Finalists 2026

Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for the 2026 Northern Law Awards. We were delighted with the response to the call for nominations and as always, it is great to see so many talented individuals, teams and organisations who have excelled in our region.

See below to discover the successful nominees who made it through to the final stage of the nomination process:

Apprentice of the Year - Supported by Innersummit
  • Fred Keegan – Barbour
  • Jess Soulsby – Cygnet Law
  • Anna Amerigo – Cygnet Law
  • Abby Dawson – North Tyneside Council
  • Sophie Kendall – Ison Harrison
Trainee/Pupil of the Year - Supported by Newcastle University
  • Alexandra Edgson – Cygnet Law
  • Lauren Brough – Medway Law
  • Nancy Dobson – Irwin Mitchell
  • Tegan Robson – Grey Smith Legal
Law Teacher of the Year
  • Mauricio Figueroa – Durham University 
  • Colin Murray – Newcastle University
  • Sara Lambert – Northumbria University
  • Peter Rowlands – Innersummit
  • Callum Thomson – Northumbria University 
Litigation Lawyer of the Year
  • John Lowther – Slater Gordon
  • Kate Nicklin – Irwin Mitchell
Chambers of the Year
  • Trinity Chambers 
  • Park Square Barristers
  • Parklane Plowden
Law Firm of the Year (Up to 50 employees) - Sponsored by InfoTrack
  • Nicholls Solicitors
  • Nouveau Legal
  • Reece Thomas Watson
  • Ison Harrison
  • Merritts Solicitors
  • Grey Smith Legal
Rising Star of the Year - Supported by The University of Law
  • Nicholl Fitzgerald – Cygnet Law
  • Alex Jeffrey – Medway Law
  • Chloe Gibson – Slater and Gordon
  • Beth Liddle – Irwin Mitchell
Law Student of the Year - Supported by Northumbria University
  • Luke Taylor – Cygnet Law
  • Lucy McLeod – University of Law
Professional Support of the Year
  • Marketing & BD Team – Sintons
  • Lisa Stephenson – Eversheds Sutherland
  • Hollie Gardner – Cygnet Law
  • Kellie Quigley – Medway Law
  • Stephen Padgett – Grey Smith Legal
Solicitor of the Year
  • Kathryn Reece Thomas – Reece Thomas Watson
  • Rachael Smurthwaite – Irwin Mitchell
  • Kimberley Fryer – Irwin Mitchell
  • Paul Oxnard – Pearson Caulfield
Property Lawyer of the Year - Sponsored by Progressive Legal Solutions
  • Livvy Wilkins – Grey Smith Legal
  • Daniel Fleming – Medway Law
  • Jamie Worton – Medway Law
Pro Bono / Community Initiative - Sponsored by Trinity Chambers
  • Cygnet Law
  • Helen Robinson – Teesside University
  • Northumbria University
  • Mellisa Slater – Eversheds Sutherland
  • Irwin Mitchell
  • Avaia Williams, Parklane Plowden
Law Firm of the Year (50-150 employees) - Sponsored by Robson Laidler
  • Cygnet Law
  • Medway Law