Double award victory for Ashtons Legal

Ashtons Legal came up trumps at the LawNet 2014 Awards when winners were announced at the annual LawNet conference on Friday 14 November at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield.

LawNet is a national network of over 60 independent law firms who are committed to rigorous quality standards and best practice. The prestigious LawNet awards are judged not by lawyers but by relevant external specialists. This year, there were six award categories. Ashtons Legal won the ‘Best Digital Presence’ category and clinical negligence specialist Ben Ward took the accolade of ‘Young Lawyer of the Year’.

For ‘Best Digital Presence’, LawNet said that Ashtons Legal demonstrated an impressive commitment to creating a dynamic and wide-reaching digital presence through the use of company-wide social media training and activities, careful digital branding and regular, accessible content marketing. This integrated digital campaign, executed through a range of social media platforms, resulted in a continuous rise in online qualified legal enquiries, increased attendance at events and a huge increase in direct and referral based website traffic.  This win comes on the heels of a win for ‘Best Use of Social Media’ in 2013 and ‘Best Website’ in 2012.

Solicitor Ben Ward won ‘Young Lawyer of the Year’ on the basis that since joining Ashtons Legal as a trainee in 2008, Ben has become experienced in dealing with a wide range of clinical negligence claims and more recently has carved out a niche for himself in the areas of cancer misdiagnosis and orthopaedic claims. Recognised by the Legal 500 at only three years post qualification and acknowledged this year as a “rising star”, he is described by his clients and colleagues as an organised and meticulous individual and has demonstrated a commitment to networking and actively contributing to local organisations and committees, including the Norfolk and Norwich Law Society, where he acts as the society’s youngest secretary. Ben has also worked hard to develop a regional media profile and regularly contributes to profile-raising causes he feels passionate about.

Ashtons Legal CEO, Ed O’Rourke, commented: “I am hugely proud of both these wins and of all who have contributed to them. Our growing firm-wide culture of online activity and contribution, driven by a Business Development team with a passion for digital marketing, reflects the fact that social media is an effective way of raising our profile, increasing our brand awareness, interacting with our clients and making contacts with potential clients and the media. This is one way of differentiating ourselves from other law firms.  Another is to develop strength and depth in niche areas of law. The way in which Ben Ward, who trained with us, has gone on to carve out niche expertise and recognition in the medical negligence field so early in his career is impressive and his Award is richly deserved.”