Eversheds and Masons top property and finance work

Awards: City firms gain recognition for their top quality work

Eversheds and Masons last week scooped awards for their work in property and private finance initiative work respectively.Eversheds won property law firm of the year at the Insider Property awards for the north-west, overtaking Manchester and Liverpool firm Mace & Jones, behind whichEversheds finished second last year.One of the judges, Michael Taylor, said: 'Of the 12 entries Eversheds offered added value throughout the team and the greatest expertise in urban regeneration.' There was particular praise for the firm's work on the southern gateway into Manchester.

Property partner Stephen Sorrell said: 'We are delighted.

It is always nice to be honoured and recognised by your peers.'Masons picked up the award for best law firm at the public private finance awards organised by PFI Report magazine.

The firm held off the challenges of the other shortlisted firms, Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance.

PFI Report editor Roger Baird highlighted Masons' work on prison projects in South Africa as particularly innovative work, adding: 'The judges felt that because Masons are not a magic circle firm, to do its amount of work was all the more impressive.'Chris Brown, the head of Masons projects and finance group, said: 'This is a great tribute to all those people in the firm who have contributed so much over the last 18 months.'Andrew Towler