Bristol-headquartered law firm Osborne Clarke has scooped one of the legal sector’s most prestigious titles – Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer magazine’s annual awards.
The achievement follows its success in the Legal Business Awards in March when it was also named law firm of the year – a feat thought to be a first in the UK legal profession.
Judges in The Lawyer Awards said the top title recognised Osborne Clarke’s “energy and momentum as well as its client-centric culture”.
The success of its five-year strategy had bolstered the firm’s financial performance in recent years, making it “the one to beat amongst its peer group”.
Osborne Clarke UK managing partner Ray Berg, pictured, said: “Both awards are really important to us as they are determined by clients – a group of around 20 independent, big name general counsel.”
Last month Osborne Clarke said its annual global revenues had risen by 15% to €195m (£141m) during the 2014/15 financial year, meaning its international revenues have grown by more than 60% over the past three years.
UK revenues increased by 9% to £96.5m (€123.7m), with its UK sector groups now accounting for 93% of its UK revenues.
The Lawyer awards ceremony, hosted by former Foreign Secretary William Hague, was held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel and was attended by more than 1,400 guests, including senior figures from the legal world and the heads of many of the UK’s leading law firms.
Osborne Clarke was also came runner up in the Regulatory Team of the Year category, beating DWF and Simmons & Simmons, which both have offices in Bristol, and was one of eight challengers for the Corporate Team of the Year title.
Rival Bristol-headquartered firm Burges Salmon competed in the Employment Team of the Year where was up against national firm CMS, which has an office in Bristol. CMS, Simmons & Simmons and Osborne Clarke were also shortlisted for the Funds Team of the Year award.
Now in their 21st year, the awards celebrate excellence across private practice, the public sector, commerce and industry and the Bar and are widely regarded as the most respected in the legal sector.
