Bristol-headquartered Osborne Clarke has been named law firm of the year at the prestigious Legal Business Awards.
The firm was commended in particular for its recent growth trajectory and its focus on sectors and issues that are at the cutting edge of the law such as building smart cities and the sharing economy.
Senior partner Andrew Saul said the award came as a result of years of planning and execution of its client strategy and delivering on its international expansion.
“The award is something that we will treasure as a sign of our progress,” he said.
UK Managing Partner Ray Berg added: “Everyone who works at Osborne Clarke should be proud of this award as we have continued to grow without compromising what makes OC great: its culture and can-do attitude.”
The award was also recognition of the 12 years of leadership of previous managing partner Simon Beswick, he said.
Mr Beswick, who handed over the reins to Mr Berg in January, has continued in his role as CEO of Osborne Clarke International (OCI).
He was also shortlisted in the Management Partner of the Year category in the Legal Business Awards. Osborne Clarke, which beat five firms for the title of Law Firm of the Year, was also on the seven-strong shortlist for the Corporate Team of the Year award.
The Legal Business Awards were judged by an independent jury of senior General Counsel for the first time this year.
Hosted by Legal Business magazine, they are viewed as the most highly respected awards in the legal calendar.
Osborne Clarke’s triumph in the awards follows hot on the heels of Bristol-based partner Catherine Wolfenden gaining the Regulatory Lawyer of the Year title at the 2015 Women in Compliance Awards last week. Catherine is head of Osborne Clarke’s regulatory group and a partner in its commercial and regulatory disputes team.
Pictured, from left: Osborne Clarke senior partner Andrew Saul and UK managing partner Ray Berg with the Legal Business Awards law firm of the year trophy
