Browne Jacobson lawyers take top awards at Nottinghamshire Law Society Awards

Browne Jacobson is celebrating after two of its Nottingham based lawyers won top accolades at the recent Nottinghamshire Law Society Awards.

Legal Director and former partner at the firm, Alan Radford, who specialises in defending professional negligence claims against solicitors and members of the Bar was given the ‘President’s Award’ for his outstanding contribution to the legal profession and the Nottingham legal community. He was also praised for his service to the Nottinghamshire Law Society, having acted as President, between 2015 - 2017 and his distinguished contribution as the society’s Honorary Secretary.

Associate lawyer Hannah Collins, who specialises in social care litigation, advisory and public law, was also awarded the coveted ‘Junior Lawyer of the Year’ title.

In addition to these awards, partner James Arrowsmith and associate lawyer Lynette Wieland were also shortlisted in the Diversity & Inclusion category.

Alan, whose legal career spans over 40 years, qualified as a litigation lawyer in 1982 and joined Browne Jacobson’s insurance practice in 1991. In 2013 he was appointed as the Chair of The Law Society’s Professional Indemnity Insurance Committee of which he remains a current member and is also Chair of the Nottinghamshire Law Society’s Professional Purposes Committee. He has been very active on the corporate social responsibility side, previously acting as a trustee of Reach – a charity which provides support, accommodation and activities for adults with learning disabilities.

Hannah joined Browne Jacobson in 2015 as an Administration Assistant, and recently qualified as an Associate Solicitor at the firm. She is a key member of Browne Jacobson’s internal Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) steering group where she has an active role in educating the firm on LGBT+ related matters and championing related initiatives. She has also been pivotal in organising and promoting in person and virtual Pride and LGBT History Month events at the firm and has co-ordinated the firm’s involvement with external Pride marches. Hannah is also part of the Nottingham Community Action Group, supporting the Nottingham office charity partner, Inspire & Achieve.

Last year she helped drive the set-up of the East Midlands branch of the Alliance Network through her participation in an external LGBT+ steering group. As a result, the firm now collaborates with the Network which brings together some of the region’s most diverse employers and LGBT+ professionals and staff networks from across the region.

Hannah was also listed in the OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leaders Role Model List for 2021 for her work in breaking down barriers and making a significant contribution to LGBT+ inclusion within the workplace.

Caroline Green, Senior Partner at Browne Jacobson commented: “I am extremely proud that Alan and Hannah have been honoured in this way, they are both thoroughly deserving of each of these awards.

“Throughout his time at Browne Jacobson, Alan has contributed to some of the firm’s most important, complex and successful matters for some of our larger UK based and international business clients as well as our private clients. Alan is hugely respected and admired by the business and the legal community at both local and national levels.”

“We are delighted that Hannah has been named solicitor of the year. Although she is in the early stages of her legal career, she is already making a mark as a very able lawyer with a firm commitment to delivering outstanding client service. She is also a fantastic role model for diversity and inclusion at the firm and in the wider profession. Hannah has worked hard to help us shape our LGBT+ agenda and I have no doubt that she has a great future ahead of her.”

Alan added: “I am honoured to have been recognised for both my professional negligence and private client work and to highlight my long-standing commitments to the local legal community.

“The Nottinghamshire Law Society is a thriving network that is vital to connecting the

region’s legal sector, and I am proud to be part of that through my work at Browne Jacobson and my roles at the society.”

Hannah said: “It is a real honour to have been named as junior lawyer of the year and to be positioned alongside some outstanding young lawyers. I am surrounded by very talented colleagues, who are wonderful human beings; the award is also testament to teamwork. I am lucky to work at a firm that develops real legal talent, has a truly diverse client portfolio and strives to make a difference to communities it serves.

“As a champion for diversity & inclusion, I am also fortunate to have the opportunity to contribute to Browne Jacobson’s D&I agenda and have a fantastic network of people around me who are all championing for positive change within the legal industry and beyond. I am pleased that this award puts a spotlight on all of that.”