News

Duncan Lewis Solicitors achieved remarkable success at the esteemed Modern Law Awards 2024, securing three prizes as we proudly accepted the titles of Outstanding Case of the Year, Pro-bono Team of the Year and Lawyer of the Year. This prestigious awards ceremony, held on 7th March, marked a momentous occasion for our firm as we celebrated our exceptional achievements and stand-out moments over the past year.

Outstanding Case of the Year

In selecting our firm for the Outstanding Case of the Year title, the judges commended the extraordinary efforts displayed by our Public Law team in what can only be described as the most important immigration and asylum-related claim of the year: the Rwanda Supreme Court victory. The department acted as the frontrunner in one of the seminal cases of this generation, challenging the lawfulness of SSHD’s policy to relocate asylum-seekers to Rwanda for claims processing. Spearheading the legal battle on behalf of all the lead claimants, the team exhibited unwavering dedication, advocating fiercely from the Administrative Court to the Supreme Court. Their commitment knew no bounds as they worked tirelessly around the clock to pursue justice for those they represented, cumulating in the landmark Supreme Court decision which upheld the Court of Appeal’s conclusion that the Rwanda policy is unlawful. This recognition is testament to the dedication shown by Toufique Hossain, Lewis Kett, Nicholas Hughes, Simon Robinson, Manini Menon, Jennifer Matthews, Sophie Lucas and Sheroy Zaq, who were instructed in this case.

Lawyer of the Year

We extend our congratulations to Shalini Patel for her remarkable achievement in securing the distinguished Lawyer of the Year title. Shalini’s outstanding commitment to effecting systemic change, aimed at diminishing the prevalence of trafficking and enhancing the rights and entitlements of trafficking survivors, garnered well-deserved recognition from the judges. Her dedication to improving the lives of trafficking survivors resulted in the SSHD agreeing to withdraw, reconsider and revise parts of the Modern Slavery Guidance which required trafficking survivors to produce objective evidence corroborating a credible account of human trafficking in order to receive a positive reasonable grounds decision after Shalini brought a successful judicial review. We are delighted that Shalini is adding yet another award to her growing collection of prizes, which now includes the title of Lawyer of the Year.

Pro Bono Team of the Year

The company is equally thrilled to have received the honour of being awarded Pro Bono Team of the Year.  In selecting us for this award, Judges have acknowledged our companywide commitment to pro bono work which is deeply embedded in our professional ethos, perfectly aligning with the firm's motto: "we give people a voice." This dedication manifests in our unwavering support for the underprivileged, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to top-tier legal services covering areas including Housing, Immigration, Employment, Welfare Benefits, Child Care/Family and Civil Litigation. The Pro Bono Award was collected by the Head of our Pro Bono Committee, Emine Mehmet, who runs 10 pro bono surgeries in her Family & Child Care team alone.

These remarkable wins are testament to the dedication of the whole team at Duncan Lewis and its commitment to upholding the rule of law and supporting the most vulnerable in society. We are incredibly honoured to receive such outstanding recognition and would like to thank the Modern Law Awards for hosting a truly memorable night. 

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Solicitors is a multi- award-winning national law firm, renowned for its exceptional legal services and commitment to justice. The company employs a team of highly skilled solicitors offering top-tier representation in 25 fields of law. It is proudly ranked by the Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 directories as a top-tier law firm, and is also named as a Time Top 250 Law Firm. Headquartered in the City of London, the company is well-known for its excellence in people management, holds the Investors in People Gold Standard Accreditation and is a paperless company which embraces employee hybrid-working.