Five council teams have been shortlisted for the ‘Legal Team of the Year’ at the LLG Virtual Awards 2020, which will be held next week.
Those in the running for the award, which is sponsored by Anthony Collins Solicitors and Thomson Reuters, are:
- Litigation and Prosecutions Team at the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
- Financial & Commercial Litigation Team at Brent Council
- Litigation Team at Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
- Nplaw at Norfolk County Council
- Southampton & Fareham Legal Services Partnership
The shortlists for the five other categories are:
Governance Lawyer/Team of the Year (sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins; DPS Software)
- Governance Team at Warwickshire County Council
- Joanna Stevens of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
People Lawyer/Team of the Year (sponsored by Bevan Brittan; Wesleyan)
- Community Safety/Education Team at Birmingham City Council
- Safeguarding Team at Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
- Safeguarding & Litigation Team at North Tyneside Council
Place Lawyer/Team of the Year (sponsored by Wilkin Chapman; Shoosmiths)
- Commercial Team at Brent Council
- Legal Services Team at Derbyshire Dales District Council
- Chris Gaunt of Milton Keynes Council
Junior Lawyer of the Year (sponsored by Iken; Browne Jacobson)
- Amy Wilde of Stoke on Trent City Council
- Anisah Hilali of the London Borough of Hackney
- Christopher Crichton of Wealden District Council
- Ellenor Scott of Milton Keynes Council
- Rachel Olanrewaju of Milton Keynes Council
- Sara Fayaz of Gedling Borough Council
- Shaidah Ramzan of the London Borough of Brent
Legal Professional Lawyer of the Year (sponsored by Eversheds; Weightmans)
- Maria de Leiburne of Mid Devon District Council
- Daniel Hollingsworth of Tower Hamlets Legal Service
- Guy Darvill of Warwickshire County Council
There will also be an LLG Life-Time Achievement Award, sponsored by VWV. This award "recognises an individual’s longstanding commitment to the Local Government Legal Profession whilst upholding standards of Public Service. It acknowledges their dedication to the work of LLG and its predecessors together with outstanding achievement in the field of Local Government Law, Practice and/or Governance."
The virtual LLG Awards 2020 will take place at 7 pm on 2 July.
Quentin Baker, LLG President 2020-21, said: “Too often the essential, life changing work of local government lawyers is overlooked by the wider legal sector. LLG exists to give local government lawyers a voice and to champion the work our members do in making a difference across the communities we serve for the public good.
“This evening we welcome our members, together with our corporate partners and stakeholders to celebrate the excellent work taking place across the regions and to highlight the very real impact lawyers and governance officers make in local government; the innovation delivered and the integrity and care demonstrated every day.
“The judging panels have had a hard task this year and I am pleased to announce we have some worthy winners. The very best of luck to all the finalists.”