No quarter given: in-house award unveiled

Around 25 per cent of the membership of the Law Society of Scotland are lawyers who work “in house”, and their contribution to legal-service provision is to be recognised with a new category in the tenth annual Scottish Legal Awards, sponsored by Scott + Co.

In House Legal Team of the Year – to acknowledge the expertise of practitioners in the public, private and voluntary sectors – is one 17 categories in this year’s competition.

In the private sector, lawyers working in banks, utility companies, and the food, drink and transport sectors are among those expected to contest the award. Nominees from the public sector are likely to include those in the NHS, councils, Scottish Government, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Steve Mathews, senior operations and regulation lawyer for Scottish Water, heads a ten-strong legal team based in Dunfermline. He said: “I am thrilled the organisers have introduced this category as it will provide a great opportunity for in-house legal teams to be more widely recognised for their talent.”

Margo MacDonald MSP, chair of the judging panel, added: “We are very keen to see all businesses in the public and private sector come forward and showcase their legal teams. I’m sure they won’t regret it.”

Entries require a report of approximately 1000 words which details business performance, case studies or business milestones in 2012. Judges will be looking for strong biographies backed up with testimonials of in-house colleagues, external lawyers and business associates. 

The deadline for entries is Friday 30 November 2012 and the winners will be revealed at the annual Scottish Legal Awards gala dinner, held in Edinburgh on 28 March 2013.