Surrey Law Society

AWARD CATEGORIES

The categories for the 2026 SLS Legal Awards are listed below.

Law Firm of the Year (16+ Fee Earners)
Law Firm of the Year (Up to 15 Fee Earners)
Client Experience Award
Community Impact Award
Employer of the Year
Family Law Team of the Year
Private Client Team of the Year
Property Law Team of the Year
Legal Team of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award
Outstanding Surrey Lawyer of the Year
Professional Support & Practice Management Award
Rising Star Award
Strategic Leadership Award

2026 FINALISTS

Law Firm of the Year (16+ Fee Earners)

Burley Geach Solicitors LLP
DMH Stallard LLP
Downs Solicitors
Elite Law Solicitors
Howell Jones Solicitors
Owen White Catlin
Law Firm of the Year (Up to 15 Fee Earners)

Helen Smith Immigration
Pearson Hards LLP
Rosewood Solicitors
Surrey Hills Solicitors
Venters Solicitors
Client Experience Award

Burley Geach Solicitors LLP
KGW Family Law
Peacock & Co Solicitors
Rosewood Solicitors
Community Impact Award

Downs Solicitors
Family Team, Dutton Gregory LLP
Elite Law Solicitors
Helen Smith Immigration
Meadows & Co
Peacock & Co Solicitors
Employer of the Year

DMH Stallard LLP
GBH Law Ltd
Rosewood Solicitors
Family Law Team of the Year

Elite Law Solicitors
Howell Jones Solicitors
Matrimonial and Care Team, Rosewood Solicitors
Penningtons Manches Cooper
Surrey Hills Solicitors
Venters Solicitors
Private Client Team of the Year

Downs Solicitors
Howell Jones Solicitors
Morr & Co LLP
Private Wealth Disputes Team, Moore Barlow
Russell-Cooke LLP
TWM Solicitors
Property Law Team of the Year

Burley Geach Solicitors LLP
DMH Stallard LLP
Elite Law Solicitors
Morr & Co LLP
Pearson Hards LLP
Surrey Property Lawyers
TWM Solicitors
Legal Team of the Year

Court of Protection Team, Morr & Co LLP
Criminal Defence Team, Rosewood Solicitors
Education Team, Russell-Cooke LLP
Lifetime Achievement Award

No shortlist is published for the Lifetime Achievement Award. The recipient will be announced at the SLS Legal Awards on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Outstanding Surrey Lawyer of the Year

Katherine Carroll, Peacock & Co Solicitors
Holly Chantler, Morr & Co LLP
Alastair Hargreaves, Meadows & Co
Rachael House, Dutton Gregory LLP
Samantha Jago, DMH Stallard LLP
Will Macauley, TWM Solicitors
Professional Support & Practice Management Award

Aliyah Akhtar, Rosewood Solicitors
Management Support Team, Burley Geach Solicitors LLP
Client Services Team, Elite Law Solicitors
Rising Star Award

Emily MacNiven, Downs Solicitors
Claire-Louise Smith, Pearson Hards LLP
Samantha Smith, DMH Stallard LLP
Rebekah Sutcliffe, Morr & Co LLP
Evie Walmsley, Meadows & Co
Strategic Leadership Award

Victoria Clarke, Elite Law Solicitors
Emma Patel & Dev Jummoodoo, Rosewood Solicitors
Karin Walker, KGW Family Law

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Date: Thursday 15 October 2026

Venue: G Live, London Road, Guildford GU1 2AA

Bookings Now Open

Join us at G Live, Guildford for an unforgettable evening celebrating the very best of Surrey’s legal profession.

Ticket Prices

Early Bird

Book by Friday 31 July 2026

Individual Ticket
£165 + VAT

Table of 10
£1,500 + VAT

Additional Table(s)
£1,250 + VAT

Standard Rates

Individual Ticket
£180 + VAT

Table of 10
£1,700 + VAT

Additional Table(s)
£1,450 + VAT

Book early and save up to £200 on a table booking.

Why Attend?

