2025 Confirmed Judges

Our esteemed panel of judges bring expertise and experience from all areas of the legal sector. Each category is allocated three judges who will meet face to face with our finalists at the judging day on 8th of May 2025.

Judges are being announced daily so check back for more announcements.

 

To see one of your company representatives on the judging panel, contact Sonia for partnership opportunities: sonia@echoevents.org

Judith Birkett
Partner, Muckle LLP

View Judith’s Biography

Joe Brown
Client Manager, Robson Laidler

View Joe’s Biography

Professor Deveral Capps
Dean of Leeds Law School

View Deveral’s Biography

Shaun Cannell
Commercial Director, PLS

View Shaun’s Biography

Richard Clark
Director at Barclays Wealth & Private Bank, Chartered Wealth Manager

View Richard’s Biography

Laura Coapes
Assistant Professor, Northumbria Law School

View Laura’s Biography

Ian Cosgrove
Costs Lawyer, Cosgrove Costings Limited

View Ian’s Biography

Mark Dale
Principal Consultant, Blair West

View Mark’s Biography

Michael Downes
Office Senior Partner and Head of Corporate Finance, KPMG

View Michael’s Biography

Andrew Entwistle
Partner and Head of Valuations GFW, Chartered Surveyor

View Andrew’s Biography

Laura Farnworth
General Counsel, Atom Bank

View Laura’s Biography

Chris Fletcher
Undergraduate Degree Programme Director, Newcastle Law School

View Chris’s Biography

Alison Gittins
CEO of Durham Business Group

View Alison’s Biography

Stephen D Gowland
Lawyer, Mediator Tribunal Judge HM Courts & Tribunal Service

View Stephens’s Biography

Gill Hunter,
Owner and Managing Partner, Square One Law

View Gill’s Biography

Jonathan Jowett
Former Company Secretary & General Counsel at Greggs PLC

View Jonathan’s Biography

Anu Kaura 
Barrister, Trinity Chambers

View Anu’s Biography

Angela King
Head of Teesside University Law School

View Angela’s Biography

Toni Manning
Account Manager, InfoTrack

View Toni’s Biography

Siobhan McConnell
Assistant Professor, Northumbria University Law School

View Siobhan’s Biography

Ammar Mirza CBE MBA FRSA FIoEE FIoL

View Ammar’s Biography

Richard Morgan
Director, Nigel Wright Group

View Richard’s Biography

Melanie Morley
President, Tees Valley Law Society

View Melanie’s Biography

Erin Peart
Director of Estates and Facilities, Newcastle University

View Erin’s Biography

James Pickford
Assistant General Counsel, Procter & Gamble

View James’s Biography

Andy Poole 
Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Finance Partner – Legal Sector, Armstrong Watson LLP

View Andy’s Biography

Larissa Hope-Rogers
Campus Manager, University of Law

View Larissa’s Biography

Elliot Winter
Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Law School

View Elliot’s Biography

Judith Birkett, Partner, Muckle LLP

Judith has been a solicitor for over 30 years.  She is a partner at Muckle LLP originally specialising in real estate but now managing risk and compliance at Muckle.  Whilst she did work in London for 10 years, she is firmly committed to a life and career in the North East.

Joe Brown, Client Manager, Robson Laidler

Joe is an ICAEW qualified Chartered Accountant who has worked within Robson Laidler’s Audit and Accounts departments for more than 13 years, gaining experience across a wide range of businesses such as limited companies, partnerships and LLP’s. Joe specialises in managing Solicitors Accounts Rules Audits with solicitors and law firm partners to ensure compliance and manages and works closely with Robson Laidler’s full portfolio of legal clients. He was on the panel at the 2024 Northern Law Awards and is excited to be involved in the judging again this year.

 

 

Professor Deveral Capps, Dean of Leeds Law School

Deveral is the Dean of Leeds Law School, joining Leeds Beckett in 2015. A barrister and legal academic, he has taught extensively across undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional courses, publishing widely on legal education, skills, and eCommerce law. He is a door tenant at Trinity Chambers and has practiced both civil and criminal law.

With over 25 years in Higher Education, Deveral has played a key role in shaping legal education and training in the UK. He served on the steering panel for the landmark Legal Education and Training Review and was a member of the Bar Standards Board’s Future Bar Training Programme Board. He contributed to developing the new syllabuses and assessment strategies for bar courses introduced in 2020 and led a review of European Law in bar training post-Brexit.

