Jo Cooper, chair of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates, was this week named Law Society Gazette Legal Personality of the Year in the Law Society’s annual excellence awards.

The accolade recognises Cooper’s sterling efforts in promoting the interests of solicitor higher court advocates during a challenging year for the profession.

The Law Society Excellence Awards were due to be presented as the Gazette went to press at a ceremony in London attended by over 600 legal professionals.

Other winners this year include Michael Schwarz of Bindmans (Solicitor of the Year, private practice); Naomi Bentley-Lawson of Warwickshire County Council (Solicitor of the Year, in-house); and Allison Page of DLA Piper UK, the AWS Legal Business Woman of the Year.

Law Society president John Wotton said: ‘The winners of these awards should be very proud.

‘The legal profession faces fresh challenges and greater competition resulting from the Legal Services Act. Excellence is the foundation of success in this new competitive environment where legal practitioners need to stand out from other service providers in order to thrive.’

He added: ‘Winning an Excellence Award is more than recognition from professional colleagues, it is also a symbol of quality for members of the public.’