Saimo Chahal, head of the civil liberties and social welfare team at London firm Bindmans, was last week named solicitor of the year at the Law Society’s second annual Excellence Awards.

Chahal (pictured) was cited for her work on behalf of vulnerable and disadvantaged clients in difficult and often precedent-setting cases.

Gulley Shimeld of City firm Lovells won junior lawyer of the year for his work as a legal adviser to Paralympics GB, work undertaken in addition to his everyday caseload.

Parosha Chandran of 1 Pump Court was barrister of the year for her work on human trafficking and immigration cases, and Jill Read-Brown of Exeter firm Hartnell Chanot & Partners legal executive of the year for her efforts to seek justice for victims of domestic abuse and violence.

Eversheds was the big law firm winner, walking away with the awards for excellence in both equality and diversity, and social responsibility – community engagement.

The other winners were: Lincolnshire employment law firm PJH Law (client service); City firm Watson Farley & Williams (social responsibility – pro bono); City firm Taylor Wessing (marketing and business development); London firm The Projects Partnership (practice standards); national firm Pinsent Masons (pioneering legal services); and regional firm Cobbetts (exporting legal services).