British Legal Awards 2009

A capacity audience descended on Old Billingsgate Market in the City of London on 3 December to celebrate the achievements of the British and international legal profession at the British Legal Awards.

The event, which was hosted by Legal Week and fronted by comedian Alexander Armstrong, culminated in the awards of Law Firm of the Year, which was scooped by Stephenson Harwood, and the City of London Law Society Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Supreme Court Justice and former Herbert Smith partner Lord Collins.

Bill Knight, the chairman of the judging panel, praised the judges for their hard work reaching "careful and independent decisions". He added: "The entries showed the resilience of the legal profession and the need for our services in good times and bad. In good times we put through the transactions which keep the economy turning. In bad times we pick up the pieces and form them into new models."

For full details of the winners in each category, click on the links below.