The Lawyer Awards: Hogan Lovells wins pro bono award

The trophy was in recognition of two innovative projects, which saw the firm assist the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) and Farm Africa.

The first project, led by partner Jeremy Brittenden, helped to release £1.86bn dinar (£917m) into Libya at a time when banknotes were exhausted and Libyan citizens could no longer withdraw money for basic necessities.

The second project saw the firm work with Farm Africa to create accessible livestock services in Kenya, and develop a franchise of veterinary stores.

The silver and bronze awards went to Reed Smith and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Reed Smith donated the equivalent of £1.6m of billable hours on three projects in Haiti, which included the relocation of individuals to the US.

Meanwhile, Freshfields received the award for its work to restructure the way Save the Children International operates across the globe. The firm donated more than 6,000 hours since 2009 and the equivalent of £2.5m worth of advice.

The full list of winners and runners-up is below:

In-house Banking & Financial Services Team of the Year

Sponsored by Barclay Simpson

Winner: Oaktree Capital Management     

2: Virgin Money

3: Lloyds Banking Group (corporate real estate legal team)

Banking & Finance Team of the Year

Sponsored by Ogier

Winner: Hogan Lovells   

2: Weil, Gotshal & Manges

3: Allen & Overy

Corporate Team of the Year (midcap)

Sponsored by The Challenor Group

Winner: RPC    

2: Addleshaw Goddard

3: Berwin Leighton Paisner

Corporate Team of the Year (large)

Sponsored by AlixPartners

Winner: Allen & Overy

2: Shearman & Sterling

3: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Employment Team of the Year

Sponsored by Stroz Friedberg

Winner: Faegre Baker Daniels

2: Russell Jones & Walker part of Slater & Gordon Lawyers

3: Leigh Day & Co

Infrastructure/Energy Team of the Year

Sponsored by Noble Legal

Winner: Mayer Brown

2: Wragge & Co

3: DLA Piper

Real Estate Team of the Year

Sponsored by JTC Group

Winner: Mishcon de Reya

2: Eversheds

3: Bircham Dyson Bell

TMT Team of the Year

Sponsored by Robert Walters

Winner: Osborne Clarke

2: Powell Gilbert

3: Baker & McKenzie

Litigation Team of the Year

Sponsored by Ernst & Young

Winner: Stephenson Harwood

2: Simmons & Simmons

3: Reed Smith

Competition/Regulatory Team of the Year

Sponsored by Matrix Chambers

Winner: Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie, Burges Salmon, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose

2: Bevan Brittan

3: Berwin Leighton Paisner

Private Client Team of the Year

Sponsored by TMF Group

Winner: Berwin Leighton Paisner

2: Lawrence Graham

3: Harbottle & Lewis

Pro Bono Team of the Year

Sponsored by Michael Page Legal

Winner: Hogan Lovells

2: Reed Smith

3: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Best Technology Project

Winner: IRIS Legal to No5 Chambers

2: Canotec to Bond Pearce

3: LawWare (LawCloud) to Matthew Cohen & Associates

Assistant Solicitor of the Year

Winner: Stephen Fox, Weil, Gotshal & Manges

2: Mike Cain, Russell Jones & Walker part of Slater & Gordon Lawyers

3: Kate Jackson, Anthony Collins

In-house Public Sector Team of the Year

Sponsored by Bevan Brittan

Winner: Treasury Solicitors Department

2: Financial Services Compensation Scheme

3: Essex County Council

Partner of the Year

Sponsored by Saunderson House

Winner: Jocelyn Cockburn, Hodge Jones & Allen

2: Mark Lewis, Taylor Hampton

3: Neil Kinsella, Russell Jones & Walker part of Slater & Gordon Lawyers

In-house Commerce & Industry Team of the Year

Sponsored by Pure Search

Winner: Sodexo

2: Three

3: Imperial Tobacco

Offshore Law Firm of the Year

Sponsored by Taylor Root

Winner: Ogier

2: Harneys

3: Maples and Calder

Boutique Firm of the Year - London

Sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Management

Winner: Brecher

2: Powell Gilbert

3: Robin Simon

Boutique Firm of the Year – Regional

Winner: Hawkswell Kilvington

2: Loxley

3: Zyda Law

Regional Law Firm of the Year

Sponsored by Towry

Winner: Muckle

2: Gordons

3: Pannone

International Law Firm of the Year

Sponsored by James Channer

Winner: King & Wood Mallesons

2: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

3: Edwards Wildman

Barrister of the Year

Sponsored by Harbour Litigation Funding

Winner: Robert Jay QC, Thirty Nine Essex Street

2: Charles Gibson QC, Henderson Chambers

3: Stuart Catchpole QC, Thirty Nine Essex Street

In-house Lawyer of the Year

Sponsored by Riverview Law

Winner: Daniel Toner, Spire Healthcare

2: Rachel Small, LV=

3: Lesley Wan, Lloyds Banking Group

Chambers of the Year

Sponsored by Coutts

Winner: Brick Court Chambers

2: 3 Verulam Buildings

3: Matrix Chambers

Law Firm of the Year

Sponsored by Travelers

Winner: Mishcon de Reya

2: Taylor Wessing

3: Bristow