Commercial property team at Wolverhampton wins ‘Legal Team of the Year’ award at LLG Awards 2025

City of Wolverhampton Council's commercial property team has been named 'Legal Team of the Year' at the Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) Awards 2025.

Wolverhampton's commercial property team was recognised for its regeneration projects, an ambitious empty property programme, and innovative High Court applications for historic CPO compensation.

Their community engagement efforts promoting careers in local government also contributed to their win, LLG said.  

The legal teams at the West Midlands Combined Authority and Reading Borough Council, meanwhile, were highly commended.

The award ceremony, held at LLG's Spring Conference in Bristol on Friday (6 June), celebrated the contributions and achievements of legal professionals in the local government sector.

The award categories were:

• Junior Lawyer of the Year Award
• Legal Team of the Year Award
• Legal Professional of the Year Award
• Excellence in Training Award
• Suki Binjal Rising Star Award
• Significant Contribution to Local Government Law and Practice Award

The 'Junior Lawyer of the Year Award' was won by Charlotte Smith from North West Leicestershire District Council, while Susan Desfontaines from West Northamptonshire Council was highly commended.

Smith was recognised for strong leadership and use of initiative in a number of areas, from legal work stream processes to equality and diversity impact assessment protocols.

The 'Excellence in Training Award', given to commend the individuals or teams who have excelled in their efforts to support aspiring legal professionals, was awarded to Stockport Council for its structured work programme, care leavers support, and creation of a socially mobile route to qualification and employment for lawyers.

Both Buckinghamshire Council and West Midlands Combined Authority were highly commended for their training programmes.

Jeanette Thompson from North Hertfordshire District Council was meanwhile named 'Legal Professional of the Year', and Peter Endall, senior solicitor at Warwickshire County Council, won the 'Significant Contribution to Local Government Law and Practice'.

Thompson was praised for her work in investing in people, promoting inclusion, changing culture through "ethical governance", and embedding the protection of women from abuse throughout the council.

Finally, the 'Suki Binjal Rising Star Award', introduced this year as a tribute to the late former LLG President Suki Binjal, was given to Nicki Agalamanyi of West Northamptonshire.

The award recognises individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the public sector and are ready to take the next step towards senior leadership roles.

Reflecting on the event, Deborah Evans, chief executive of Lawyers in Local Government, said: "The LLG Conference was an unmissable gathering for those delivering legal services at the heart of local government transformation.

"The agenda also tackled some of the most pressing issues facing the sector today, including standards reform and the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision on gender."

She added: "Yet, beyond the formal sessions, the true strength of the LLG Spring Conference lies in its spirit of collaboration.

"It is a rare and valuable space where colleagues can engage in meaningful dialogue, share best practice, and reflect on the shifting landscape of local government law."

Adam Carey