Wragge & Co is one of the top five innovative law firms in the UK and Europe, according to the inaugural FT Innovative Lawyers Awards. The firm joined Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Eversheds and Linklaters as the five firms short-listed for the most innovative law firm award.

The FT's Innovative Lawyers Awards celebrate cutting edge practice, originality, creativity and imagination in the legal profession. Wragge & Co won the information technology category and secured 'stand out' status for client service. It was also ranked in five of the FT's eight private practice categories, including human resources, legal expertise and management.

Quentin Poole said: "Looking at things differently is a priority at Wragge & Co. It goes to the heart of everything we do; from devising creative solutions to legal problems to the way we train our people. I am pleased our efforts, especially those like advising on technology and law firm panels which add value and support client relationships, have been recognised."

RSG Consulting's research team spent five months interviewing nearly 1,000 lawyers and other professionals across Europe. The result, revealed in today's FT, is a definitive list of the most innovative lawyers in private practice, in-house and at the bar.

Wragge & Co was rated in the following categories:

• Information technology – Winner. Consultancy to in-house counsel on technology proved a winning innovation in this category. The judges praised head of strategic development, Derek Southall, "for combining legal and IT knowhow to give practical advice".
• Client service – Stand out for providing advice to companies appointing and managing panels of external lawyers. The judges said: "This provided added value strategic advice to in-house legal teams on how to maximise the efficiency and reduce the costs of using law firms".
• Human resources – A highly commended approach to associate and partner development, which "links training and development strategy to the business".
• Legal expertise – Commended for the firm's work on Kenya's landmark rail concession agreement.
• Management – The judges commended Wragge & Co's professional, business-like approach to secondments.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 685 2785, Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 685 2708 or Rebecca Mee on +44 (0)121 685 3819

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.