LexisNexis Family Law Awards Categories

Cornwell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Family Law 
This award was renamed in honour of John Cornwell who won the award in 2012 before he died in February 2013. He dedicated his working life to the development and progress of family law. In 1982 he founded the Solicitors' Family Law Association (now Resolution), drafting a code of conduct that has guided family law solicitors to practice to the highest standards.
The award recognises an individual who has made a major contribution to the field of family law, either through practice, commentary, teaching, pro bono and/or judicially.
To nominate your candidate, please email with a brief statement outlining why they should win.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Associate Solicitor of the Year 
A solicitor with over 5 years post qualification experience who the judges believe has made a major contribution to the field of family law through their practice, shown that they have provided outstanding client service and demonstrated teamwork within their firm, with external lawyers and/or other professionals.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Case of the Year 
This award will be presented to an individual or organisation involved with one of the most important family law cases that was concluded during the period June 2022 to June 2023. The case may be significant in that it has established a precedent, determined a new legal principle or otherwise substantially affected the interpretation of existing law.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Chambers of the Year - London 
The firm in the London region that has demonstrated it has provided outstanding quality of legal service for its clients and has displayed high levels of teamwork within its firm, with external lawyers and/or other professionals.
Criteria which the judging panel will consider include the following:
- Quality of legal services / range of expertise offered
- Recent reported cases in which the chambers has acted
- Pro bono initiatives/services benefiting the local community
- External nominations/testimonials (supporting material)
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Chambers of the Year - Regional
The set that is based outside of London and has clearly demonstrated it has developed the field of family law by consistently performing at the higher court levels.

Criteria which the judging panel will consider include the following:
- Quality of legal services / range of expertise offered
- Recent reported cases in which the chambers has acted
- Pro bono initiatives/services benefiting the local community
- External nominations/testimonials (supporting material)

The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Clerking Team of the Year
The barristers' clerking team that has demonstrated that it has provided an outstanding quality of legal service in the family law field and also displayed high levels of teamwork. Previously the winner was decided by a vote of the family law community, but this award will now be judged.

Family Law Commentator of the Year 
An award for the commentator who the family law community consider to have provided the most useful commentary to help them in their practice, or to promote the practice of family law. The commentary could have been contained in any format including books, journal articles, videos or blogs.
Previously the winner was decided by a vote of the family law community, but this award will now be judged.

Family Law Firm of the Year - London 
The firm or local authority in each region that has demonstrated it has provided outstanding quality of legal service for its clients and has displayed high levels of teamwork within its firm or local authority, with external lawyers and/or other professionals. The region in which a firm sits is determined by the head office address.
Criteria which the judging panel will consider include the following:
- External nominations/testimonials
- Quality of legal services offered
- Recent reported cases in which the firm has acted
- Pro bono initiatives/services benefiting the local community
- Range of expertise within the firm
- Training and career progression of employees

The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Firm of the Year – Midlands and Wales
The firm or local authority in each region that has demonstrated it has provided outstanding quality of legal service for its clients and has displayed high levels of teamwork within its firm or local authority, with external lawyers and/or other professionals. The region in which a firm sits is determined by the head office address.
Criteria which the judging panel will consider include the following:
- External nominations/testimonials
- Quality of legal services offered
- Recent reported cases in which the firm has acted
- Pro bono initiatives/services benefiting the local community
- Range of expertise within the firm
- Training and career progression of employees

The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Firm of the Year - North 
The firm or local authority in each region that has demonstrated it has provided outstanding quality of legal service for its clients and has displayed high levels of teamwork within its firm or local authority, with external lawyers and/or other professionals. The region in which a firm sits is determined by the head office address.

Criteria which the judging panel will consider include the following:
- External nominations/testimonials
- Quality of legal services offered
- Recent reported cases in which the firm has acted
- Pro bono initiatives/services benefiting the local community
- Range of expertise within the firm
- Training and career progression of employees

The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Firm of the Year - South 
The firm or local authority in each region that has demonstrated it has provided outstanding quality of legal service for its clients and has displayed high levels of teamwork within its firm or local authority, with external lawyers and/or other professionals. The region in which a firm sits is determined by the head office address.
Criteria which the judging panel will consider include the following:
- External nominations/testimonials
- Quality of legal services offered
- Recent reported cases in which the firm has acted
- Pro bono initiatives/services benefiting the local community
- Range of expertise within the firm
- Training and career progression of employees

The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Innovation of the Year 
This award recognises a law firm, set of chambers or supplier which has, through innovation and radical change, introduced new or improved ways of providing legal services and / or new working practices, which are influencing the future of family law practice.
The judges will be looking for evidence of original concepts—whether or not technology-based— which improve the speed or quality of service to clients and the wider community, broaden the range of the firm’s or chambers’ activity; or increase the operational efficiency and delivery of legal services.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year
A barrister of at least 5 years post call who has made a major contribution to the field of family law through their advice and high-level advocacy.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Partner of the Year 
The individual who the judges believe has made a major contribution to the field of family law through their practice, and shown that they have executed a strategic vision through outstanding leadership.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law KC of the Year 
A KC who has made a major contribution to the field of family law through their advice and high-level advocacy.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Young Barrister of the Year
A barrister under 5 years post call who the judges believe has stood out from their peers by demonstrating that they have the skills and knowledge to become a leading family lawyer of the future. This could be demonstrated, for example, by positive external nominations, acting in a reported case or through pro bono work. Previous winners of this award category are ineligible.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year 
A solicitor with under 5 years post qualification experience who the judges believe has stood out from their peers by demonstrating that they have the skills and knowledge to become a leading family lawyer of the future. This could be demonstrated, for example, by positive external nominations, acting in a reported case or through pro bono work. Previous winners of this award category are ineligible.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

International Family Lawyer of the Year 
A lawyer who the judges believe has made a major contribution to the field of international family law and led the way for other practitioners to follow.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Community Interaction Award 
Activities covered by this award include voluntary community programmes, corporate social responsibility programmes, and pro bono activity in communities in the UK or abroad. Entries are invited from firms, chambers, councils and charitable organisations whose innovative programmes and exceptional commitment to family law have made a marked difference to the communities in which they operate.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Children Law Team of the Year 
This award will go to the team who have displayed outstanding work in the areas of family law regarding children (to include public, private and international). 
The winner is decided by the judging panel. 
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Financial Remedies Team of the Year
The award will recognise the family law firm, chambers or other legal organisation, which has demonstrated excellence in the area of financial remedies.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Workplace of the Year
This award will go to the UK-based employer – whether firm, chambers or other type of organisation that provides the best place to work – through wellbeing initiatives, demonstrating commitment to diversity and inclusion and through any other benefits programmes.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Legal Support of the Year
This award will go to a team or individual working to support the practice of family law solicitors that has demonstrated that it has provided an outstanding quality of legal service in the family law field and also displayed high levels of teamwork.
The winner is decided by the judging panel.

Family Law Champion Award
This award will go to an individual (not necessarily with a background or qualification in the law) who has who has made an outstanding contribution in the family law sphere in the past year. The judges will select a shortlist from the entries based primarily on their achievements in the last 2 years, with the winner being decided by an online vote of the family law community.
This award will be decided by a public vote from the family law community.