✓ Celebrate with more than 300 legal professionals from across Surrey

✓ Recognise outstanding firms, teams and individuals

✓ Drinks reception on arrival

✓ Three-course dinner with half a bottle of wine per guest

✓ Special guest host and entertainment

✓ Post-awards entertainment and networking

Evening Programme

6:00pm

Reception

Lower Foyer

7:00pm

Welcome by the President

Main Auditorium

7:15pm

Dinner

Main Auditorium

8:45pm

After-Dinner Speech

Main Auditorium

9:30pm

Awards Ceremony

Main Auditorium

10:30pm

Post-Awards Entertainment and Bar

Lower Foyer

12:30am

Carriages

How to Book

Secure your tickets online via Ticket Tailor, or contact Elouise if you have any booking queries.

Book Online
Contact Elouise

Payment Options

Credit/debit card via online booking
Bank transfer available on request
Cheque made payable to Surrey Law Society

Please note that online bookings are subject to a booking fee of 1.5% plus 80p per transaction.

Accommodation

G Live does not have any accommodation onsite, but there are a number of nearby options available for those wishing to stay overnight.

Both the Mandolay Hotel and Harbour Hotel are within a two-minute walk of G Live, with Travelodge Guildford a short drive away. Other nearby options include Guildford Manor Hotel & Spa and Holiday Inn Guildford.

Please note that Surrey Law Society has not reserved rooms, so guests should contact hotels directly or use hotel booking websites to check availability and rates.

The Mandolay Hotel – website
The Harbour Hotel – website
Guildford Manor Hotel & Spa – website
Holiday Inn Guildford – website
Travelodge Guildford – website
Other Travelodge hotels in the area can be viewed here.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made before 7 August 2026 will receive a full refund.
Cancellations made between 8 August and 4 September 2026 will receive a 50% refund.
No refunds will be given for cancellations made after 5 September 2026.

GUEST SPEAKER

A special guest host for the SLS Legal Awards 2026 will be announced shortly.

Guest Speaker & Host

To be announced

We look forward to announcing our guest speaker and host for the SLS Legal Awards 2026 soon.

The SLS Legal Awards are known for bringing together Surrey’s legal community for an evening of celebration, connection and entertainment.

Following the success of last year’s ceremony, which welcomed more than 300 guests to G Live, Guildford, the 2026 Awards will once again feature a special guest host, live awards ceremony and post-awards entertainment.

Further details will be announced shortly.

2026 Sponsors

HEADLINE SPONSOR OF THE SLS LEGAL AWARDS 2026

Evelyn Partners is the UK’s leading integrated wealth management and professional services group, created following the merger of Tilney and Smith & Williamson. With £54.4 billion of assets under management (as at 31 March 2023), it ranks as the second largest UK wealth manager measured by EBITDA and the fifth largest professional services firm ranked by fee income (source: Accountancy Age 50+50 rankings, 2022).

It has a network of offices across 28 towns and cities in the UK, as well as the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands. Through its operating companies, the Group offers an extensive range of financial and professional services to individuals, family trusts, professional intermediaries, charities and businesses.

Evelyn Partners’ purpose is to ‘place the power of good advice into more hands’, and it is uniquely well-placed to support clients with both their personal financial affairs and their business interests. Evelyn Partner’s personal wealth management services include financial planning, investment management and advice, personal tax advice and, through Bestinvest, an award-winning online investment service for self-directed investors. For businesses, its wide range of services includes assurance and accounting, business tax advice, employee benefits, forensic advice, fund administration, fund governance, recovery and restructuring and transaction services.

Visit the Evelyn Partners Website

Evelyn Partners, Headline Sponsor & Sponsor of Law Firm of the Year (20+)

Evelyn Partners is the UK’s leading integrated wealth management and professional services group, created following the merger of Tilney and Smith & Williamson. With £55.8 billion of assets under management (as at 31 March 2022), it ranks as the second largest UK wealth manager measured by EBITDA and the sixth largest professional services firm ranked by fee income (source: Accountancy Age 50+50 rankings, 2021). It has a network of offices across 27 towns and cities in the UK, as well as the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands. Through its operating companies, the Group offers an extensive range of financial and professional services to individuals, family trusts, professional intermediaries, charities and businesses.

