Olliers shortlisted in Northern Powerhouse Awards 2025

We are delighted to announce that Olliers’ Managing Director Matthew Claughton has been shortlisted for Criminal Lawyer of the Year at The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2026. 

The awards recognise legal talent across the North, North West and Yorkshire & the Humber, commemorating their achievements over the past year and celebrating amongst The Legal 500’s national and international audience.  

The awards will be held at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds on Thursday 12th March 2026. 

Matthew is a previous winner of the Criminal Lawyer of the Year Award having won it at the inaugeral Northern Powerhouse Awards in 2023. Matthew is ranked as a Leading Partner by the Legal 500 2026 and is the only lawyer to win the Manchester Legal Awards Partner of the Year Award twice having won it in 2015 and 2021. 

Olliers Solicitors – specialist criminal defence and regulatory lawyers 

Olliers Solicitors is one of the UK’s leading criminal defence and regulatory law firms. We specialise in representing individuals, businesses, and organisations across a wide range of matters, including corporate and financial crime, regulatory offences, serious crime, sexual allegations, motoring offences, professional disciplinary cases and representation in inquests and public inquiries. 

In 2025 Olliers won the award for Crime Team of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards for the eighth time. Olliers is ranked as a Top Tier Firm by both the leading guides to the profession – the Legal 500 2026 and Chambers Guide 2026. We are a Times Best Law Firm 2026.