Gordons flies the flag for Yorkshire in prestigious legal industry awards

Yorkshire law firm Gordons is the only practice from the county shortlisted for the Regional Law Firm of the Year accolade in a prestigious industry awards scheme organised by leading trade publication The Lawyer.

The firm is among seven finalists in the category, one of 25 sections in the high-profile national annual award scheme which attracted a record entry this year. The winners will be announced at a prize-giving dinner at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday 26 June.

Gordons was shortlisted by a panel of 11 eminent judges, including Charlotte Heiss, group head of legal at RSA, and leading barrister Monica Carss-Frisk, joint head of London’s Blackstone Chambers, who will re-convene to pick the winners.

The judges’ opinions were based not just on the 1,000-word entries submitted by competing firms but also extensive research conducted by editorial staff at The Lawyer, which involved speaking to hundreds of legal practitioners and their clients. The magazine says on its website that “the standard of entries this year was exceptional and those making the shortlist are true market leaders.”

Gordons’ managing partner Paul Ayre said: “To be short listed for the Regional Law Firm of the Year award is a great achievement and we’re very proud to be Yorkshire’s standard bearer in the category.

“The nomination rounds off an excellent 12 months for the firm, which have seen us announce an eleventh consecutive year of growth and launch a powerful new brand identity. During that period we also recruited 50 fee earners, launched one of the legal sector’s first apprenticeship schemes and have won new clients based in China, Saudia Arabia and Germany.

“We have built up a great deal of positive momentum over the past year and this award short listing is testimony to that.”

The firm’s written submission, covering the period from April 2011 to March 2012, outlined its strategic vision, and gave evidence of its consistent client service delivery, strong spread of work, excellent standards and financial performance.

Client responses to our news include –

I think that this is a fantastic recognition of the great work the firm does. Being shortlisted alone is a good thing. Let’s hope you can win it!
Greg McMahon, Company Secretary and Head of Legal Services, Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc

Congratulations on your nomination, its richly deserved.
Good luck with the award, please let us know if you win!
John Tordoff, Chief Executive, JCT600

Good to hear and no more than you all deserve. Hope you win!
On my travels whenever and wherever the name of Gordons crops up it is always with high regard and great respect for the work you do.
Paul Herridge, Chairman, Goldenfry

Thanks for sharing, Paul. Good news. Hope you get the award but being shortlisted is already an award in itself.
Leendert Hollander, Chief Executive Officer, Youngs Seafood

Many congratulations for this nomination. As always, we remain grateful for the hard work that Nick Chamberlain and his team do for us. You are trusted and valued business partners, and long may that continue!
Having browsed The Lawyer Awards website, I can see that 26th June is the red letter day – I wish you well!
John Sefton, Molson Coors

Congratulations on Gordons’ short listing – much deserved in my view.
Andy Lord, Group Company Secretary& Head of Legal Services, Freemans Grattan Holdings

Fabulous news and very much deserved. I shall keep my fingers and toes crossed for you!
I have to say you guys are an absolute pleasure to work with and rarely is anything difficult. We have a saying at Elmwood about our people, when we try and describe them in that we say “are they an Elmwood person”. We know what we mean by that although I know it does sound soft and fuzzy. I have to say you guys are very close to what I would describe as “Elmwood people” hard working, straight talking, fun, relationship driven professionals. Long may it continue!
Thank you for all that Gordon’s do for us.
Deborah Longbottom, Finance Director, Elmwood

Great news. Hope you guys do it for Gordons and Yorkshire
A fantastic team to work with
Good luck
Richard Baldus, Property Director, Jewson

Congratulations Paul!
Mark Ashcroft, Company Secretary, Findel PLC

Since we have been dealing with Gordons, for something like 2 years now, generally on an acquisition, then a couple of contracts, coupled with some ‘Will trust work’, I have found you to be highly professional, reliable & get the job done with the minimum of fuss.
The people we deal with I have found to be very approachable & have been very proactive, exactly what a company like Pavers require.
Very well done, at been shortlisted & don’t increase your fees if you win it!
Mike Carrick, Head of Finance, Pavers

Congratulations!
Good luck with your progress in the finals.
John Chacksfield, Group Chairman, Trio Healthcare Group

Good luck and congratulations hope you scoop the prize
Paul Dransfield, Managing Director, PDR Construction

Many thanks for your e-mail – a true achievement. Fingers cross for the next stage, none of this would be possible of course without the professional service from you and your team. Personal thanks go to Paddy and James Fawcett for the sterling work they have done for us over the past year.
Jason Liddy, Associate Director, Ardel Fund

Excellent news and many congratulations on being short-listed.
Richard Bannister, Owner, Boundary Mills

Brilliant news Paul. Hope you win it.
Rebecca Bletcher, Bramall & Ogden Limited

Excellent news and well done
James Dickson, Chief Executive, Vianet group plc

Thanks for your email and good luck with the award.
David Jones, Managing Director, Quarmby Construction Ltd

Further recognition for the driving force behind the transformation of Gordons over the last few years.
As you know, I became aware of Gordons probably about 10 years ago, when the profile of the practice was not as prominent.
Good luck for the 26th June.
Martin Muffitt, Chief Financial Officer, Greenwoods Menswear Ltd

Thank you for your e-mail and congratulations.
This is a positive endorsement for Gordon’s and based on my own experiences justly deserved.
I wish you and your team well for the final.
William Le Fevre, Managing Director, Wollaston BMW

I’ve been forwarded your email below and just wanted to pass on my congratulations on being short listed for Regional Law firm of the year.
A fantastic achievement and one I’m sure you and your team are very proud of.
Darren Owers, Senior Partner, Yorkshire Bank

Thanks for the email.
Good luck with The Lawyer Awards 2012; although I’m not sure you will need luck.
Roger Marsh, Leeds Office Senior Partner & Northern Leader, PwC

Paul – well done indeed! Well deserved….
Peter Gilman, Chairman, GMI Construction Group PLC

Thank you for the mail, please keep me informed how you progress, all the very best for the future.
Steve Jackson, Managing Director, Minova EMEA

Looks good – good luck with the award!
Malcolm C Hardy, Chief Financial Officer, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Good luck and congratulations.
Mike Kienlen, Partner, Armstrong Watson

Thanks for the ‘heads up’. Have to say it doesn’t surprise me given the firm’s strategy and successes over the last few years. Naturally I do hope Gordons win it.
Ian Appleby, Relationship Director, RBS

Excellent news, congratulations! And good luck for the awards.
Arif Ahmad, Partner, PwC

Congratulations on making the shortlist – let’s hope you go a stage further & win “for Yorkshire” !
Good luck
Nigel Shaw, Head of Private Clients, Garbutt & Elliott