Evelyn Partners’ purpose is to ‘place the power of good advice into more hands’, and it is uniquely well-placed to support clients with both their personal financial affairs and their business interests. Evelyn Partner’s personal wealth management services include financial planning, investment management and advice, personal tax advice and, through Bestinvest, an award-winning online investment service for self-directed investors. For businesses, its wide range of services includes assurance and accounting, business tax advice, employee benefits, forensic advice, fund administration, fund governance, recovery and restructuring and transaction services.

View Website

Pro Drive, Sponsor of Law Firm of the Year (Under 20)

Pro Drive work with law firms who prefer to outsource the planning and management of their IT systems. Our clients want to use technology to help put them ahead of their competition but they do not have the time or expertise to do this themselves. We can help with IT Support & Cyber Security, built around a strategic plan.

View Website

Guildford Chambers, Sponsor of Family Law Team of the Year

Guildford Chambers is a progressive, multi-disciplinary set of barristers, uniquely positioned to provide competitive and effective advocacy for individuals and businesses in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, London and the Southeast.

Our growing portfolio of client’s value that we work with them as an extension of their team, and we endeavour to build strong and successful working relationships. We operate a system of specialist practice groups which ensure you receive the best advice and advocacy from your chosen barrister.

Our barristers and experienced, responsive clerking team share an uncompromising attitude to quality and client service with a sensible approach to cost.

View Website

Landmark Information, Sponsor of Property Law Team of the Year

Landmark Information is at the forefront of legal products and data supply to support the UK’s Property Professionals. Our dedicated, personal approach supports legal professionals in their due diligence in line with the Law Society and SRA requirements. Landmarks longevity in the legal market brings valuable experience and dependability to risk solutions whilst continuing to innovate.

View Website

Cansford Laboratories, Sponsor of Community Impact Award

Cansford Labs is a Cardiff-based specialist in drug, alcohol and DNA testing, and proud sponsors of the Community Impact Award. Since 2010, we have worked alongside barristers, family lawyers, social workers and safeguarding professionals, delivering fast, accurate and court-ready results within three working days. Our work sits at the intersection of science and human consequence. The outcomes we help inform ripple outward into families, communities, and lives. We are delighted to sponsor the Community Impact Award because we understand, every day, what it means to do work that genuinely matters beyond the walls of an organisation.

View Website

VSiD, Sponsor of Professional Support & Practice Management Award

VSiD Verify is a leading provider of electronic signature, digital identity and fraud detection technology with solutions especially tailored for the legal claims and property conveyance sectors. With fraud on the increase, and mounting pressure from regulators to ensure due diligence standards are met, VSiD can help automate onboarding processes, reduce risk and save time. VSiD is a government listed Digital Verification Service (DVS) and an HMLR Gateway partner that complies with GPG45, UK ICO/eIDAS 2 regulations, meets ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certification standards and is FCA approved for Open Banking to verify bank account ownership.

View Website

We have a range of sponsorship options available for the 2025 SLS Legal Awards, details of which can be found here.

For further information on the opportunities available, email Helen Opie, CEO at helen.opie@surreylawsociety.org.uk.

Meet the Judges

Rita Leat

Rita Leat is the former Chief Executive of the Institute of Paralegals and founder of the Professional Paralegal Register. With over 30 years’ experience in the Paralegal sector, she has championed the interests of Paralegals Nationally. She is a strategic adviser and consultant to law firms.

John-Paul MacNamara

John-Paul was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 2008 and cross-qualified as a solicitor in 2011. He worked for many years for a Top 100 Law firm and was eventually promoted to partner and Head of Crown Court Advocacy before moving to GT Stewart Solicitors and Advocates in 2017. He has appeared in the Crown Court as Leading Junior, Led Junior and Junior alone and has advocated extensively in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). He has represented defendants for offences ranging from intercontinental drug importation to kidnap and murder. He completed his vulnerable witness training with the Law Society and is well known in London courts for his measured style of advocacy and tenacious closing speeches.