An expert in Quality Assurance, Deveral has extensive experience as an external examiner and member of institutional panels for the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board. He served as deputy chair for the QAA subject benchmark statement review for law and is the Honorary Treasurer of the Committee of Heads of University Law Schools (CHULS).”

 

Shaun Cannell, Commercial Director, PLS

Shaun is Commercial Director of PLS and has over 25 years experience working within the legal and property sector, passionate to provide a first class service to clients and consumers, Shaun also likes to support many local charities by fund raising and take on various challenges, in my spare time I love nothing more than travelling the world and getting as many stamps in my passport as possible and experiencing new activities.

 

Richard Clark, Director at Barclays Wealth & Private Bank, Chartered Wealth Manager.

Richard, a Director at Barclays Wealth & Private Bank is a Chartered Wealth Manager. He has been advising individuals, trusts, charities and companies on their Wealth Management needs for approaching 25 years across the North of England and beyond.  Prior to his 11 years at Barclays Wealth he was a Wealth Manager at a National Law Firm, which allowed him insight into how intrinsically linked clients Wealth Management, Legal and Tax affairs are.  This experience allows Richard to work closely with is clients and support them in navigating the myriad of options available to them in protecting, managing and growing their wealth, encompassing areas such as succession planning and wealth structuring

 

Laura Coapes, Assistant Professor, Northumbria Law School

Laura is an Assistant Professor in law at Northumbria University and lectures on both undergraduate and Bar Programmes. She is a barrister at Trinity Chambers (nee Nagel) and has a research interest in family law, with publications in Child & Family Law Quarterly and the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. Laura also acts in various consultancy roles for the Bar Standards Board, including as an Associate Examiner for the Professional Ethics Pupillage/Work-based learning assessment

Ian Cosgrove, Costs Lawyer, Cosgrove Costings Limited

Ian Cosgrove has been engaged in the world of legal costs since 1990.

As a Costs Lawyer  he advises on both Claimant and Defendant costs issues and regularly appears in court on Detailed Assessment hearings and Costs Budgeting hearings

 

 

Mark Dale, Principal Consultant, Blair West

Mark is responsible for the recruitment of senior professional services talent for clients based in the North of England.

Typical assignments cover roles within accountancy practices, legal disciplines and back office support roles for corporate clients, including Property, Company Secretarial, Compliance as well as Financial Services Risk and Regulatory disciplines.

Mark is responsible for permanent recruitment, and due to the diverse nature of the desk, has experience of contingent and retained search recruitment processes.

Mark has recruited for a number of international & regional clients across both the public and private sector including Big 4 & regional accountancy firms, North Yorkshire Police, Redde Northgate Plc, UBS, Cumberland Building Society, END Clothing, Inn Collection Group and many more.

Michael Downes, Office Senior Partner and Head of Corporate Finance, KPMG

Michael is the Office Senior Partner and Head of Corporate Finance for KPMG in the North East. As the Office Senior Partner Michael leads KPMG’s multi-disciplinary team covering Audit, Tax, Deal Advisory and Consulting in the in the region. KPMG supports organisations from across all sectors including Financial Services, Local Government, Healthcare and the private sector from the largest PLCs through to the region's family businesses and emerging startups.

As Head of Corporate Finance Michael is working with clients to raise funding for growth and execute acquisition strategies. He has significant experience working with owner-managed and Private Equity-backed businesses in both preparing for and executing successful sales of their businesses. Working with clients from a broad range of sectors, including many owner-managed businesses in technology, software, business services, pharmacy and pharmaceuticals, retail, distribution and wholesale, catering, waste management, and construction.

 

Andrew Entwistle, Partner and Head of Valuations, GFW

The son of Northumberland vet, Andrew began his career as a Chartered Surveyor in Northumberland before furthering his development the Midlands. Andrew returned to the North East in 2000 to join GFW and became partner in 2006.

Appointed Head of Valuation for GFW in 2010, Andrew also sat on the Global Valuation Standards Board (GVSB) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) representing the Rural faculty for 11 years. The GVSB oversaw production of the RICS Appraisal and Valuations Standards (The “Red Book”).

Andrew is well known for his appointments as Expert Witness in property disputes, with restrictive covenant matters being a particular speciality, receiving instructions throughout England. Andrew gave evidence in Father’s Field v Namulas, considered by Property Week as one of the top 10 property law cases of 2021

 

Laura Farnworth, General Counsel, Atom Bank

The son of Northumberland vet, Andrew began his career as a Chartered Surveyor in Northumberland before furthering his development the Midlands. Andrew returned to the North East in 2000 to join GFW and became partner in 2006.

