Scottish Legal Awards winners list in full from glamorous Glasgow ceremony

Under glittering ballroom lights in Glasgow, the Scottish legal profession celebrated its top performers, inspiring contributors and a year of hard graft.

Now in its 22nd year, the Scottish Legal Awards is a highlight of the professional calendar and the event, sponsored by Denovo, welcomed 660 guests from across the country.

The headline accolades of the night, Firm of the Year (Under 250 Employees) and Firm of the Year (250 Employees and Over) were awarded to Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents and Thorntons Law respectively. 

The distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to The Rt Hon Lord Hodge, Deputy President of the Supreme Court. Lord Hodge was appointed Deputy President in January 2020, having originally joined the Court as a Justice in October 2013.

One of the highest individual honours, the Lawyer of the Year Award, sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland, was awarded to Catriona Watt of Anderson Strathern.

In the Law Champion of the Year category, the judges chose joint winners: Rachel Moon, Partner, and Lorna Walker, Senior Solicitor, of Govan Law Centre.

The prize recognises individuals who have raised awareness of Scots law or advanced the standing of the legal profession by driving positive change. The judges noted that both stood out as exceptional candidates, nominated by their firm for their outstanding contribution to their community, both individually and as a team.

Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents enjoyed particular success, securing three awards in total.

Lorna Jack, chair of the judging panel and former Law Society of Scotland CEO, said: “It has been a real privilege to chair the judging panel for the Scottish Legal Awards this year.

"The standard of entries was exceptional and it is inspiring to see the depth of talent, innovation, and commitment to excellence across Scotland’s legal profession.

Tonight’s celebration, with over 660 people in the room, was a powerful reminder of the strength of our legal community and the important role it plays in society.

"Congratulations to all our winners and finalists – your achievements truly set the benchmark for excellence in the sector.” 

The 2025 Scottish Legal Awards is raising funds for two important organisations: (the newly rebranded) Lawscot Foundation and It’s Good 2 Give.

Sponsors of this year's event and categories include the Law Society of Scotland, Denovo Amiqus, Frasia Wright Associates, Groundsure, Hamiltons Law Accountants, Property Searches Scotland, and The Times and The Sunday Times Scotland.

Here is a full list of all the winners and finalists:

Firm of the Year (250 employees and over) sponsored by Amiqus

Winner: Thorntons Law LLP

Finalists 
Burges Salmon 
Digby Brown Solicitors 
Gilson Gray

Firm of the Year (Under 250 employees) sponsored by Amiqus

Winner: Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents

Finalists 
Allan McDougall Solicitors 
Blackadders LLP 
Clarity Simplicity 
Holmes Mackillop 
Jones Whyte 
Kaur Sutherland (Macrae and Kaur) 
Livingstone Brown 
MJC LAW 
RD Legal 
Spanish + Scottish Law Practice Ltd 
The Glasgow Law Practice

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by The Times

The Right Hon Lord Hodge

Business Leadership Award

Fraser Oliver, Digby Brown

 
Law Champion of the Year

Rachel Moon and Lorna Walker from Govan Law Centre

Community Care & Social Responsibility Award sponsored by Frasia Wright Associates

Winner: Clan Childlaw / Digby Brown Solicitors

Finalists 
Allan McDougall Solicitors 
Brown Owl Legal Support 
Clarity Simplicity 
Gillespie Macandrew LLP 
Innes & MacKay 
Mediation Clinic at University of Strathclyde 
Shared Parenting Scotland

Legal Technology & Support Team of the Year

Winner: Property Searches Scotland

Finalists 
Blackadders LLP 
Cashroom 
Digby Brown Solicitors 
ESPC 
Estatesearch Ltd 
Jones Whyte 
Millar & Bryce

Excellence in Client Care sponsored by Groundsure

Winner: L&M MediLaw

Finalists 
Clan Childlaw 
Clarity Simplicity 
Digby Brown Solicitors 
Jamieson Law 
Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents 
RD Legal Services 
Spanish + Scottish Law Practice Ltd

Marketing & Business Development Team of the Year (NEW)

Winner: Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents

Finalists 
Digby Brown Solicitors 
Finders International 
Gilson Gray LLP  
Jones Whyte

Litigation Team of the Year sponsored by Hamiltons Law Accountants

Winner: L&M MediLaw

Finalists 
Aberdein Considine 
Allan McDougall Solicitors 
Clinical Negligence Litigation Team at Balfour+Manson  
Digby Brown Solicitors 
Gilson Gray 
Jones Whyte 
Livingstone Brown 
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland

Property Team of the Year sponsored by Property Searches Scotland

Winner: Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents

Highly Commended: Scullion LAW

Finalists 
Aberdein Considine 
Kaur Sutherland (Macrae and Kaur) 
RD Legal Solicitors Limited

Excellence in Support & Wellbeing

Winner: Jones Whyte

Finalists 
Brodies LLP  
Thorntons Law LLP

Family Law or Private Client Team of the Year

Winner: MacPhee & Partners

Finalists 
Aberdein Considine 
Blackadders LLP 
Gilson Gray 
Jones Whyte 
Scullion LAW 
Stronachs LLP 
Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie

Excellence in Equity & Inclusion sponsored by Law Society of Scotland

Winner: Disabling Barriers Scotland

Finalists 
Belmont Solicitors  
Brodies LLP

In-House Legal Team of the Year

Winner: Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA – Corporate Legal)

Finalists 
BAE Systems Naval Ships

Criminal Defence Team of the Year sponsored by Denovo

Winner: Livingstone Brown

Finalists 
rradar 
McGovern Reid Court Lawyers 
The Glasgow Law Practice

Paralegal of the Year

Winner: Emma Hamilton, Clarity Simplicity

Highly Commended: Gillian Ross, Gillespie Mcandrew LLP

Finalists 
Pali Dhesi, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Rising Star of the Year

Winner: Nadine Montgomery, L&M MediLaw

Finalists 
Christie Allan, Livingstone Brown 
Danny Anderson, Aberdein Considine 
Ellen Masters, Aberdein Considine 
Fiona Anderson, MacPhee & Partners 
Gideon Green, CMS 
Priya Cunningham, rradar 
Sarah Munro, Livingstone Brown 
Tom Main, Aberdein Considine 
Tom McGovern, McGovern Reid Court Lawyers 
Nicola McGorm, Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie

Lawyer of the Year sponsored by Law Society of Scotland

Winner: Catriona Watt, Anderson Strathern

Finalists 
Ignacio Chanza-Jordan, Spanish & Scottish Law Practice 
Michael Hughes, Serenity Legal Scotland 
Stuart Munro, Livingstone Brown