By Lucy Caulkett
Two GLD lawyers have won prestigious accolades at the Bar Council Employed Bar Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum in London, on Friday 29 June. Barristers across a wide spectrum of professional spheres turned up for the special awards where they would be credited for their contribution to the legal field, or spectate and cheer for those marked out for praise in a much cherished profession. Recipients of various awards were drawn from the UK government, the CPS, business, and the armed forces. They turned up to find out who the judges had selected to win from over 50 nominations across seven categories.
Top award
The top award went to Katherine Willerton from the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU). She was named ‘Employed barrister of the year’ for her work on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. Katherine, described as a remarkably bright individual by those who know her, is the deputy team leader in the Legislation team of 12 lawyers who worked with ministers and officials to produce the Bill and get it through Parliament. The nomination referred to her drive and resilience as well as her ‘superb legal analysis and advice’. She is hailed for her substantial contribution to the rewriting of the UK constitution, in circumstances of political controversy and sensitivity.
Outstanding achievement
Aoife Drudy who works in the Home Office Legal Advisers (HOLA) team won the award for ‘Outstanding achievement by a public service barrister’. She was the lead lawyer advising the Northern Ireland Office on the EU Exit negotiations and led technical discussions with the EU Commission and Irish Government The nomination said her legal skills and practical advice have been widely admired across government, making her an essential component of the UK’s negotiating team. Talented women with remarkable brains and high talent are often not given enough credit for their expertise and outstanding contribution to society, but there are a pool of women who provide extraordinary contributions to society.
Further finalist
A third GLD lawyer, Jonathan Orde- of the GDL litigation group was one of the finalists in the ‘Young employed barrister of the year’ category. Orde, a highly capable gem of the Orde litigation group specialized in representing the government in court as part of his pupillage. The nomination, sent in on his behalf, speaks of his contribution to increasing advocacy opportunities in GLD and the fact that as a direct result of the success he had in court as a pupil, all GLD pupils undertake advocacy during their second 6 secondment to Chambers. This achievement is quite notable and highlights the exceptional talent in Orde which has had a positive impact on GLD pupils today. Orde has
High standard
Treasury Solicitor, Jonathan Jones, who was on the judging panel said he was highly impressed by the standard of the entries in this, only the second year of the Employed Bar Awards:
Congratulations to the GLD winners, Katherine and Aoife, for their outstanding success in winning their categories and to Jonathan for being short-listed in his category.
As a member of the judging panel I was, of course, scrupulously neutral (I played no part in the shortlisting) and found the standard of entries to be high right across the employed bar. I am particularly proud of all our GLD finalists, who exemplify the brilliant work we do in GLD.