Judging panel with teeth chews over the City’s finest

It looks like some firms might get some work off the back of their entries for the British Legal Awards, even if they do not ultimately win a gong.

Following the judges’ meeting yesterday, at least two judges have resolved to take a fresh look at firms or teams off the back of their entries. Thanks no doubt to the quality of the panel – made up of elite general counsel and business leaders, including ‘trainee banker’ Anthony Salz – we were inundated with entries for the awards, with up to 20 contenders fighting it out in some categories.

For their part, the judges repaid the compliment by doing their homework and mugging up on the entries before the session. Indeed, one panel member was up until the early hours sifting through the entries.

Although I chaired the session, I did not vote, having made it clear from the outset that a strong-minded, independent panel is the lynchpin of these awards. Legal Week has guided the process and contributed to it but we were adamant from the start that for maximum credibility we would assemble a top-level panel and given them the final call on deciding the winners.

It was fascinating to sit in as the judges debated the merits of the various contenders. There was plenty of healthy debate, although ultimately the panel was able to reach agreement for all the categories they were considering.

I can also vouch for the diligence with which they went about their task, making, as they did, a conscious effort to judge the candidates on the strength of their entries. They also took care not simply to instinctively go for the big names. Entrants, however lofty, had to have demonstrated that they had actually progressed over the last 12 months.

The shortlist will be unveiled in the next couple of weeks.

john.malpas@legalweek.com