J-P was shortlisted in the 2015 and 2016 Law Society Excellence Awards in the category of “Solicitor Advocate of the Year”. In the 2016 shortlist the Judges’ panel, described him as “having developed a reputation as a leading advocate – particularly in cross-examination of expert witnesses”. At GT Stewart he was a prominent member of their Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners ranked crime teams, and won The “Lawyer of the Year Award” with the Surrey Law Society in 2019.

In January 2020 J-P joined the staff at the City Law School where he works as a Senior Lecturer on their Bar Vocational Studies course and serves as Associate Dean for Enterprise, Engagement and Employability. J-P is also a Door Tenant and practising barrister at 33 Bedford Row.

Neil Rose

Neil is a qualified solicitor and has been a legal journalist since 1995. He is the founder and editor of Legal Futures, a news-driven website providing market intelligence for law firms of the future. He is a recognised market commentator on ABSs, legal regulation and the future of the market.

A winner of the Legal Journalism of the Year award at the Halsbury Legal Awards, Neil is also a co-director of Black Letter Communications, a specialist public relations agency for the legal sector.

Allie Parsons

Allie Parsons, Customer Success Consultant – Landmark Information Group

Engagement and education are key to Allie’s role as Customer Success Consultant. She has over 30 years’ experience in marketing, consulting & advising various businesses, the last 16 years working with Law firms. She also has a broad experience in professional training and delivers seminars and training sessions for legal professionals on a range of property related issues.

Helen Forster

Helen is the owner and managing director of HTF Legal. Since qualifying in 2009, Helen has specialised in Wills, Probate, Trusts, Tax and Court of Protection matters, and Helen is a Dementia Champion with Age UK, a member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, and a member of STEP (The Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners).

Helen’s other work includes seminars, lecturing and training throughout the Country with institutions such as regional Law Societies and MBL Seminars Limited, as well as providing in house training on a number of subjects. Helen is also an author of Tolleys.

Over her career Helen has won multiple awards, both personally and as part of the firm HTF Legal. Most recently she was highly commended as Lawyer of the Year at the Modern Law awards 2026, where the firm won Boutique Law Firm of the year for a second time running as well as Wills and Probate team of the year.

Bruce Penson

Bruce is the Managing Director of Pro Drive IT and is dedicated to helping people use technology to do business better. Bruce is also a productivity and cyber security presenter with many years’ experience in IT, especially working with the Legal, Accountancy and Financial Services sectors. Outside of IT, Bruce loves the outdoors and is a keen mountain biking, snow sports and sailing enthusiast.

Anna Newport

Anna Newport is a well-respected solicitor with a comprehensive background in land and property law. Her diverse experience, ranging from large corporate to local firms, has equipped her with extensive knowledge covering most conveyancing topics. Renowned for her expertise in complex land law, Anna combines her legal acumen with a straightforward approach, serving clients across England and Wales.

As the Managing Director of Newport Land and Law since 2017, she has contributed significantly to the field, often consulted by statutory bodies and government departments for her clear insights. She is one of the course authors for the Law Society’s CQS accreditation and is an occasional contributor to a number of conveyancing publications.

Paul Matthews

Paul Matthews, CCXP, is the Customer Experience Director for insight6, overseeing the regions of Surrey and Sussex. With a robust background in the Health and Fitness Sector spanning 20 years, Paul has cultivated extensive experience in customer-facing roles and has taken on significant commercial responsibilities within various businesses.

For the past nine and a half years, Paul has dedicated his career to Customer Experience (CX), focusing on helping businesses across all sectors from Attractions to Professional Services to become customer-centric. When Customer Centricity is achieved it results in improved new business acquisition, greater repeat purchases, and increased customer referrals. His philosophy is simple yet profound: by placing the customer at the heart of the business and making them the focal point, remarkable business performance is achievable.

