ScottishNews.com

The national awards ceremony takes place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central, with broadcaster Des Clarke hosting the event.

A total of 73 finalists have been named across 15 competitive categories, covering everything from Scotland’s biggest law firms and in-house legal teams to rising stars, paralegals and firms specialising in criminal defence.

The awards, which were founded in 2003, are an independent programme celebrating achievement across Scotland’s legal profession, with winners selected by a judging panel drawn from across the sector.

Legal technology company Denovo is the headline sponsor for the 2026 awards after renewing its partnership for a further three years, taking its sponsorship through to 2028.

Several of the evening’s major individual honours have already been revealed.

Leading advocate Aidan O’Neill KC has been named Lawyer of the Year, recognising a career spanning almost four decades and his recent work in public and constitutional law.

O’Neill was called to the Scottish Bar in 1987 and became Queen’s Counsel, now King’s Counsel, in Scotland in 1999. His recent cases include appearing before the UK Supreme Court in the For Women Scotland case.

Thorntons managing partner Lesley Larg will receive the Business Leadership Award. Larg has led the firm since 2021, during a period which has included mergers, expansion and record financial performance.

Andy Sirel, co-founding partner and legal director at JustRight Scotland, has been named Law Champion of the Year.

Sirel has more than 16 years of experience working with migrant women and young people and specialises in areas including asylum, family reunion, anti-trafficking and children’s rights.

Employment lawyer and business founder Malcolm Mackay WS will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mackay has worked extensively in employment law and employee relations and has founded businesses including United Employment Lawyers and Vialex.

The remaining winners will be announced during tonight’s awards dinner.

Among the firms competing for one of the evening’s biggest prizes are Gilson Gray, Jones Whyte and Thorntons Law, which are shortlisted for Firm of the Year for organisations with more than 250 employees.

Ergo Law, Livingstone Brown, Matheson Lawson, MJC LAW, RD Legal Solicitors, Rollos Law LLP and Weightmans (Scotland) LLP are competing for Firm of the Year for businesses with up to 250 employees.

The public sector is also represented in the In-House Legal Team of the Year category, where Aberdeen City Council, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are shortlisted alongside Aegon UK, Dana Petroleum, MDDUS, Skyscanner and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The Scottish Legal Awards will again support the Lawscot Foundation, the Law Society of Scotland charity which works to improve access to legal education for people from less advantaged backgrounds.

The Scottish Legal Awards 2026 finalists

Excellence in Community Care & Social Responsibility

Clarity Simplicity
Gillespie Macandrew LLP
Jackson Boyd Solicitors
Jones Whyte
MJC LAW
Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace
Shared Parenting Scotland

Excellence in Client Care

Clarity Simplicity
Ergo Law
Jamieson Law
RD Legal Solicitors

Excellence in Support Services

Brown Owl Legal Support
Cashroom
Denovo
Estatesearch
Exizent
Hamiltons Law Accountants
Millar & Bryce
ReceptIO

Excellence in Support & Wellbeing

Aegon UK
Clarity Simplicity

Excellence in Equity & Inclusion

Aegon UK
Hey Legal
Thorntons Law
Weightmans (Scotland) LLP

Litigation Team of the Year

Halliday Campbell WS
Livingstone Brown

Residential Property Team of the Year

Delaney Graham Solicitors
Matheson Lawson
RD Legal Solicitors

Marketing & Business Development Team of the Year

Jones Whyte
TC Young

Family Law or Private Client Team of the Year

Anderson Strathern
Family Law Matters Scotland LLP
Jones Whyte
Stronachs
Weightmans (Scotland) LLP

Criminal Defence Firm of the Year

Adams Whyte
McGovern Reid Court Lawyers

In-House Legal Team of the Year

Aberdeen City Council
Aegon UK
The City of Edinburgh Council
Dana Petroleum
MDDUS
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Skyscanner
Thermo Fisher Scientific

Paralegal of the Year

Louise Johnston, Anderson Strathern
Ibel Ellershaw, BayWa r.e. UK
Laura Brown, Brown Owl Legal Support
Laura Rankin, Jackson Boyd Solicitors
Abbie Weir, Jones Whyte
Laura Simpson, Jones Whyte
Sarah Dooey, Jones Whyte
Karen Deans, Matheson Lawson

Rising Star of the Year

Flora Smith, Ergo Law
Sam Conington, Gillespie Macandrew LLP
Meg Jeynes, Gilson Gray
Corie Wilson, Jamieson Law
Louise McGhee, Jones Whyte
Abigail Meek, Matheson Lawson
Frances Taylor, McGovern Reid
Rebecca Coltart, Thorntons Law

Firm of the Year – up to 250 employees

Ergo Law
Livingstone Brown
Matheson Lawson
MJC LAW
RD Legal Solicitors
Rollos Law LLP
Weightmans (Scotland) LLP

Firm of the Year – over 250 employees

Gilson Gray
Jones Whyte
Thorntons Law