The individuals, teams and organisations helping to shape the future of legal services in Wales were celebrated on Thursday evening as the winners of the Legal News Wales Awards 2026 were announced at a sold-out ceremony held at Cardiff’s historic Coal Exchange Hotel.
More than 300 guests from across Wales’ legal sector gathered to recognise excellence in leadership, innovation, culture, client experience, social impact, access to justice and future talent, reflecting the breadth and strength of the profession across the nation.
Now in their second year, the Legal News Wales Awards have quickly established themselves as a unique platform for recognising excellence in the business of law – celebrating not only legal expertise, but the individuals and organisations driving positive change within the profession and wider society.
The awards are independently judged by a panel of leaders from across the legal, business, regulatory and academic sectors, with finalists taking part in a series of in-person interviews during judging week.
Opening the ceremony, Legal News Wales Founder and Editor Emma Waddingham reflected on what the awards have come to represent. She said:
“The Legal News Wales Awards have become much more than an awards ceremony. They are creating a record of the people, teams and organisations shaping the legal profession in Wales right now.
“When I look around the room this evening, I don’t simply see finalists. I see the people driving innovation, strengthening culture, improving client experience, widening access to justice, investing in future talent and helping to ensure the long-term strength, sustainability and success of the legal sector in Wales.”
Throughout the judging process, two themes emerged repeatedly: collaboration, and community.
Whether reviewing submissions focused on business growth, legal sector transformation, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, social impact, pro bono work or future talent, judges consistently recognised organisations that had invested in their people, built strong workplace cultures and worked collectively to create meaningful change.
Reflecting on the judges’ comments, Waddingham said:
“One thing that struck me repeatedly throughout the judging process was that the strongest submissions were rarely about individuals acting alone.
“They were about teams. Partnerships. Communities. And people working together to make things better than they found them.
“That spirit of collaboration is one of the defining strengths of the Welsh legal sector and was reflected throughout this year’s finalists and winners.”
The evening was hosted by John Hyde, Deputy News Editor of the Law Society Gazette, who also served as a member of the independent judging panel.
A particular highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Legal Hero Wales Award to Michael Imperato, Consultant Solicitor at Watkins & Gunn, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to public law, access to justice and communities across Wales over more than three decades.
In announcing the award, judges described Michael as an individual whose impact could be measured not only through legal achievements, but through “the lives he has changed, the communities he has helped protect and the people whose voices have been heard because he chose to stand beside them.”
Legal News Wales extends it’s sincere thanks to Headline Partner TSR Legal Recruitment, category partners, judges, finalists and guests for their continued support of the awards programme.
Karen Jones, Director at TSR Legal Recruitment – headline partner for the awards – said:
“TSR Legal is immensely proud to support the Legal News Wales Awards and to celebrate the outstanding people, teams and organisations that make such a valuable contribution to the Welsh legal sector. Having worked with legal professionals across Wales for more than two decades, we know just how much talent, dedication and expertise exists within our profession.
“These awards continue to highlight not only excellence in legal services, but also the leadership, innovation, community impact and commitment to people that help make our sector so strong. Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and winners on their well-deserved recognition.”
Waddingham added:
“The calibre of submissions, finalist interviews and judging discussions this year has been exceptional.
“What stood out most was not simply the quality of work being delivered across Wales, but the passion, purpose and commitment shown by the individuals and organisations behind it.
“These awards exist to celebrate the people helping to shape the future of legal services in Wales, and we are incredibly proud to provide a platform to showcase their achievements.”
The awards ceremony also featured keynote addresses from Richard Orpin, CEO, Legal Services Board, and Mark Evans, President, The Law Society of England & Wales.
