An epic night at the awards: Osborne Clarke celebrates success at three separate awards events on the same night

International legal practice Osborne Clarke won awards last night at the South West Business Leader Awards and Thames Valley Dealmakers Awards, and was highly commended in two categories at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe.

Business Leader South West Awards: Advisory Firm of the Year

Osborne Clarke has won Advisory Firm of the Year at Business Leader's South West Awards, showcasing the region's most influential businesses. This follows and builds on last year's Inclusion and Diversity Award win.

The firm's significant progress in sustainability and decarbonisation highlighted by recent move to landmark sustainable workplace Halo in Bristol, a continued commitment to CSR initiatives, innovative use of technology and excellence in client service stood out to the judges.

Insider's Thames Valley Dealmakers Awards: Deal of the Year (£50m+)

Insider's Thames Valley Dealmakers celebrates major transactions and teams in the region. Osborne Clarke's Corporate team, led by Rob Hayes, was recognised for its work advising Nexeon on a US$200 million investment to accelerate battery materials manufacturing, winning the coveted Deal of the Year award.

The judges deliberated at great lengths to decide the winner in this category, but concluded that the Nexeon deal demonstrated "technical innovation in the region which attracted global attention" and that "the deal has the potential to be truly nationally significant". Osborne Clarke was the sole local advisor alongside Baker McKenzie and Eversheds Sutherland.

FT Innovative Lawyer Awards: Innovative Lawyers in Technology

The IP team and Osborne Clarke Solutions team were recognised alongside Kantar's in-house legal team for building an innovative digital platform and process to unlock the value in Kantar's global IP portfolio. The platform is used to identify, store and manage the market research company’s various forms of registered and unregistered intellectual property across its global business, delivering tangible results for the group.

FT Innovative Lawyer Awards: Innovative Lawyers in Supporting Refugees

Osborne Clarke was also highly commended in the 'Innovative Lawyers Supporting Refugees' category for its work on the Rule 39 pro bono initiative alongside multiple other city firms, including DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Orrick and Reed Smith.

The firms launched the pro bono project for migrants in collaboration with campaign group the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CILD). Rule 39 of the European Court of Human Rights is used to address the human rights violations faced by asylum seekers and migrants, and allows the court to apply interim measures in the most urgent cases. So far, the initiative has helped more than 400 people.

Following the awards ceremony last night, it was revealed that Osborne Clarke ranks 24^th in the Financial Times European Law Firm Index for 2023. The firm scores a total of 78.4 out of 100 points across innovation, digital, people and social responsibility.

"It's great to come together with colleagues, clients our fellow law firms to celebrate the best work in the legal sector. We're thrilled to win Advisory Firm of the Year, advise our clients Nexeon and Kantar on high-profile matters and projects and collaborate with other firms to support refugees," commented Osborne Clarke's UK Managing Partner Conrad Davies.