The wait is over – the winner have been announced!
The SLS Legal Awards, sponsored by Evelyn Partners, established in 2018, continued to honour the exceptional legal talent within the Surrey Law Society membership at it’s seventh Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, held at G Live on Thursday 16th October. This prestigious event recognised the outstanding commitment and achievements of legal professionals across the county and we were thrilled to announce winners across 14 categories, highlighting the most exemplary work in the legal field.
The shortlist is now out, and bookings will be open shortly. We’re also excited to announce the guest speaker for this year’s ceremony—details coming soon!
The categories for the 2025 SLS Legal Awards are:
Howell-Jones LLP
Nichols Marcy Dawson LLP (Winner)
Rosewood Solicitors (Highly Commended)
Natalie Payne, Morr & Co LLP
Peacock & Co Solicitors
Helen Smith Immigration
Morr & Co LLP (Winner)
GBH Law (Highly Commended)
Morr & Co LLP
Dutton Gregory Solicitors (Winner)
Pearson Hards LLP (Highly Commended)
Nathan Chalmers, Howell-Jones LLP
Sushila Abraham, S. Abraham Solicitors
Karin Walker, KGW Family Law
Russell-Cooke LLP
Peacock & Co Solicitors
Pru Singer, Russell-Cooke LLP
Date: Thursday 16th October 2025
Venue: G Live, London Rd, Guildford GU1 2AA.
To secure your tickets, please visit our booking page or contact Elouise.Enright@surreylawsociety.org.uk.
| 6:00pm | Welcome Reception | Lower Foyer |
| 7:00pm | Welcome by the President | Main Auditorium |
| 7:15pm | Gala Dinner | Main Auditorium |
| 8:45pm | An After-Dinner Speech | Main Auditorium |
| 9:30pm | SLS Legal Awards Ceremony | Main Auditorium |
| 10:30pm | Post Awards Entertainment and Bar | Lower Foyer |
| 12:30am | Carriages |
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 2-minute walk of G Live, with the Travelodge Guildford a 6-minute drive away and Guildford Manor Hotel & Spa and the Holiday Inn 10 minutes’ drive away.
The Surrey Law Society has not reserved any rooms but at the time of writing, all venues listed above are showing availability for the night of the 12th October, with other options also available via the major hotel bookings websites. Please visit sites such as booking.com or hotels.com or the hotel websites directly to ascertain availability and the most preferable rates.
Shaun Wallace is a barrister, lecturer, and well-known television personality, best recognised as one of the iconic ‘Chasers’ on ITV’s The Chase. Known by fans as ‘The Dark Destroyer’ and ‘The Legal Eagle’, Shaun has featured on the show since its launch in 2009, impressing audiences with his broad knowledge and calm authority.
Admitted to the Bar in 1984, Shaun has enjoyed a long and distinguished legal career. He continues to practise as a member of Great James Street Chambers and regularly lectures in law, specialising in areas such as environmental law and health and safety. His dual role as a legal professional and educator has made him a compelling advocate for legal education and access to the profession.
In 2004, Shaun became the first Black winner of the BBC’s Mastermind, and has since competed on a number of other high-profile quiz shows including The Weakest Link, Celebrity Catchphrase, Countdown, and Are You an Egghead?. In 2012, he placed in the top 300 at the World Quizzing Championships, underlining his standing as one of the country’s brightest quiz minds.
Shaun is also a powerful and passionate voice for racial equality and social inclusion. He regularly speaks at events and in the media during Black History Month, sharing his lived experience to highlight the ongoing need for progress. His interviews on programmes such as Good Morning Britain and Channel 5’s Racism: My Story have resonated with millions, offering a candid perspective on racism in Britain today. He advocates for the inclusion of Black History to the curriculum on the basis of supporting greater respect of all people in the country.
From the courtroom to the classroom to the television screen, Shaun Wallace has carved out a unique and impactful career – one that continues to inform, challenge and inspire.
HEADLINE SPONSOR OF THE SLS LEGAL AWARDS 2025
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.
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.
Helen Clifford Law, Drinks Reception Sponsor & Sponsor of Lawyer of the Year
Helen Clifford Law was established in June 2021 by Helen Clifford, a multi-award-winning solicitor with over 28 years of experience representing injured and bereaved clients. The firm specialises in complex personal injury and medical negligence claims, offering a bespoke, personal service tailored to client’s individual needs. Renowned for achieving outstanding outcomes, Helen frequently represents high-profile clients – most recently securing a successful settlement for Nick Sturdee in his claim against the BBC. In addition to her legal work, Helen is a passionate campaigner for improved workplace health and safety, with a particular focus on the construction industry.
