Michelle's News - April 2025

Time flies by when you’re having fun…

March and April were predominantly dedicated to the preparations for the Annual Awards Dinner, but I was fortunate to attend several additional events during this busy time.

The first round of the Hammond Cup took place on Thursday, 16th March, showcasing impressive advocacy skills from all participants. Four outstanding finalists emerged: Olivia Hopewell from Property Management Services Ltd, Amelia Trem from Castle Gate Chambers, and Cameron Byrne and Claudia James from the Crown Prosecution Service. Best of luck to them as they compete in the final on Wednesday, 30th April!

On Wednesday, 19th March, I attended the inspiring 'Celebrating Excellence in Legal Education' event at Nottingham Law School, where remarkable achievements and promising future talents in our legal community were celebrated.

April kicked off with a luncheon hosted by The Law Society on Tuesday, 1st April, bringing together members from Nottinghamshire, Derby & District, Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire Law Societies. Discussions focused on how TLS can better serve members across England and Wales. The event hosted by Cleaver & Wake also marked the bicentennial of The Law Society. The Law Society President, Richard Atkinson, welcomed everyone and thanked Nottinghamshire for hosting one of many bicentennial events throughout the year.

Continuing the theme of local law societies, the annual spring lunch was held in Birmingham on Thursday, 4th April, drawing representatives from across the country—from Cornwall to Preston, Hampshire to Hertfordshire. These gatherings are filled with energy, ideas, and shared experiences that foster collaboration, mutual support, and the vital community of local law societies.

Finally, the grand event arrived—the 2025 Annual Awards Dinner! 

This year's carnival-themed celebration welcomed guests with the tropical sounds of the TNT Steel Band, lively Bollywood Dancers, and a spectacular finale with DJ Big Bopper alongside Drag Queen Royalty, The Baroness, and Annette Curtains. Special thanks go to our incredible team, including toastmaster Robert Persell, photographers Dan Lambourne and Jason Glynn, my husband for coordinating charity volunteers, and my son for managing the silent auction.

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors, whose support made this event possible. A huge thank you to Ding Yu, Marketing and Events Manager at Nottingham Venues for providing exceptional hospitality and event coordination, Pete Cook from The Conference Works for stellar staging and AV, and Eventologists for creating an unforgettable gold-themed setting. The Annual Dinner remains our flagship event, made even more special this year as we celebrated the Society's 150th Anniversary.

Looking ahead, our Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday, 13th May, where we will welcome new Council members: Harriet Pearce from the University of Law, Natalie Haydon-Yeung from Geldards LLP, and Yasmine Roff from Sills and Betteridge. This AGM introduces our first independent Council seats, set out in last year’s Articles of Association, alongside Harriet, our third academic representative. The AGM is free to attend—click the link to register if you'd like to join us at the Old Court Room.

On Wednesday, 14th May, we will host the first-ever inter-county local law society Golf Tournament at Northamptonshire County Golf Club. More details are available below or through the provided link.

As summer approaches, the Nottingham Legal Walk is set for Wednesday, 18th June—stay tuned for updates.

I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events as we continue to expand our vibrant society calendar!

Best wishes,

Michelle Foster

Head of Operations

Nottinghamshire Law Society