Social Events
HAMPSHIRE LAW SOCIETY A N N U A L
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250 guests attended the Hampshire Law Society Annual Dinner and awards ceremony held at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Tuesday 19 May. Top table guests of the President Matthew Robbins, included Councillor David Fuller, The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, guest speaker Kevin Keegan, representatives from Hampshire Fire and Rescue and Hampshire Constabulary and officers from neighbouring law societies. Guests gathered for drinks at the adventure play zone, Action Stations, where some swapped their dinner jackets for safety harnesses and tried the skills on the climbing wall.
Solicitor of the year was scooped by Mark Tooley of Larcomes. Smith & Williamson won Solicitors Accountancy firm of the year and Barclays triumphed in the banking category.
After drinks they went over the road to Boathouse 7 where the threecourse dinner and awards ceremony took place.
All the winners collected their award from former England, Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton footballer Kevin Keegan, who was the guest speaker.
DUTTON Gregory took Hampshire Incorporated Law Society’s ‘Large Law Firm of the Year’ award. In addition one of Dutton Gregory’s clinical negligence team, Victoria Whelan, was runner-up for Junior Solicitor of the Year. Victoria said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been recognised amongst a group of my peers and would like to thank Dutton Gregory for all their support.” The best small firm was Biscoes which traces its roots back 162 years, employs 100 staff at six offices in Portsmouth, Gosport, Portchester, Wickham, Waterlooville and Petersfield.
As well as handing out the awards Kevin Keegan spoke about his varied career in football and later signed England and Newcastle shirts which he had donated to a charity auction. The evening raised just under £2,000 which will be split equally between the Solicitors Benevolent Association and the Flutterby Fund, a charity which aim is to improve the lives of physically and mentally impaired children from low income families. Sponsors for the event were Landmark, Independent Financial Solutions, JLT, Brighter Law Solutions, College Chambers and Think Marble.
Managing director Alison Lee said: “I am very proud of this achievement – it is the icing on the cake during a big year of expansion for Biscoes, including our merger with Graeme Quar & Co.”
SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR: Andy Miles, CEO Think Marble, Mark Tooley, Larcomes (Winner) Kevin Keegan
JUNIOR SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR: David Stamp, Independent Financial Solutions; Sarah Hallett, Churchers Bolitho Way (Winner) and Kevin Keegan.
SOLICITOR’S ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR: Kevin Keegan, Rebecca Combes, Smith and Williamson (Winner) and Steve Johnson, Landmark
SOLICITORS BANK OF THE YEAR: Kevin Keegan, Stuart Bulpitt, David Goodings, College Chambers
HAMPSHIRE LAW SOCIETY A N N U A L
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Hampshire Legal
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SAVE THE DATE! THURSDAY 25TH MAY 2017