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.
Konsileo, Sponsor of Business Services Team of the Year
Konsileo is redefining the insurance landscape by empowering brokers with cutting-edge technology, resources, and freedom to deliver bespoke protection for every client. Their collaborative model combines expert advice with innovative tools to create a seamless, future-focused broking experience. Representing Konsileo, Alex Hill brings a wealth of insight from a background in law firm management, where he was often the client securing policies such as Professional Indemnity, Office, and Cyber. With experience in small businesses and a family history in insurance, Alex understands diverse priorities and is committed to delivering clear, practical advice and tailored solutions for every business.
Insight6, Sponsor of Client Experience Award
As Customer Experience (CX) specialists in the legal sector, insight6 partners with over 250 UK law firms to drive new business, retain satisfied clients, and foster a CX-focused culture. We help firms measure client journeys, gather real-time feedback, and deliver motivational team training, ensuring CX becomes a boardroom priority. For more information, contact Paul Matthews at paul.matthews@insight6.com.
Barbri, Sponsor of Employer of the Year
BARBRI supports over 250 leading law firms across the UK with SQE and legal skills training. Our flexible, accessible, and dynamic learning model, combined with market-leading pass rates, makes BARBRI the trusted partner for legal education, whether you’re training future solicitors, upskilling paralegals, or supporting lawyers qualified in other jurisdictions.
We deliver exceptional support to our law firm partners, including live student progress reports, exam vouchers, and a dedicated client services team committed to meeting your needs.
Leveraging 50 years of expertise and ongoing investment in technology, BARBRI’s courses are delivered online in a way that’s both engaging and impactful, ensuring your teams are prepared for success.
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.
Actionstep, Sponsor of Leader of the Year
Actionstep is a fast-growing, dynamic SaaS (Software as a Service) business with a global customer base, including 22,000+ users globally and 100+ UK law firms. Actionstep delivers a comprehensive legal practice management cloud platform to midsize law firms looking for a flexible all-in-one solution.
Combining all the work of law firms in one platform, including Matter Management, CRM, Document Assembly and Management, Time and Billing, Payments, Client and Business Accounting, Reporting, and more, Actionstep is where law works.
Fraser & Fraser, Sponsor of Private Client Team of the Year
Fraser and Fraser is home to expert genealogists and probate researchers who offer you and your clients a first-class service. At the forefront of the industry, we support legal professionals to locate missing beneficiaries and heirs worldwide.
All our case managers are registered under the Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) regulated by the Institute of Paralegals (IoP), we are an award-winning ISO 9001, 27001, 14001 and 45001 accredited business.
Offering a range of services;
– Missing Beneficiary Insurance
– Free Family Tree Check
– Risk-free Administrator Search Service
– And more!
We pride ourselves on our commitment and clarity, treating each referral on a case-by-case basis. We’re happy to answer your questions, please do get in touch.
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.
Find Me A Solicitor, Balloon Sponsor
Find me a solicitor, founded in 2022 by a qualified solicitor Dee Kundi, is a multi-award winning digital legal tech platform which is a FREE and independent service for all individuals and businesses looking for the right solicitors for all areas of law.
Findmeasolicitor.co.uk (FMAS) are a solicitor-led-brokerage for the UK disrupting the legal profession in the way law firms obtain clients. FMAS are much more than just a lead generator as all our clients are vetted and approved before introducing them to our panel of Solicitors.
Alongside this FMAS offer 30 minutes free legal consultation, to help clients navigate the maze of appointing the most appropriate solicitor by obtaining all relevant documents including the AML documentation before passing onto our panel of experienced solicitors.
Within this process FMAS brief the solicitor with the background, enabling them to provide a quote immediately and represent the client from the offset. This saves so much time not only for the client but also for the solicitor including saving so much non chargeable time. We can also help obtain feedback and reviews from clients.
Contact us today for a trial and grow your client portfolio on a no obligation basis:
Name: Dee Kundi
Website: www.findmeasolicitor.co.uk
Phone: 0800 020 9197
Email: Dee@findmeasolicitor.co.uk
Please do not hesitate to get in touch should you have any queries regarding an award category, the shortlist, judging process or the Awards Dinner.
Email: helen.opie@surreylawsociety.org.uk or elouise.enright@surreylawsociety.org.uk or phone: 0333 577 3830 Mobile : 07597 582400
