Wolverhampton litigation team wins ‘Legal Team of the Year’ award at LLG Awards

Wolverhampton City Council's litigation team has been awarded Legal Team of the Year at the 2026 Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) Awards.

Judges said the team secured the award in recognition of its national leadership and its work in landmark High Court and appellate cases that had delivered authoritative legal precedent alongside tangible community impact.

They added that the cases had made a significant contribution to improving public safety and protecting vulnerable residents.

The team was also recognised for operating "at exceptional scale while consistently innovating".

Wolverhampton's success comes a year after the city council's commercial property team won Legal Team of the Year at the 2025 LLG Awards.

The Young People Legal Team at Warwickshire County Council and the Shared Legal Service for the Cotswolds, West Oxfordshire and Forest of Dean councils were highly commended.

The awards ceremony, held during LLG's Spring Conference in Birmingham on Friday (5 June), celebrated the contributions and achievements of legal professionals across the local government sector.

The following six awards were presented:

• Junior Lawyer of the Year
• Legal Team of the Year
• Legal Professional of the Year
• Excellence in Training Award
• Significant Contribution to Local Government
• Suki Binjal Rising Star Award

The Legal Professional of the Year Award was jointly awarded to Andrew Perriman of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Anthea Lowe of Telford and Wrekin Council.

LLG said the winners were awarded respectively for: "Delivering clear, measurable economic benefits through their work, demonstrating a powerful ability to translate expertise into real-world outcomes.

"For leading highly visible and challenging work in the field of sexual exploitation, showing exceptional courage, commitment, and influence in a complex area."

Sophie Scullion of Warwickshire County Council was highly commended.

The Significant Contribution to Local Government Award was presented to Helen Edwards of the West Midlands Combined Authority, while Andrea Lee of Bridgend County Borough Council was highly commended.

The judges selected Edwards – who recently retired from the combined authority – for her "consistently high level of distinctive leadership and innovation within complex and often high-pressure environments, showing resilience, vision, and a capacity to drive meaningful change even under challenging circumstances".

They added: "This has been sustained over a significant period, with an enduring impact evidenced through contributions across multiple organisations, reflecting both professional longevity and a lasting legacy of influence and achievement."

The Suki Binjal Rising Star Award went to Ifan Aslam of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council for demonstrating exceptional professional growth and impact, combining strategic insight, technical expertise and strong leadership to shape and improve legal services within a complex local government environment.

Judges said that, through progressing into a senior leadership role, Aslam had influenced organisational direction, driven financial and operational improvements, and delivered innovative approaches that enhanced sustainability, governance and service delivery.

Nurainatta Katevu of South Cambridgeshire District Council was highly commended.

Invicta Law won the Excellence in Training Award for its structured training framework, clear evidence of impact and measurable outcomes, as well as what the judging panel described as "exceptionally strong testimonials demonstrating impact".

One Legal was highly commended in this category.

The Junior Lawyer of the Year Award went to Jessica Unsworth of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. Judges praised her "immense commitment" in completing a seven-year apprenticeship while also mentoring others and supporting aspiring lawyers entering the profession.

Faye Cross of Forest of Dean District Council was highly commended in this category.

Adam Carey