Gamlen Prize

Westminster & Holborn Law Society awards Gamlen Prize to top London trainee

Westminster & Holborn Law Society awarded the annual Gamlen Prize for the most promising candidate on the Legal Practice Course to Gatrina Kang, a future trainee at Mishcon de Reya, at last week’s President’s New Year celebration. Andrew Marks, a future trainee at Taylor Wessing, was named runner-up. Both prize winners were nominated by their tutors.

The Gamlen Prize is awarded annually by the Westminster & Holborn Law Society to the student considered the most promising LPC candidate. The prize is open to trainee solicitors who are either a member of the society or are undertaking, or have arranged to undertake, a training contract with a law firm or organisation based in the area.

The Gamlen Prize was set up in 1991 under the Gamlen Charitable Trust in memory of the Gamlen family and in particular, St John Gamlen, who was the last of five generations of solicitors. Nominees are assessed on their ability to explain a complicated subject in plain English to a layperson.

Ms Kang was presented with the winner’s shield and cheque for £250 by Fraser Whitehead, Council Member for Holborn, Paul Sharma, Managing Partner of Sharma Solicitors and Suzanna Eames, Associate at Farrer & Co; Paul and Suzanna being members of the judging panel. Runner up Mr Marks received the second prize of £150.

Reflecting on the impressive and talented cohort of entrants for this year’s competition, judge Suzanna Eames said, “We were pleased to have a wide variety of nominations this year and the competition was very strong. Ultimately, both Gatrina and Andrew demonstrated a wide knowledge of the profession beyond their studies and impressed with their ability to discuss a range of topics clearly and perceptively”.

The event was hosted by Dawson Cornwell, at their office at Staple Inn. The guest speaker Annmarie Carvalho, who is a qualified mediator, family lawyer and therapist, spoke about the importance of wellbeing in the profession.

The winner in 2019 was Timothy Evans, a Forsters trainee and former BPP Law School student. ■

Left to right: President Carolina Marín Pedreño, Gamlen Prize winner Gatrina Kang and Council Member for Holborn and trustee of the Gamlen Prize Fraser Whitehead.

The Gamlen Prize shield was presented at the President’s New Year Celebration.

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