Ahead of our flagship British Legal Awards this year, we spoke to our judges and past winners about what the standout event means to them, and their top tips for those wishing to apply.

The chair of our judging panel and chair of the City of London Law Society Edward Sparrow, and BLA 2020 judge Sonya Leydecker, former co-CEO at Herbert Smith Freehills, discuss their pet peeves when reviewing entries, and how to make yours stand out from the crowd.

What's the most frustrating thing you come across when reviewing awards entries?

Edward Sparrow: It's disappointing every year to see people not comply with the rules and criteria, especially regarding word counts.

Sonya Leydecker: Conciseness is so important and the word count should be respected. Read the criteria properly! Also, clarity – I'm not a corporate lawyer, so be clear if you're talking about a deal. Highlight what's different to me, and what stands out. It's not just about the size or amount of a deal.

"Being named Legal Week Law Firm of the Year was great external recognition of the significant efforts of everyone at the firm." – Ashurst global managing partner Paul Jenkins on the firm's 2019 win

How can entrants make sure their submissions catch your eye?

ES: The most successful entrants give a real sense of what makes their entries special. Some really get into the spirit of what the entry is all about, and you can tell they've had a hand in what they're writing about. Others give the impression of being drafted by a different team and those tend to be less successful.

Above all, we want to see evidence of innovation. We do get entries when judges say 'this is amazing' – we want to see that wow factor.

"It was particularly rewarding for the associates and other team members to receive so many congratulations from friends in the restructuring profession and within Freshfields as a result of the award." - Richard Tett, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer London head of restructuring and insolvency on the firm's R&I team of the year win last year

Which awards do you most enjoy judging?

SL: I really enjoy the diversity, women in law and innovation topics. You get a handle on which firms and companies are doing interesting things, and can come across firms you've never heard of that are doing things really differently. Right now, law firms need a paradigm shift and it's the ones being more creative that will do the best.

 "Winning the [International Law Firm of the Year] award provided recognition for our hard work and successes and was a huge source of pride for the White & Case London office." - Melissa Butler, White & Case office Executive Partner in London, on the firm's 2019 win

Why are awards important at a time like this?

SL: There's a real opportunity currently for firms to mould themselves and their culture, or accelerate plans that have previously been an aim. What would be good to see is firms sticking with their culture even at a difficult time like this. Awards present an opportunity to show that these are the things that matter to them.

ES: There's innovation in everything people are doing right now to keep their businesses going and their people sane. I'd like to see these innovative ideas continuing as the world gets back to normal. Firms that have made a real effort with their people will find their people remember and appreciate that.

Perhaps this year more than any other year the industry needs congratulating and celebrating. When people might be a bit miserable an award system is a good thing.

To enter the 2020 British Legal Awards and for further information, please visit the website here. For general event queries, please email [email protected]