Appointed Head of Valuation for GFW in 2010, Andrew also sat on the Global Valuation Standards Board (GVSB) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) representing the Rural faculty for 11 years. The GVSB oversaw production of the RICS Appraisal and Valuations Standards (The “Red Book”).

Andrew is well known for his appointments as Expert Witness in property disputes, with restrictive covenant matters being a particular speciality, receiving instructions throughout England. Andrew gave evidence in Father’s Field v Namulas, considered by Property Week as one of the top 10 property law cases of 2021

 

Chris Fletcher - Undergraduate Degree Programme Director, Newcastle Law School.

Chris trained as a solicitor with commercial firm Muckle LLP specialising in banking and corporate finance work for a number of years.  Prior to joining Newcastle University as a lecturer in 2019 Chris taught on the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University and was the Risk and Compliance manager for Square One Law.  Chris now teaches on a range of UG and PG modules at Newcastle.

 

Alison Gittins, CEO of Durham Business Group

Alison is the CEO of Durham Business Group (Durham Business Club, Durham Office Services and The Executive Group).
Alison has a passion for people and a love of networking, so feels she landed her dream job in 2010, and is lucky to work with businesses from all sectors across the region, and bring them together while showcasing some wonderful venues. DBC holds monthly breakfast and evening events for its 200 members, while The Executive Group’s lunches, are must-attend events for North East business leaders. To recharge her batteries Alison enjoys escaping to the sun on a cruise ship.

Stephen D Gowland, Lawyer, Mediator & Tribunal Judge, HM Courts & Tribunal Service
Stephen sits as an employment judge and as a judge in the social entitlement chamber. He also works as a legally qualified advisor for twenty-two police forces across England and Wales, having chaired police misconduct hearings since 2016. He also chairs hearings for UK registered doctors for the medical practitioner’s tribunal service.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading about travel and history and spending holidays in his campervan.

Gill Hunter, Owner and Managing Partner, Square One Law

Gill is the owner and the managing partner of commercial law firm, Square One Law, where she leads a team of highly talented people committed to delivering top quality service in a way that suits clients’ needs, not their own.
She joined Square One Law as Managing Partner in 2018 from a national law firm where she was head of technology. Throughout her career she has worked with a broad range of public and private sector clients from NHS trusts, universities and port authorities to biotech and ecommerce companies and engineering and manufacturing businesses.

As Managing Partner she is leading the firm forward with a vision for growth whilst preserving the entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to disrupt the status quo that have made the firm successful. Gill believes that people are the firm’s key asset and is committed to creating a culture that is supportive, inclusive, and fun. In her view, there is nothing better than seeing talent within the business grow and thrive.
Gill is a tech and commercial lawyer by trade, with a specialism in IP and IT law and over 25 years’ experience working in commercial law firms. She is passionate about the creative and tech industries and tech as a facilitator for business growth. Previously, she has been involved in a non-executive capacity in a variety of creative, cultural and tech organisations.

She is determined - through her own firm - to reinvent the traditional lawyer stereotype by being more creative in advice and solutions and treating each clients’ business as if it were their own.
Gill is the host of Square One Law’s podcast ‘Fear Less. Do More’ which is all about sharing and championing the stories of inspiring and interesting people. She is also the vice chair of trustees at Disability North, a trustee of the West End Women and Girls’ Centre, chair of the NECC Digital Forum, board member of The Lifted Project Newcastle, a founding member of and mentor for the Northern Power Women’s Power Circle 150, Chair of the BCC Workplace Equity Commission and regional council member for NECC.

Jonathan Jowett, former Company Secretary & General Counsel at Greggs plc

Jonathan recently retired as Company Secretary & General Counsel at Greggs plc, a position he held for almost 15 years, He spent most of his executive career working in-house in international manufacturing companies, across a variety of sectors including food production and retailing, medical product and consumer healthcare.

Jonathan’s experience includes running international legal teams and procuring legal services around the world, government affairs, risk management & insurances, internal audit, food safety, health and safety, corporate communications, social responsibility, and pensions administration.

Jonathan also has extensive experience as a non-executive director and trustee. He was Senior Independent Non-Executive Director at Newcastle Hospitals, and currently chairs the Board of Trustees of the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Jonathan is also the FA Respect Director and Company Secretary of Darlington Football Club.

