionstep)
The judges commented, ‘in a category notable for the drive and leadership of its nominees, the winner stood out for the way they have taken on extra responsibility, been prepared to go above and beyond for their firm and is trying to use their experience to help and support others. A great team player and obviously highly regarded as a lawyer by colleagues and clients’.
PRIVATE CLIENT TEAM OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Russell-Cooke LLP with Rob Gurney (Ochresoft)
The judges commented, ‘this year’s winning firm has a clear vision for the future and recognises that they cannot achieve this vision without taking their team with them. This is amply demonstrated by their teamwork, collaborative approach, and how they are embracing innovation and technology to streamline their business and give a better client experience, resulting in significant growth in 2023/24’.
PROPERTY LAW TEAM OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Howell-Jones LLP with Philip Hill (Landmark Information Group)
The judges commented, ‘that the winning firm's submission cried out 'teamwork', with a modern twist on good old fashioned client care, they showcased brilliant communication in this day of 'must have technology’.
Highly Commended Nominee: Peacock & Co Solicitors
SUPPORT TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Ashley Burrow (Meadows & Co) with Regina O’Shaughnessy (Clio)
The judges commented, ‘this year's Support Team Member of the Year demonstrated that they are not just about improving themself but also getting the best out of and empowering their colleagues, all alongside supporting their clients. They are clearly not just supporting but also leading from the front’.
Highly Commended Nominee: Lauren Keir, Rosewood Solicitors
TEAM OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Corporate Team Guildford, DMH Stallard LLP with Mike Creffield (NetDocuments)
The judges commented, ‘the Team of the Year 2024 has grown from a standing start five years ago to a significant player in the Surrey market through the quality of its work, constant improvement, commitment to diversity and development, and strong engagement with the local community. The judges were particularly impressed with the innovation it displays and exemplary leadership from its founding partner’.
Highly Commended Nominee: Moore Barlow (Wealth Disputes Team)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
June Venters KC
This year, we were proud to award a Lifetime Achievement Award to a very special member of the SLS community, the incredible June Venters KC. June was presented with the Award by Bruce Penson from SLS Patron, Pro Drive IT.
She was recognised for her outstanding work in the field of family law, and we are pleased to share some of the comments that were included in her presentation on the night.
She serves as a true inspiration to all women. The fact that she is excelling in her field whilst also being one of the kindest individuals I have ever worked with speaks volumes about her character. She has been utterly amazing in this case. I have never encountered such tenacity in dealing with a case. I have been in awe of her throughout.
She has set the way for all solicitors to accomplish their dreams, she inspires her staff to excel and supports them through their careers. She has paid for staff to undertake exams, panel memberships and thereafter provides them with financial rewards when they have achieved the same. She will support and champion her staff to achieve the best for their own career
She is down to earth, humble, and incredibly hard working, fighting for each and every client She won my case against all the difficulties and barriers the system put against me and keep her strategy and line of conduct to the last hearing and final judgement. I would recommend her for anyone with family cases like mine. I owe her my children's welfare
She was my saviour, my unexpected miracle on this path of sadness.
