In a new category for 2017, Miller Sands was named ‘Firm of the Year'. Miller Sands, based in Impington and which traces its roots back to a firm established in Petty Curry 1893, fought off competition from Slater and Gordon, a global law firm with its Cambridge office on Station Road. Award sponsors Geodesys, celebrating 20 years of being in the conveyancing industry, presented the award to Miller Sands partner Julia Hutchings.
The individual awards went to Matthew Hasler for ‘Trainee of the Year’ and whilst Silvia Devecchi won ‘Young Lawyer of the Year’. Matthew is a trainee at Tees Law, while Silvia is a family solicitor at Miller Sands. Of her win and the firm’s award, Senior Partner Will Cowell said: “Winning the CDLS Firm of the Year award endorses Miller Sands’ forward-thinking approach to client care and good management in what is still a tough marketplace. We recently appointed Gurpal Singh, an experienced commercial litigation solicitor, and Silvia Devecchi. Silvia’s win in the Young Lawyer of the Year category is a bonus for us and a just reward for her application and focus”.
The winners were announced at the Society’s annual dinner on Friday 31 March 2017, which took place at Christ’s College in Cambridge and was supported by event sponsors Rathbones. The event, which was sold out well in advance of the evening following high demand, saw over one hundred guests gather at the College's historic dining room for drinks, dinner and dancing. Following a meal, Professor Dominic Regan – a sought after legal speaker with experience including advising Lord Justice Jackson on costs budgeting and management – entertained guests with a witty speech, and a raffle was held raising nearly £600 for local charity Jimmy's Night Shelter.
CDLS President Grace Brass said: "The annual dinner is the Society's flagship social event, and it was great to see it being enjoyed by so many, including our excellent guest speaker. Both the individual award winners are deserving winners from a strong field of nominees, and Miller Sands becomes our first ‘Firm of the Year’ – the first of many in what I’m sure will be a hotly contested category in the years to come.”
Image: (l-r) Winners: Julia Hutchings, Silvia Devecchi, Matthew Hasler
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