Legal firm is judged to be best in land

Oct 23 2008 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

Legal firm is judged to be best in land

A LIVINGSTON law firm has been honoured by its peers at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Adams Whyte, based in Grampian Court, Livingston, was awarded the Criminal Law Firm of the Year at the Law Awards of Scotland.

The independent law awards, described as the Oscars of the legal profession, are now in their fifth year.

Adams Whyte went through a stringent two-stage judging process to be selected for the award.

The process began with the polling of around 6000 clients and legal professionals, who were asked to rate those they believed to be at the top of the profession.

The firms and professionals to achieve the highest ratings were then invited to submit a 1000-word report outlining why they deserved to be named as a winner in their category.

And after receiving glowing responses from clients and fellow legal workers alike the judges were suitably impressed by Adams Whyte’s submission to hand them the award for 2008.

The judges said Adams Whyte’s strong performance was based on continuity in personnel and pride in standards.

They added: “It is this approach that brought the judges at the Law Awards for Scotland to conclude Adams Whyte as a case study in formidable accomplishment in criminal law.

“This method has seen unfailingly superior performance in many respects — not least in their offering of one of Scotland’s largest criminal defence teams.

“This size and experience means Adams Whyte regularly deliver access to justice at District, Sheriff and High Courts throughout Scotland.”

The judges also praised the firm’s impressive record in 2007 of attaining 76 per cent acquittal in cases which proceeded to trial.

Adams Whyte is also only one of a handful of Scottish law firms to be recommended as leaders in criminal defence by both Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and The Legal 500.

Gerry Bann, one of the firm’s founding partners, collected the prize from colourful compere Donald Findlay QC at the recent awards ceremony.

He said: “Adams Whyte are delighted to have received this prestigious award.

“Given that there are over a thousand Criminal Defence Solicitors who practise across Scotland, it’s a special honour to be voted Scotland’s Criminal Law Firm of the Year.

“The award really is testament to the dedication of our formidable team of lawyers.”

Another of the firm’s founding partners, Kevin Dugan, was equally delighted with the award.

He added: “For many years, we have been recommended by the UK’s top legal guides and we feel that this latest award is recognition of the expertise and experience of our team and the firm’s philosophy of providing those accuses of a crime with the best possible representation on any charge at anytime, anywhere across Scotland.”