Challenger law firm Keystone Law was crowned Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2020 in a virtual ceremony on 3 November 2020.
The awards showcase stand-out teams and transactions across the legal profession and are widely recognised as the industry-leading awards.
It is the first time in its 26-year history that the top prize has been handed to a non-traditional law firm, having previously been won by some of the UK’s biggest firms including Clifford Chance, Pinsent Masons and Mishcon de Reya.
Keystone, which launched in the Isle of Man in 2016, was highlighted as this year’s big winner for being a pioneer in the legal sector. Keystone has been on an upward growth trajectory since its inception, attracting heavyweight lawyers from traditional law firms, all the while providing complete autonomy and freedom. The judges commented that during the coronavirus pandemic “Keystone’s model has been vindicated in spades” and thanks to its innovative use of technology and modern working practices is “lightyears ahead” in enabling lawyers to work remotely and provide high-quality service to clients.
The accolade follows a rigorous judging process, which included analysing The Lawyer’s proprietary data and market insight alongside input from a judging panel of industry experts.
Geoff Kermeen, Managing Director of Keystone Law IOM, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Keystone has won this coveted award. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the team, we have been able to push the boundaries to provide a first-rate alternative to traditional firms on the Island and provide the best service possible to our clients, in an efficient and flexible way. It is particularly pleasing to be able to contribute to Keystone’s stellar growth and overall success. To win this award is an outstanding achievement.”
This is the second big triumph for the Keystone IOM team in the last month, which was also named as a leading law firm in the Legal 500 2021 directory and praised for its ‘knowledgeable and responsive’ team who garnered tier 1 and tier 2 rankings for all of its practice areas.
The Lawyer magazine is the UK’s largest legal publication for commercial lawyers, barristers and in-house counsel.