A PARTNER at MBM Commercial has been named solicitor of the year at The Law Awards of Scotland.

Cat MacLean, who heads up the dispute resolution team at the firm, was a winner at the awards ceremony held at the Radisson hotel in Glasgow last night.

There was further celebration for the firm at Liina Tulk, a senior solicitor in dispute resolution, was jointly given the up and coming lawyer prize along with Harper Macleod’s Susie Henderson.

The awards, which supported by The Herald, The Law Society of Scotland, Professional Office Supplies, The Firm and Stirling Park, also saw Fraz Ahmed, of J R Rahman Solicitors, pick up the trainee of the year category.

The lifetime achievement award was presented to Professor Robert Rennie from Harper McLeod while Balfour Manson’s Fred Tyler received the chairman’s award.

James Wolffe, dean of the Faculty of Advocates, was named as the legal personality of the year.

Louise Chapman of the Student Loans Company got the paralegal of the year prize.

DLA Piper Scotland was named law firm of the year with more than 40 fee earners while the fewer than 40 fee earners category went to McSherry Halliday.

The high street firm of the year was shared by Innes & Mackay and Paris Steele.

Harper Macleod picked up the managing partner/team of the year award with Allan McDougall Solicitors taking the support team of the year category.

Beltrami & Co won the criminal law firm prize, Macleod and MacCallum the family law award and Caritas Legal took the private client category.

Thompsons Solicitors took the employment firm gong with Allan McDougall Solicitors winning in the property category, DWF picking up the CSR prize and Halliday Campbell named litigation firm of the year.

Bishopbriggs based Montgomery Smith Solicitors was named up and coming law firm of the year.

The Glasgow Bar Association was named faculty of the year.

Lynn Lester, managing director of events at the Law Awards organiser Carnyx, said: “The reality is that in many professions your efforts can be taken for granted and resort to nothing more than a thankless task. That's why the role of these awards are extremely important, to spotlight the talent and professionalism that continues to thrive in the legal fraternity and to give the high achievers their moment of glory.”