Legal News Wales Awards 2026 Winners
Business Growth Award (1–50 Employees)
Kindly supported by: Menzies LLP
Winner: Mooneerams Solicitors
The Business Growth Award (up to 50 employees) Finalists were: Newfields & Tree Law
Business Growth Award (51+ Employees)
Kindly supported by: Menzies LLP
Winner: Browne Jacobson
The Business Growth Award (51+ Employees) Finalists were: CJCH Solicitors & Harding Evans
Legal Services Transformation Award
Kindly supported by: PureCyber
Winner: NWSSP Legal & Risk Services
The Legal Services Transformation Award Finalists were: Agri Advisor, Hugh James
Marketing Initiative of the Year
Kindly supported by: Conscious Solutions
Winner: JCP Solicitors
The Marketing Initiative of the Year Finalists were: Mooneerams Solicitors & NWSSP Legal & Risk
Client Experience Award
Kindly supported by: PEXA
Winner: Agri Advisor
The Client Experience Award, Finalists were: HCB Widdows Mason & RDP Law
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
Kindly supported by: Solicitors Regulation Authority
Winner: Cardiff & District Law Society – EDI Committee
The Diversity, Equity & inclusion Award Finalists were: Wales & Chester Circuit EDI Committee & Watkins & Gunn
Wellbeing Strategy of the Year Award
Kindly supported by LawCare – the mental health charity for the legal sector
Winner: Redkite Solicitors
The Wellbeing Strategy of the Year Award Finalists were: Altra Law & Agri Advisor
Future Lawyers Initiative of the Year
Kindly supported by: University of Wales Trinity St David
Winner: JCP Solicitors
The Future Lawyers Initiative of the Year Finalists were: Blake Morgan, Gwyn James Legal Limited & Newfields
Social Impact Award
Kindly supported by: Chambers Wales South East, South West & Mid
Winner: HCB Widdows Mason
Highly Commended: Altra Law
The Social Impact Award Finalists were: Blake Morgan & Darwin Gray
Pro Bono Award
Kindly supported by: Pro Bono Committee for Wales
Winner: The Fresh Claims Project – Asylum Justice & Cardiff University
Highly Commended: Speakeasy Law Centre
The Pro Bono Award Finalists were: Swansea Law Clinic & Watkins & Gunn
Excellence in Legal Operations Award
Kindly supported by: Osprey Approach
Winner: Rupert Poole, Chief Technology Officer, Hugh James
The Excellence in Legal Operations Award Finalists were: Kayleigh Jefferies, Lead Clerk for Civil & Public Law, 30 Park Place; Nathan Hutton, Internal Audit & Certification Manager, Browne Jacobson & Jenni Gregory, Operations Manager, Watkins & Gunn.
Legal Sector Changemaker Award
(A Judges’ Special Recognition Award)
Winner: Kayleigh Jefferies, 30 Park Place
Rising Star Award
Kindly supported by CILEx
Winner: Rhian Davies, Associate Solicitor, Blake Morgan
Highly Commended: Sarah Jane Lewis, Costs Lawyer, Peak Costs
The Rising Star Award Finalists were: Emily Wellington, Solicitor, JCP Solicitors & Hannah Newberry, Director, Alun Jones Family Law
Community Inspiration Award
(A Judges’ Special Recognition Award)
Winner: Jenine Abdo, Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Leadership Award
Kindly supported by: The Lawyers Retreat
Winner: Neil Walker, CEO, Redkite Solicitors
The 2026 Leadership Finalists were: Clive Thomas, Managing Director, Watkins & Gunn; Jenine Abdo, Partner, Duncan Lewis Solicitors; Laura Hughes & Tim Edds, Partners, Browne Jacobson & Sarah Dodd, Founder, Tree Law.
Legal Hero Wales Award 2026
This prestigious award honours an individual in the Welsh legal sector who has made an exceptional impact through dedication, courage, or service. It recognises one individual who goes above and beyond to support justice, champion important causes, or make a meaningful difference in their community or profession.
Legal Hero Wales 2026 Winner: Michael Imperato, Consultant, Watkins & Gunn
Our thanks to our awards judges, partners & suppliers
The judging panel included a range of independently appointed professionals from business, finance, innovation, practice management, culture, risk management and the free legal advice sector, alongside experts from firms across our carefully curated awards partnerships. The 2026 judges were:
Chairs: John Cullen & Alexandra Davies, Menzies LLP
- Amy Bruce, Osprey Approach
- Angela Hesketh, PEXA
- Damon Rands, PureCyber Ltd
- Dr Bronwen Williams JP MStJ, University of Wales Trinity Saint David
- Dr. Sally Penni MBE, Women in Law UK
- Elizabeth Rimmer, LawCare
- Huw Williams, Senedd Cymru
- John Hyde, Law Society Gazette
- Karen Jones, TSR Legal Recruitment
- Kimberley Williams, Williams-Wroe
- Kirsty Pappin, The Lawyers Retreat
- Liz Hitchings, Development Bank of Wales
- Liz Withers, The Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Mark Evans, The Law Society of England & Wales
- Nathan Martin, NatWest Cymru
- Ryan Pryce, TSR Legal Recruitment
- Sahra-Marie Tulloch, Conscious Solutions
- Toby Moseley, CILEx
The awards programme is delivered with the support of its partners, including Headline Partner TSR Legal Recruitment, alongside category partners who play a key role in championing excellence across the profession: CILEx; Chambers Wales SESWM; Conscious Solutions; LawCare; The Lawyers Retreat; Menzies LLP; Osprey Approach Legal Software; PEXA; The Pro Bono Committee for Wales; PureCyber; The Solicitors Regulation Authority, and; The University of Wales Trinity St David.
The production partner for the Awards Ceremony, hosted at the Coal Exchange Hotel, Cardiff, was Genero Group.
The video and photography partner was On Brand Films.
The Event Manager was Ruth Walters.
Awards photographs
To view & download photographs of the Legal News Wales Awards 2026 ceremony, click here. Please credit all photos to: On Brand Films & Legal News Wales.