 

Anu Kaura, Barrister, Trinity Chambers

Anu Kaura joined Trinity Chambers as a barrister in February 2025, bringing over 20 years of legal experience spanning in-house leadership, private practice, and consultancy. She specialises in corporate governance, commercial law, data protection, property law, employment law, and dispute resolution. Prior to joining Trinity Chambers, Anu served as Head of Legal at a large Northeast care company, providing strategic legal advice at board level and managing complex disputes and high-value transactions. Anu is also the former Chair of the Law Society In-House Division and has been recognised for her contributions to the legal profession through various industry accolades. She is experienced in tribunal work and regulatory compliance, ensuring practical and effective solutions for her clients.

 

Angela King, Head of Teesside University Law School

Angela is Head of Teesside University Law School, which encompasses Law, Policing, Investigation and the Social Sciences. With over 20 years of experience in legal education, Angela has worked with and supported the local legal profession in nurturing legal professionals of the future. The student-led Law Clinic which operates within the Law School has twice won the Pro Bono Legal Initiative Award in 2022 and 2024.

 

Toni Manning, Account Manager, InfoTrack

Toni Manning is a dedicated Account Manager at InfoTrack UK, a leading provider of innovative digital solutions for the legal and conveyancing sectors. With a strong background in client relationship management and business development, Toni plays a key role in helping law firms streamline their workflow through InfoTrack’s cutting-edge technology.

At InfoTrack, Toni focuses on providing exceptional service to clients, ensuring they maximise the benefits of InfoTrack’s suite of products, including e-signatures, digital AP1s, and automated property searches. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for efficiency, Toni works closely with firms to improve their processes, reduce administrative burden, and enhance overall productivity.

Toni is committed to fostering long-term relationships with clients by understanding their unique needs and delivering tailored solutions. Her expertise in the legal technology space makes her a valuable asset to the InfoTrack team, contributing to the company’s ongoing success in transforming the legal industry through digital innovation.

 

Siobhan McConnell, Assistant Professor, Northumbria University Law School

Siobhan is an Assistant Professor at Northumbria University Law School. As well as teaching on a range of modules, Siobhan works closely with the careers team to provide careers and employability support to students in the Law School. Siobhan trained as a solicitor at Muckle LLP and specialised in commercial and corporate finance work for a number of years.

 

Ammar Mirza CBE, MBA, FRSA, FIOEE, FIoL

A multi-award-winning enterprise and innovation expert who has helped establish and scale several thousand businesses globally through the design, development and delivery of world leading accelerator and scale up programmes. With a portfolio of interests spanning across numerous sectors including property, edtech, health-tech and investment support Ammar is recognised as a leading authority on organisational growth.

With various roles across the public, private and third sectors Ammar has made a consistent and demonstrable impact, being considered the most influential Asian in the North East of England, connected globally with community, business and government leaders.

As Chair of the Business Advisory Board on the UK Government Body - North East Local Enterprise Partnership Ammar represents all SMEs and trade bodies in the North East Region. He is Founder and Chairman of not-for-profit social enterprise Asian Business Connexions (ABC), President of the Federation of Asian Business, and Chair of the Health and Lifesciences Pledge, alongside being a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership (FIoL), Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (FIOEE) and Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and holding a number of academic qualifications including a Masters in Business Administration (Distinction).

Ammar has a particular interest in enterprise education as ex-Chair of Governors of a Primary School, current Chair of the Newcastle Progression Forum and a David Goldman visiting Professor of Practice in Innovation and Enterprise at Newcastle University. Ammar launched the Primary Inspiration through Enterprise (PIE) Project Charity in 2013, the first of its kind within the UK to deliver enterprise vocational qualifications to primary age pupils and more recently developed the world’s first level 6 formal qualification in Business Model Innovation fully regulated and registered with Ofqual the UK education standards agency.

For the past three years Ammar has been commissioned by the Academic Health and Science Network part of NHS England to help develop the Innovation Pathway assisting clinical entrepreneurs spin in and out of the Health and Life Sciences Sector encouraging, enabling and empowering more and better innovation.

Ammar was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2014 for outstanding services to Business and the Community, and has been consistently recognised globally for his tireless efforts in supporting and promoting trade and industry, including British Asian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, Maserati top 100 Entrepreneur, Williams and Glyn top 50, Institute of Directors and British Community Honours Award to name but a few.

Other roles held by Ammar include Honorary Colonel 101 Regiment Royal Artillery British Army, immediate past Chair of the Institute of Directors North East North, Member and Northern Representative on the All-Party Parliamentary-Group for BAME Business, Private Sector Representative on European Structural Funds Advisory Board, Patron of Charlie Bear for Cancer Care Charity, Founder of the SME Centre of Excellence Group which helps SMEs start, survive and thrive, with a newly established international trade centre at Newcastle International Airport and he co-hosts a weekly radio show on Spice FM.

