Morecrofts managing partner Alison Lobb was named Woman Solicitor of the Year and Joanne Dalton of  MSB the Practice Manager of the Year. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool law firms flew the flag for the city’s professional sector at the national Law Society Excellence Awards 2019 with Morecrofts managing partner Alison Lobb being named Woman Solicitor of the Year.

Morecrofts, based in Old Hall Street, also won the Excellence in Private Client Service Award and Joanne Dalton of No 4 St Paul’s Square-based MSB the Practice Manager of the Year accolade.

Weightmans, also based in Old Hall Street, was highly commended in the Excellence in Learning & Development and Large Law Firm of the Year categories at the awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Of Alison Lobb, the judges said: “Alison Lobb is a leading lawyer who is fully embedded in the legal profession and wider business community in Liverpool. As a managing partner, she has introduced significant policy changes to support gender equality in the workplace.

“She stands out for her active promotion of women in the profession, and is a true and worthy ambassador for women, her practice and her city.”

They were similarly effusive about MSB’s Joanne Dalton, saying: “Joanne Dalton is a practice manager in the truest sense, her sole contribution to the success of her firm and improvement of its core business functions have been transformative.

“Our judges were impressed with her practical commitment to championing staff development and progression within the firm. Crucially, she has made diversity and inclusivity instrumental to that aim.”