Paul’s expertise in CX is well-recognized, as he is one of only 74 individuals in the UK to hold the prestigious ‘Certified Customer Experience Professional’ (CCXP) accreditation.

At insight6, although their services span across all industries, Paul and his colleagues work with over 150 law firms, assisting them in gaining deeper insights into their prospect and client experiences, and in turn, helping them to achieve their wider business goals.

We are delighted to welcome Paul to our judging panel for this year’s Surrey Business Awards.

Neil Partridge

The Operations Director at PDA Legal, Neil supervises the PDA team’s work on key compliance and risk management concerns in legal practices all over the country.

PDA’s clients include high-volume, niche/specialist, multi-office, sole practitioners and multinational firms, with a remit of support that involves R21 Independent AML audits, in-person training, consultancy, file reviews and policy authoring on aspects including; AML, SRA inspections, the GDPR, CQS, Lexcel and cyber security.

Neil has personally conducted more than 800 auditing, training or consultancy visits. Topically, including extensive and timely support to firms undergoing SRA AML inspections.

A contributor to Thomson Reuters Practical Law, he has also authored and presented material and webinars for the Law Society, as well as speaking at numerous Law Society national conferences.

Neil is a co-founder of the Best Practice Group, enjoying regular contact with more than 140 ‘BPG’ member practices from across the UK, including several Surrey Law Society firms.

Nicola Holland

Nicola was called to the bar in 2010 and completed Pupillage at Guildford Chambers, where she has remained and is now Deputy Head of Chambers. Nicola has a busy family practice, specialising in children work with extensive experience of proceedings brought under the Children Act 1989, including cases with elements of domestic abuse (both adult and child), intractable hostility and the enforcement of orders. In addition, Nicola deals with all aspects of family finances, including Maintenance Pending Suit and cases involving interveners and bankruptcy, as well as cases brought under the Family Law Act 1996.

Outside of work, Nicola is kept busy by her two children and their many activities. She loves to travel, building on three years spent in Paris, where she completed her undergraduate degree.

Jan Galloway

After a 32-year career as a family lawyer, including establishing and leading the Family Department at Richmond for Moore Blatch before its merger into Moore Barlow, I retired from legal practice in 2023.

Since retiring from practice, I have qualified as a Divorce Coach and an accredited mediator, and have completed a degree in Humanistic Counselling, qualifying as a Humanistic Counsellor. I now provide a holistic approach to clients experiencing family issues offering divorce coaching, counselling and mediation services to address both the practical and emotional aspects of relationship breakdown, about which I am passionate. I remain closely connected to the family law profession as Chair of the Surrey Resolution Committee and the Thameside Collaborative Pod, ensuring my work continues to be informed by current legal developments and best practice.

Bianca Castro

Bianca Castro is The Law Society Gazette’s courts editor. As well as legal and courts news, she covers both civil and criminal cases across the country including in the Royal Courts of Justice, the Rolls and the Supreme Court and regulatory and employment tribunals. Her work has been referenced in a Justice Committee report, she regularly covers the Lady Chief Justice’s annual conference and recently covered the High Court case in the Mariana dam collapse as well as the announcement of the government’s aim for AI legal assistants in the courts.

THE SLS LEGAL AWARDS 2026 WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 2026

AWARD CATEGORIES

2026 FINALISTS

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Bookings Now Open

Ticket Prices

Early Bird

Standard Rates

Why Attend?

Evening Programme

How to Book

Payment Options

Accommodation

Cancellation Policy

GUEST SPEAKER

Guest Speaker & Host

To be announced

2026 Sponsors

We have a range of sponsorship options available for the 2025 SLS Legal Awards, details of which can be found here.

For further information on the opportunities available, email Helen Opie, CEO at helen.opie@surreylawsociety.org.uk.

Meet the Judges

Rita Leat

John-Paul MacNamara

Neil Rose

Allie Parsons

Helen Forster

Bruce Penson

Anna Newport

Paul Matthews

Neil Partridge

Nicola Holland

Jan Galloway

Bianca Castro

FAQS

Gallery

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