Hammonds, Mills & Reeve, and Wragge & Co dominated the fourth annual Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards, handed out last week, winning two each.

Hammonds’ David Hull was named corporate/commercial solicitor of the year for his contribution to Hammonds’ initiative to target major PLCs, generating fee income exceeding £8 million over three years.


Colleague Mathew Harvey came out top in the ‘rising star’ corporate/commercial solicitor of the year category, impressing judges with his management of a complex deal involving the purchase of assets and shares in 13 jurisdictions and the creation of a complex group and branch structure.


For Mills & Reeve, Matthew Hansell was named private client solicitor of the year, and Benjamin Smith, currently working in Mr Hansell’s department, won the trainee solicitor category. It comes on the back of the firm taking on Wragge’s private client department to double the size of its team.


Heading the list of honours for Wragge & Co was Andrew Manning-Cox, who won the litigation solicitor of the year category. Steven Butts, the firm’s pro bono co-ordinator, walked away with the pro bono solicitor of the year title.


The other four winners were: Fergal Bloomer (BH Mohammed Solicitors) – criminal solicitor of the year; Kevin Harris-James (Irwin Mitchell) – family solicitor of the year; Rachael Palmer (Blakemores) – legal executive of the year; and John Pratt (Hamilton Pratt) – Advised in Birmingham award, a new category this year.


The final award recognises a solicitor who has played a key role in promoting the city’s legal sector.


Mr Pratt was previously head of Pinsents’ franchise team – and managing partner of its Birmingham office – until setting up a niche franchise law firm. He was also previously honorary French consul in Birmingham and president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.


Birmingham Law Society president Steven Jonas said it was no surprise that three of the city’s leading commercial law firms had provided most of the winners. ‘We have long known that our leading law firms employ some of the best practitioners in the UK,’ he said.


This was the first year that the winners were chosen by a panel of judges, rather than being voted on by their peers. Nominees were interviewed by the panel prior to shortlisting.