Three of a kind: triple individual success for Penningtons Manches Cooper’s lawyers
As the year draws to a close and the legal awards season takes centre stage, three of Penningtons Manches Cooper’s senior lawyers – partners Warren Collins and James Stewart, and consultant David-Graham Smith – have recently achieved prestigious recognition for their respective expertise in the fields of personal injury, family, and real estate law.
To start, personal injury partner Warren Collins was named as the winner of the ‘Catastrophic Injury Lawyer of the Year’ category at the Personal Injury Awards in Manchester on 27 November, as a reflection of his outstanding skill, ethical approach, and exceptional client care, as demonstrated over the past 12 months.
Warren has spent more than 30 years advocating for people whose lives have been completely altered in the most serious and devastating of circumstances. His work, which frequently involves cross-border cases, focuses on guiding clients through multiple challenges to secure life-changing outcomes.
Meanwhile, family law partner and co-head of the firm’s private wealth group, James Stewart, was recognised as ‘Family Lawyer of the Year’ at the sixth edition of the European Legal Awards, which this year took place in Rome. The event aims to promote excellence, knowledge, and proactive networking by celebrating the achievements of a broad cross-section of European lawyers.
James was praised by the judges for how he has ‘redefined the practice of international family law with a rare blend of technical rigour, empathy, and strategic vision’, and described as ‘not only respected by his peers but also deeply valued by his clients, thanks to his interpersonal skills even in the most challenging situations’.
Finally, real estate consultant David Graham-Smith received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Surrey Property Awards. The awards ceremony is the largest and most prestigious property event of its kind outside London, bringing together businesses from across the sector to celebrate the best developments, services, and property professionals in the region.
David was recognised for his enduring dedication to the real estate sector, an area in which he has worked for several decades, as well as his sharp mind and warm approach: ‘A complete one-off who always sees the bright side, has unbounded energy, and has everyone else’s best interests at heart.’
These three individual awards are the latest additions to a series of successes for the firm and its lawyers, following on from excellent individual and collective rankings in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories, and being named in both The Times Best Law Firms 2026 and The Lawyer’s Litigation 50 Report – read more here.