Firm favourites

The inaugural HR in Law Awards, in association with Professionals in Law, took place last night at the HAC in central London. The winners of the Grand Prix award were London firm Trowers & Hamlins, for their exceptional CSR work.

The awards were attended by around 250 legal HR professionals, where a Gala Dinner was topped off by the presentation of 14 awards by Alexander Armstrong, the actor, presenter and – Crumbs! – the new voice of Danger Mouse. The Chair of Judges was Andrew Baird. the CEO of HRville.

Trowers & Hamlins won the overall prize of the evening for an initiative that saw them working with East Potential, a charity that aims to improve the lives of socially disadvantaged individuals in East London and Essex. Their ‘Route to Work’ programme saw seven such individuals find employment at the firm.

A source at the charity said, ‘As a direct result of commencing employment with Trowers & Hamlins, six of these employees have been able to prove they are financially independent and consequently have moved out of the supported accommodation provided to them.’

It was a pretty good night for other firms, too. The complete list of winners is as follows:

Outstanding Employee Engagement: Linklaters

Best Recruitment Campaign: Bird & Bird

Excellence in Talent Management: Osborne Clarke

Best Trainee Recruitment Campaign: Linklaters

Excellence in Equality & Inclusion: Linklaters

Best Employer Brand Initiative: Clifford Chance

Best HR Innovation Through Technology: Carey Olsen

Excellence in Learning & Development: Winner: Penningtons Manches

HR Business Impact Award: Trowers & Hamlins

Best CSR Initiative: Trowers & Hamlins

Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative (for firms of up to 750 employees): Shearman & Sterling

Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative (for firms of over 750 employees): Linklaters

Rising Star: Cat Bodington, Pinsent Masons

Grand Prix: Best CSR Initiative, Trowers & Hamlins

The awards promise to return next year.

About the author

Andrew Baird

Andrew is the CEO of HRville. He is also Employer Brand Director of Blackbridge Communications, Editorial Director of Professionals in Law and an associate of The Smarty Train. Previously, he was the MD of TCS Advertising.