HILS ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS

Hampshire Law Society Annual Dinner and Awards –Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa

Friday 13 June 2025

A

s summarised in my President’s report, I had the honour and privilege of hosting this year’s Annual Dinner and Legal Awards which took place at The MacDonald Botley Park Hotel , on Friday 13th June.  The event has around 120 guests. huge thanks to all the staff there who helped make the event a success.

The event could not have taken place without the assistance of the committee of HILS and our marketing partner Rachel Tombs and her team from Orion Legal marketing.

The event kicked off after arrival refreshments with a short introduction and welcome from me before we had a presentation from Gillian Finch founder of my charity of the year CIS’ters, This followed a sumptuous three course dinner, followed by my main speech which encompassed my career to date, 200-year celebration of the law society and Equality, Inclusion and Diversity.  We had the pleasure of hearing from our guest speaker Abby Rolling who was former criminal barrister -now turned comedian gave us some laughs and insights into her life as a criminal lawyer.

We then held our awards for the year which included two additional categories this year.  The categories were Large Law firm of the Year, Small Law firm of the Year; Lawyer of the year, Junior Lawyer of the Year; Pro Bono Contribution Award and A Diversity and Inclusion Award.  Congratulations to all the nominees, Runners up and Winners.  The runners up and winners in each category were as follows:-

The event could not have taken place without the assistance of the committee of HILS and our marketing partner Rachel Tombs and her team from Orion Legal marketing.

The event kicked off after arrival refreshments with a short introduction and welcome from me before we had a presentation from Gillian Finch founder of my charity of the year CIS’ters, This followed a sumptuous three course dinner, followed by my main speech which encompassed my career to date, 200-year celebration of the law society and Equality, Inclusion and Diversity.  We had the pleasure of hearing from our guest speaker Abby Rolling who was former criminal barrister -now turned comedian gave us some laughs and insights into her life as a criminal lawyer.

We then held our awards for the year which included two additional categories this year.  The categories were Large Law firm of the Year, Small Law firm of the Year; Lawyer of the year, Junior Lawyer of the Year; Pro Bono Contribution Award and A Diversity and Inclusion Award.  Congratulations to all the nominees, Runners up and Winners.  The runners up and winners in each category were as follows:-

Winner Large Firm of the Year

Stowe Family Law

Runner Up Large Firm of the Year

Thrings

Winner Small Firm of the Year

Biscoes Solicitors

Runner Up Small Firm of the Year

Larcomes

Winner Lawyer of the Year

Kate Barber of Thrings

Runner Up Lawyer of the Year

Mo Aldridge of Jasper Vincent

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CONTRIBUTION

Biscoes Socitors

WINNER Pro Bono Contribution

University of Southampton

RUNNER UP Pro Bono Contribution

Larcomes

Thaks to my top table guests Mo Aldridge – President of SAALS; Paul Davies – Secretary of SAALS – Mark Proctor Vice president of Bournemouth and District Law Society; Ms Josephine Pilling President of Berks Bucks and Oxon Law society and Ms Angela Arnold – Vice President of Sussex Law Society; my guest speaker Abby Rolling and the founder of my Charity CIS’ters Gillian Finch.

Thanks of course to those who donated raffle prizes (two many to mention) and to our Sponsors Barclays, Actionstep, Iceberg No18 Chambers, Orion Legal Marketing and Clio.

Finally thank you to each and everyone who attended the event would not have been a success without you. ■

Hampshire Law Society Annual Dinner and Awards – Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa Friday 13 June 2025

Hampshire Law Society Annual Dinner and Awards – Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa Friday 13 June 2025