A Night to Remember: The Nottinghamshire Law Society Awards Dinner
On Friday 17 April, the East Midlands Conference Centre played host to an unforgettable evening as more than 400 guests came together to celebrate excellence, community and a true festival of life at this year’s Nottinghamshire Law Society Awards Dinner.
President Marie Dancer and Head of Operations Michelle Foster warmly welcomed guests on arrival, while the smooth sounds of jazz quartet Ryan Latham set the tone for a glamorous night inspired by the Oscars. Adding to the sense of fun and spectacle, guests were greeted by Laurel and Hardy, alongside a rather convincing Captain Jack Sparrow, much to everyone’s delight.
The evening began with the President’s Drinks Reception, generously sponsored by Review Solicitors. Guests were then escorted into the grand banquet hall by our Hollywood stars, walking the red carpet beneath the Oscar‑style golden canopy and into a stunningly transformed space, beautifully styled by Chatsworth Wealth Management. Conference Works once again delivered exceptional audio, visual and sound production, elevating the atmosphere throughout the night, while the East Midlands Conference Centre impressed with outstanding service, delicious cuisine and a faultless venue.
We extend our sincere thanks to Create Inc for their imaginative event designs, which featured throughout the invitations and table booklets, and to Print Co for expertly managing all printed materials. Our gratitude also goes to our patron sponsors, Severn Trent Water Searches and Marsh Specialty, for their continued and valued support of Nottinghamshire Law Society.
The evening had two clear objectives. First, to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our members through the Society’s prestigious awards. Second, to raise vital funds for Nottingham charity The Wolfpack Project, President Marie Dancer’s chosen charity for the year.
Ahead of the charity presentation, Marie introduced a specially created video capturing highlights from the Society’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The film featured striking drone footage of members forming the letters “NLS 150”, alongside reflections on what the Society means to them—community, networking and fun emerging as recurring themes. The video also included interviews with The Wolfpack Project’s CEO Jennine Fox and Trustee Richard Flewitt, and concluded with James Firman of Paragon Law, who will be running the London Marathon on 26 April in support of both the Society and the charity.
As always, excitement in the room was palpable as shortlisted nominations for the 2026 awards were announced before revealing this year’s worthy winners. The energy, encouragement and support shown for every nominee created an electric atmosphere and truly reflected the strength of our professional community.
President Marie hosted the main awards alongside our generous award sponsors:
Anne Soubry (KCH Garden Square), Georgina Cursham (Ropewalk Chambers), Phil Gibbs (1 High Pavement), Harriet Pearce (The University of Law), Jo Hudson (The Access Group), Kassra Powles (Browne Jacobson), Matt Hussey (Gateley Legal), and Mark Wood (Eversheds Sutherland). We are incredibly grateful to all our sponsors for their invaluable support.
The evening concluded on a high, with the Big Bopper taking to the decks and filling the dancefloor with disco classics—bringing the celebrations to a joyful and energetic close.
Since Friday, the buzz on social media has been phenomenal. We’ve loved seeing your photos, reading your comments, and receiving so many messages of thanks for what was truly a special evening. Your support means everything to us.
So, who were this year’s outstanding award winners? Let’s find out…
