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17 March 2025
Issue: 8109 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Rule of law
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LLA2025: meet the winners

A leading expert’s five decades of expertise in industrial and discrimination law was among the winners at the 2025 LexisNexis Legal Awards

Michael Rubenstein (pictured centre), founder and editor of the Industrial Relations Law Reports since their inception in 1972, received the lifetime contribution award at the ceremony in London last week. Rubenstein’s work on this and other titles marks him out as a pioneer in legal publishing. He was also the key drafter of the European Commission’s Code of Practice on combating sexual harassment at work.

The accolade of legal personality of the year went to John Schorah, managing partner, Weightmans, whose achievements include a successful merger and launching the Leadership Academy and apprenticeship scheme. Schorah said: ‘I am so proud of our people and the hard work they have put in.’

Cripps took home the prize for law firm of the year, while New Park Court won the chambers category and Kone won in-house. The Halsbury Award for Rule of Law went to litigation funder Therium. See a full list here

Issue: 8109 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Rule of law
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Switalskis—Naila Arif, Harriet Findlay & Ellie Thompson

Switalskis—Naila Arif, Harriet Findlay & Ellie Thompson

Firm awards training contracts to paralegals through internal programme

Ward Hadaway—Matthew Morton

Ward Hadaway—Matthew Morton

Private client disputes specialist joins commercial litigation team

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Nina Hood

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Nina Hood

Cumbria firm appoints new head of residential property

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
A quiet month for employment cases still delivers key legal clarifications. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ, Ian Smith reports that whistleblowing protection remains intact even where disclosures are partly self-serving, provided the worker reasonably believes they serve the ‘public interest’ 
Family law must shift from conflict-driven litigation to child-centred problem-solving, according to a major new report. Writing in NLJ this week, Caroline Bowden of Anthony Gold outlines findings showing overwhelming support for reform, with 92% agreeing lawyers owe duties to children as well as clients
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