The Crown Estate general counsel Rob Booth was one of 70 judges across private practice, in-house and the Bar who debated a record number of entries to narrow down the shortlist for The Lawyer Awards, in association with Travelers.
He joined Crown Estate in 2012 from Herbert Smith Freehills and he was promoted to general counsel and company secretary in 2016. Since then he has led a legal team through a raft of major deals, such as the transfer of Crown Estate to the Scottish Government in the wake of the independence referendum and a demerger that involved a complex statutory transfer scheme.
How did you find the judging process for The Lawyer Awards?
It was great – and it restored my faith in awards ceremonies; as I was part of a diverse group, who had clearly thought deeply about the merits of the submissions. We definitely didn’t all agree, which I think is a super-healthy thing to see!
Based on all the entries that you read, are there any changes or trends that you foresee in the legal industry?
We are creeping (a little too slowly in my opinion) towards the insights driven, data-enabled, customer-centric approach that I believe will be a core part of the future success of firms. The submissions that could tell a story beyond a “mega-bucks deal” – and really drive toward the value they created for their client through innovation and collaboration – were the ones that got the most traction with the judges.
Did you find it difficult picking the winners of your categories?
There were some standout submissions that were both a joy to read and easy to pick out as a winner. Equally, I had a few categories that were ferociously competitive and where 3 or 4 firms or in-house teams were showing a progressive approach that was award-worthy – but I guess there can be only one winner…
Why do you think it’s important to attend industry events like this?
I really am – I think it is great to see firms and individuals that you know and respect receiving recognition for great work. I also think we shouldn’t underestimate how important it is to have and attend events where we celebrate the broad community that is the legal industry, in all of its shapes, sizes and philosophies.
The Lawyer Awards ceremony will take place on the evening of Tuesday 26th June 2018 at the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel in the heart of London’s Mayfair. Don’t miss out on being amongst the industry elite at what promises to be the largest celebration of legal excellence in Europe and book your table here.
