Liverpool firm is shortlisted for Medium Law Firm of the Year and managing partner, Emma Carey, is also shortlisted in the Woman Lawyer of the Year category. Tony McDonough reports

Fast-growing Liverpool law firm MSB Solicitors has been shortlisted for Medium Law Firm of the Year in the national Law Society Excellence Awards 2018.

MSB managing partner, Emma Carey, is also shortlisted in the Woman Lawyer of the Year category and she and members of the team will attend the awards ceremony in London on Wednesday, October 17.

Emma said she was “thrilled” at the nominations, adding: “I truly believe each and every member of team MSB has made a contribution to us being shortlisted… I couldn’t be prouder.”

Other Liverpool city region law firms on the shortlist included Morecrofts, Hillyer McKeown, Weightmans, Fletchers Solicitors, Thompsons Solicitors and Bennett Williams Solicitors.

The awards are organised by the Law Society to “celebrate excellence” across the legal profession in England and Wales. The society says: “Our awards champion the work of solicitors, from smaller firms to big city players, in-house teams, exceptional individuals, and everyone in between.”

MSB has enjoyed significant growth over the past couple of years and last year broke through the £5m turnover barrier for the first time. It has established a national reputation for excellence in a number of areas, in particular crime and family law.

Emma has spent the last few years building up MSB’s family department and its pioneering work has seen the firm take on cases in emerging areas of the law such as international child abduction.

Earlier this year, long-time managing partner Paul Bibby retired from the firm and Emma stepped up to the role. She is continuing the growth trajectory of MSB, which employs around 100 people across three Liverpool offices, through both organic growth and merger and acquisition.

She has been instrumental in transforming the practice into one of the most progressive in the country. Around 80% of its employees and 50% of its partners are women and Emma has also put LGBT rights in the workplace at the top of her agenda.

She added: “Thanks to the work of everyone at the firm we now have one of the most progressive and dynamic law firms in the country. That is not only reflected in a number of awards and the Legal 500 but, more importantly, in the great feedback we get from our clients.”