News - News - Record number of BMEs scoop LALY awards

The annual Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards ceremony saw a record number of black minority ethnic (BME) lawyers winning prestigious titles.

Cherie Booth QC chaired the judging panel and other members included Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and Doreen Lawrence of the Stephen Lawrence Trust.

BMEs won all but one of the categories in which they were nominated. The standard this year at the LALY’s was said to be so high that some of those who did not make it onto the short-list would have been serious contenders to win at previous award ceremonies. Every nominee can therefore be said to be a winner.

Zarina Gani, of Gani and Co Solictors in London, became Criminal Defence Lawyer of the Year. Zarina’s dedication and commitment to criminal clients was praised by clients, colleagues, staff at the local court and barristers. Colleagues inspired by her wrote very movingly in support of her nomination. A client described her as righteous, kind, polite, gracious and respectful. Zarina was, unknown to her, nominated by her staff and on winning she told BLD that she “felt overwhelmed” by the award.

Kalvir Kaur, who works for the UK’s charity Immigration Advisory Service, won Immigration Lawyer of the Year. Kalvir describes her joy when she sees the joy on the faces of the children she represents. Another BME lawyer nominated in this category is the respected immigration lawyer Jawaid Luqmani, head of Luqmani Thompson in Wood Green, London.

Yogi Amin picked up the Social and Welfare Lawyer of the Year award. Yogi became a partner at Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield office in 2007. That year he featured in The Lawyer Hot 100, having spent the previous year handling several of the biggest cancer drug disputes and hitting national headlines.

The Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-Profit Agency of the Year award went to Jackson and Canter in Liverpool. The firm, like its clientele, is diverse. One of the partners is former President of the Law Society Andrew Holroyd. Solicitor Adewuyi Olorunfemi received the award on the firm’s behalf.

Legal Aid Barrister of the Year was Robert Latham, of Doughty Street Chambers in London. Two other nominees in this category were S. Chelvan, of Mitre House Chambers in London and Maya Sikand, of Garden Court Chambers in London.

Other awards were: Young Legal Aid Barrister of the Year Felicity Williams, of 6 King’s Bench Walk Chambers, London; Young Legal Aid Solicitor of the Year Jo Hickman, of Fisher Meredith, London; Family Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Samantha Little, of Russell-Cooke Solicitors in Kingston, Surrey; and Mental Health Lawyer of the Year Julie Burton, of Julie Burton Law, Gwynedd. Tony Edwards, Senior Partner at TV Edwards, in London, received an Outstanding Achievement award.