New awards launched for
NEW awards highlighting the best in Wales’ legal sector have been launched. The Wales Legal Awards have been initiated by Charlotte Leyshon of Lux Family Law in partnership with Liz Brookes of Grapevine Events and Professor Dylan Jones-Evans.
Ms Brookes and Prof Jones-Evans are behind the Fast Growth 50, Wales Start-Up Awards and Cardiff Business Awards.
The new awards will look to identify excellence in all parts of the legal community including claimant law, corporate and commercial, employment, property and construction, residential and conveyancing, and commercial litigation.
There will also be a special award to recognise one individual’s outstanding contribution to the Welsh legal profession.
Ms Leyshon said: “I am so thrilled and excited to be a co-founder of the inaugural Wales Legal Awards – the first national awards of their kind.
“They will celebrate the many specialised and talented teams to be found across the length and breadth of Wales’ vibrant legal industry.
“No single lawyer delivers the result for the client – it is the team behind them who are often the glue that holds everything together and gets things over the line.
“We want the awards to celebrate the home-grown talent of everyone involved in those teams and who are creating a buoyant legal marketplace that is as good if not better than anywhere else in the UK”.
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “Wales is home to so many exceptional legal professionals and a number of outstanding firms carrying out all manner of legal work.
“I look forward to seeing the full list of nominees for the inaugural awards, and wish the team the very best of luck in making this one of Wales’ best sectoral recognition events.”
Ms Brookes said: “I am delighted to be able to work with Lux Family Law to develop what I believe could become the prime sectoral awards in Wales.”
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans believes recognition of all the important role of the Welsh legal sector is long overdue.
“The legal profession not only creates jobs in its own right but through the high quality of services it offers, helps other businesses to grow and develop.
“Given this, it is time that the excellence many see every day within the legal community in Wales celebrated.”
A number of organisations have already pledged their support for the awards, including Admiral Law, Bartholomew Hawkins, Grant Stephens Family Law, SLD Wealth Management, LegalLinX-7Side, 30 Park Place and the headline sponsors Wales’ fastest growing recruitment agency, Yolk Recruitment.
Yolk’s founder Dale Williams said: “The legal sector in Wales is as exciting as any of its comparable professional services counterparts.
“There has been a significant boost in the last few years and we’re seeing is no signs of this slowing down. As a leading recruiter for the sector, Yolk believes that it deserves its own spotlight to highlight the people and businesses representing this most exciting of landscapes.
“The Wales Legal Awards will do just that and we’re proud to be able to support such a needed and deserved platform to showcase the best of the best within Wales.”
■ The Wales Legal Awards will take place at Mercure Hotel, Cardiff on Friday, May 17, 2019 and full details on how to enter can be found at waleslegalawards.com