Richard Morgan, Director, Nigel Wright Group

Richard is a Director & Shareholder at Nigel Wright Group, responsible for leading multiple business areas of the Northern focused, Regional Business. Over a 20-year career, Richard has developed an extensive Business & Professional Services leadership network, specialising in connecting and collaborating to support leadership career transitions, advise on the management of people-centric businesses, and sharing valuable market insights.

 

Melanie Morley, President, Tees Valley Law Society

Melanie Morley is  currently a specialist in house adult social care solicitor  representing various local authorities throughout the U.K. Melanie is a  previous Partner at BHP Law  based in Darlington and is dual trained, specialising in both Court of Protection Health & Welfare and Property & Affairs.

Melanie has worked extremely hard to establish her reputation as an outstanding Court of Protection litigation solicitor and has developed excellent relationships with counsel who assist Melanie in relation to her contentious and complex section cases. Melanie’s attention to detail and relaxed personality enables her to communicate on all levels to ensure that her clients understand the legal issues and the court process.

In September 2022 Melanie was appointed President for The Tees Valley Law Society.  Melanie uses her presidency platform to promote legal diversity and social inclusion and to bridge the gap between the legal profession and education establishments, to assist in filling the wider skills gaps. 

Melanie was awarded Rising Star of the Year at the 2022 Northern Law Awards where Judges praised her hard work and dedication.

In May 2022 Melanie was elected as a local councillor in the borough of Hartlepool and in May 2024 Melanie became the Ceremonial Deputy Mayor of Hartlepool

Erin Peart - Director of Estates and Facilities, Newcastle University

Erin joined Newcastle University as Director of Estates and Facilities in March this year, following 4 years at Northumbria University as Executive Director of Campus Services. Prior to joining Higher Education Erin worked at the local Property Investment Company Hanro Ltd where she managed the £150m asset portfolio.

Now leading both the Estates elements, Capital Works and Maintenance of the campus, and the operational services including Security, Cleaning, Catering and Student Accommodation, she is developing the University Estates Masterplan creating the vision to provide the right facilities for students and staff for the coming 10 years.

 

James Pickford, Assistant General Counsel, Procter & Gamble

James is a European and UK Chartered Patent Attorney with over 16 years experience in the profession. Having been awarded a PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Sheffield, he completed a Diploma in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Manchester. He subsequently studied to become a European Patent Attorney and then UK Chartered Patent Attorney and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and Authorised Representative before the Unitary Patent Court.
At Procter & Gamble, James is part of the legal team that supports the Fabric and Homecare business (which sells products under well-known brands such as Ariel, Lenor, Fairy, Bold and Flash) with their patent and intellectual property needs and also has experience in Regulatory and Advertising law.

 

Andy Poole, Legal Sector Partner - Armstrong Watson

Andy is the Legal Sector Partner at Armstrong Watson, a top 40 UK firm of Chartered Accountants and Financial Advisers.  Andy heads the firm’s nationwide services to the legal sector, covering all of the firm’s 19 offices.  He has specialised exclusively in the legal sector since 2004.  He helps firms to improve by providing valuations, merger and acquisition advice, benchmarking, strategic consultancy and training courses. He understands and proactively informs law firms on issues that may impact on them. Andy speaks at national solicitors’ conferences and is a regular contributor to the legal press. Andy is co-author of the Law Society’s toolkit on financial stability and also co-author of Adjusting the Numbers: The Future of Finance in Law Firms, published by ARK Group.  Andy works with law firms throughout the UK

Larissa Hope-Rogers, Campus Manager, University of Law

Passionate about early careers and professional development, Larissa has had a varied people-focused career. Larissa trained at Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy, where she qualified as an employment solicitor, subsequently moving in-house to the BBC. Having identified a passion for early careers, Larissa moved into graduate recruitment and trainee development at international law firm, Latham & Watkins, before relocating back to her northern roots, joining ULaw in 2021 as the Campus Manager for Newcastle. Larissa is delighted to be supporting the Rising Star of the Year category in recognition of the wealth of legal talent in the region.

Dr Elliot Winter, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Law School

Dr Elliot Winter is a Senior Lecturer at Newcastle Law School specialising in international law.  He has informed government policy, presented expert evidence at parliament and provided legal training for the armed forces. Elliot has published widely and provided commentary for the media.  Before entering academia, he qualified as a solicitor in Scotland where he acted for both the UK and Scottish Governments on contentious matters.