M&A heavyweight Nigel Boardman is part of an 18-strong all-star judging panel that has been assembled for the British Legal Awards later this year.

Boardman, who retired as a partner at Slaughter and May in April this year, will judge the awards alongside the likes of former Ashurst banking partner Mark Vickers; Jeremy

Slaughter and May corporate partner Nigel Boardman Nigel Boardman is part of this year's judging panel

Barton, the general counsel of KPMG; Dame Janet Gaymer, former civil service commissioner and senior partner at Simmons & Simmons; and the former CEO of Herbert Smith Freehills, Sonya Leydecker.

The panel will be chaired by Ed Sparrow, chairman of the City of London Law Society and a partner at Ashurst.

Other legal leaders on this year's panel include: Andrew Garard, the GC and company secretary of ITV; Caroline Kenny, associate GC of Facebook; and the group GC of BAE Systems, Philip Bramwell.

Sonya Leydecker

Firms have until August 23 to enter the awards, which will take place on November 21 at The Ballroom Southbank.

Last year, CMS saw off strong competition from a line-up of nominees including Clifford Chance and Eversheds Sutherland to secure the Law Firm of the Year award.

Other big winners included Latham & Watkins, which won two awards – International Law Firm of the Year and Private Equity Team of the Year.