JACKSON & Canter, Liverpool’s biggest Legal Aid outfit, was named Merseyside’s Law Firm of the Year at a glittering ceremony on Saturday.
The judges remarked on the firm’s commitment to “pushing the boundaries for its clients” and to “putting legal excellence before profit”. The Church Street-based lawyers also scooped the President’s Award for Human Rights Work.
Jackson & Canter have one of the city’s busiest asylum claims departments and handle scores of cases against the police, as well as private client work.
Liverpool Law Society held its second bi-annual Legal Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The four-strong judging panel included the Recorder of Liverpool, His Honour Judge Henry Globe, QC, Peter Rhodes, past president of Liverpool Law Society, Neil Ashbridge, from the Bank of England, and the College of Law’s Professor Stephen Mayson.
Hill Dickinson was also nominated for the evening’s top award.
Andrew Holroyd, Jackson and Canter’s managing partner, told LDP Legal: “This really is a fantastic achievement for Jackson & Canter.
“It’s a representation of the strength of the profession here. We have got Hill Dickinson, an international law firm based here in Liverpool, who have just opened in Singapore, doing international shipping work, acting for the great commercial clients, and we’re here acting for those who are more disadvantaged, the newcomers to our society – the immigration clients.
“To see us both nominated and shortlisted – it must have been a very difficult job for the judges, but I’m glad they went for us.”
Reflecting on the event, Charlie Jones, Liverpool Law Society President, said: “It’s been great. There’s been lots of people here and they all seem to have enjoyed it. There’s been lots of winners from all different parts of the community.”
Asked if the awards would return in two years’ time, Mr Jones added: “Who knows what’s going to happen in 2011, but I would have thought so.”
REX MAKIN, a founder partner of E Rex Makin and Co, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, after celebrating 60 years in practice.
