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12 Law Society Excellence Awards
Law Society Excellence Awards continued from front cover...
the business with a more solid and secure workforce who were fully engaged with the new culture and direction of the firm; vital to improve chances of surviving and thriving amidst more legal changes.
Senior Partner David Bott said “We are incredibly proud to have been shortlisted for Excellence in Learning and Devel- opment category alongside other well known, high profile organisations. To be recognised as excelling in learning and development, is extremely important to us and confirma- tion that we are on track to ensure we engage and meet the training needs of all our staff.”
Manchester commercial law firm Kuits has been shortlisted in the Excellence in Conveyancing category. This follows on from being crowned Best Professional Serv- ices Firm at the Business Masters Awards 2017. Kuits also won Best Law Firm at The Talk of Manchester Business
Awards in December last year.
Steve Eccleston, Managing Partner for Kuits, said: “We’re de- lighted that our residential team has been recognised as the best in Manchester. Kuits are acknowledged as the go-to ex- perts for those looking for commercial advice and a high- quality, bespoke service when buying or selling their home.”
Tony Hardy, Head of Residential for Kuits, added: “Delivering excellent client care is our number one priority, and our thorough and attentive approach is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s residential market due to the increasing risk of fraud and cybercrime.
“Kuits has successfully maintained the Law Society’s Con- veyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation for five con- secutive years. This is an indication of the standards that we uphold when acting for our clients in residential property transactions.”
Emma Nawaz, Managing Director of Blackstone Solicitors, shortlisted for ‘Woman Lawyer of the Year commented: “ It is an absolute privilege to have been shortlisted in such
prestigious awards. The firm has come a long way in a rela- tively short time. Based in Hale, Cheshire, we now also have an office in Mayfair, London and plans for a third office later this year. My focus remains on driving the business forward, however at the same time nurturing talent within the firm. Just weeks ago we received Silver in Investors in People, a fabulous achievement for the team. We have an impressive portfolio of clients which means we are able to attract the very best staff. Additionally, we have represented a number of Iranian clients in ground breaking cases against high street banks – something that has attracted international exposure for the firm. Handling such cases has resulted in Blackstone setting up our own Iranian desk. This latest noti- fication that I have been shortlisted is really just the icing on the cake. We look forward to attending the Awards in Lon- don in October.”
Hugh Jones Solicitors, shortlisted for the Excellence in Pri- vate Client award is a firm of independent Court of Protec- tion solicitors, founded by Hugh Jones, a nationally recognised leader in the field with over 30 years’ experience in supporting vulnerable people, particularly those with a mental incapacity, their families and their advisers. The firms also advises Local Authorities and other firms of solicitors.
Hugh Jones, Managing Director of Hugh Jones Solicitors said “We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted in the Pri- vate Client category for the second year in a row. We are a specialist firm and so this is well deserved recognition of the dedication of the entire team, to protecting the interests of a vulnerable section of society – children and adults who have lost capacity and their families.”
“ This is only the fourth year the firm has been in existence and the firm has quadrupled in size in that period. In the last year, we have brought a number of high profile cases, suc- cessfully fighting for funding or for our clients’ wishes to pre- vail in decisions about their lives.”
The firm’s first case to reach the Court of Appeal will be heard in the Autumn.
Hugh Jones Solicitors has also been shortlisted for a third consecutive year for the STEP awards Vulnerable Client Ad- visory Practice of the year in addition to their win at the Manchester Legal Awards 2017 (Private Client Team).
Joe Egan, President of the Law Society said "To be short- listed for the Excellence Awards is an achievement to be proud of. The awards showcase the first-rate work and ded- ication of the profession to their clients and the wider com- munity, and is one of the most rewarding and memorable days in the legal calendar."
The finalists for the prestigious awards are selected by a panel of experts from within and beyond the profession, and demonstrate the expertise and values shared by solici- tors working across England and Wales, from small local practices and in-house teams, to international City firms.
"This eleventh anniversary year of celebrating excellence in the profession is a testament to the hard work of our mem- bers, and of their sustained contribution, not only to clients but to society as a whole," said Joe Egan.
The winners will be announced at theawards ceremony on Thursday 19 October at the Hilton Park Lane, London.
Julia Baskerville
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