Stephens Scown is celebrating a landmark evening after being named Best Employer and Law Firm of the Year (£4m+ Turnover) at the Devon & Somerset Law Society Legal Awards 2026.
The double award win recognises the firm’s continued commitment to delivering outstanding legal services, creating an exceptional workplace culture and leading the profession through its values-led approach as an employee-owned, B Corp™ certified and Certified Net Zero business.
The awards also capped off a successful night for the firm, which was shortlisted in a number of highly competitive categories, including Client Experience, Team of the Year (Family Team), Sustainability, Paralegal of the Year (Ed Bidder) and Solicitor of the Year (Benitia Knowles-Wright).
The Best Employer award recognised Stephens Scown’s people-first culture and its ongoing investment in employee wellbeing, engagement and development. As the UK’s first large employee-owned law firm, Stephens Scown places employee voice at the heart of decision-making and continues to achieve exceptional engagement and retention levels. Recent recognition in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 and industry-leading wellbeing and retention scores helped demonstrate the firm’s commitment to creating a thriving workplace.
The Law Firm of the Year award acknowledged the firm’s strong reputation, innovative approach and continued growth across the South West and beyond. Judges considered a range of achievements, including the firm’s landmark success for Thatchers in its trademark dispute with Aldi, expansion into Dorset with the opening of its Bournemouth office, investment in innovation and technology, and a continued focus on delivering exceptional client experience.
Managing Partner Richard Baker said:
“Winning both Best Employer and Law Firm of the Year is a fantastic achievement because it recognises two things that are inseparable at Stephens Scown – creating an exceptional place to work and delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.
“Our employee-owned model means our people have a genuine stake in the firm’s success. That creates a culture where talented, ambitious individuals can build rewarding careers, collaborate effectively and focus on delivering the very best service for clients.
“These awards reflect the strength of our business, our continued growth and our commitment to doing things differently. Clients choose us because they value our expertise, our commercial approach and the relationships we build with them. Creating an environment where great people can thrive helps us attract and retain the talent needed to support our clients’ success, both now and in the future.
“To also be shortlisted across so many individual, team and firm-wide categories is a testament to the depth of talent across the firm and the collective contribution our people make every day.”
The awards were presented at a ceremony attended by legal professionals from across Devon and Somerset. The event featured a keynote address from Dean Dunham KC (Hon), one of the UK’s most recognised consumer law experts and media commentators, and was hosted by broadcaster David “Fitz” FitzGerald.
Over the past year, Stephens Scown has continued to strengthen its position as one of the South West’s leading law firms, combining regional roots with national influence. The firm’s employee-owned model, B Corp™ certification and commitment to responsible business continue to set it apart in the legal sector, while significant investments in governance, innovation and client experience are helping to shape the future of legal services.
The awards provide further recognition of the firm’s vision to be a different kind of law firm – one that balances commercial success with a genuine commitment to its people, clients, communities and the environment.
