TWO Partners at Latimer Hinks Solicitors, one of Darlington and County Durham’s longest established law firms, have scooped awards from the Tees Valley Law Society.

Anne Elliott was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award, while Nicola Neilson was named Lawyer of the Year in the inaugural awards. The awards were presented at the Tees Valley Law Society’s autumn social event last week at Capaldi’s in Middlesbrough.

The recognition comes hot on the heels of five of the firm’s Partners, including Anne, being cited in the prestigious Legal 500 Guide.

Anne is a member of the Agricultural Law Association (ALA), and is a recommended professional for the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA). She has also been cited in the prestigious Legal 500 publication for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, as well as Agriculture and Estates.

In Chambers 2011 Anne was commended for her advice on succession planning. Anne is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).

Nicola is head of residential property at Latimer Hinks and is also a member of the Agricultural Law Association. Commended for her work in real estate in the prestigious Chambers 2011 publication, Nicola was president of the Tees Valley Law Society in 2010-11.

Joanne Lavery, President of Tees Valley Law Society, said: “The success of Anne and Nicola, confirms the quality of solicitors in the Tees Valley.

“Anne is well known here, having been a partner at the firm since 1978, only two years after qualifying. Nicola is certainly following in her footsteps; not only has she already been a partner for four years, she was the youngest president of the Tees Valley Law Society.”

Anne said: “We take it as an honour for the firm to be acknowledged in this way and I believe it to be essentially recognition of the strength of the team here at Latimer Hinks. The quality of our team of lawyers is very high and having that support has helped the firm to continue to deliver a high level of service.”