Annual General Meeting 2020

WESTMINSTER & HOLBORN EVENTS

Annual General Meeting 2020

On 13 October 2020, the Westminster and Holborn Law Society held its Annual General Meeting. What a year for the society!

Carolina Pedreño, the outgoing President, has been the head of the Society in a year like no other. Her original plans for the society, like so many other plans for 2020, were swept away by the lockdown restrictions. However, the Westminster and Holborn Law Society has adapted and grown admirably, moving our many events online and endeavouring to connect members in a time of real turmoil for the profession.

Throughout the year, the society has hosted many seminars on issues relevant to the profession, from Brexit to redundancies. There have been online social events with our European colleagues, to ensure that these connections remained strong. The Central London Lawyer continues to flourish, publishing a range of articles from our members including updates on the law and changes within the profession. In addition, over the last year, the society has markedly improved its social media presence. We are now very active and visible on social media, which is largely due to the efforts of our junior lawyers.

At the end of the meeting, Carolina played a video montage of all of the events the society had held during the year. This covered our earlier in person events, such as the Annual Dinner, to the online seminars and international social events held later in the year. It was impressive (and quite moving!) to see just how much the society has managed to do, and how it has continued to provide a network to our members and to retain our international links when travel is no longer possible.

While Carolina was unable to complete her original agenda, she has instead successfully steered the society into an online world and ensured that the boat remains afloat. We are all very grateful for everything she has done in such difficult times.

I am excited to welcome Paul Sharma as the new President of Westminster and Holborn Law Society and look forward to seeing how the society grows under his leadership.

Socially distanced AGM with members on Zoom.

Newly Qualified Rising Star Award 2020

This year celebrates the second year of the Newly Qualified Rising Star Award, an award which celebrates the inspirational achievements and hard work of trainee solicitors due to qualify in 2020.

This year, the winner of the award was Aysel Akhundova, a newly qualified solicitor at Dawson Cornwell who has demonstrated excellence throughout her training contract, but also a real commitment to junior lawyers – often through her efforts within the Westminster and Holborn Junior Lawyers Division!

In previous years, one of the highlights of the Westminster and Holborn social calendar has been the NQ Celebration – an event aimed at celebrating junior lawyers and their hard work over the previous two years. Last year, we awarded the NQ Rising Star Award at the Houses of Parliament and welcomed many of our friends and colleagues from various European Bar Associations. While we were not able to host the event in October this year, we are planning a belated NQ Celebration in Spring 2021. We are passionate about celebrating the strengths and achievements of junior lawyers and will host a full celebration as soon as we are able to do so. Watch this space! ■

Aysel Akhundova