DUTTON Gregory took Hampshire Incorporated Law Society’s ‘Large Law Firm of the Year’ award for 2016 at a ceremony held at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

In addition one of Dutton Gregory’s clinical negligence team, Victoria Whelan, was runner-up for Junior Solicitor of the Year.

Victoria said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been recognised amongst a group of my peers and would like to thank Dutton Gregory for all their support.”

The best small firm was Biscoes which traces its roots back 162 years, employs 100 staff at six offices in Portsmouth, Gosport, Portchester, Wickham, Waterlooville and Petersfield.

Managing director Alison Lee said: “I am very proud of this achievement – it is the icing on the cake during a big year of expansion for Biscoes, including our merger with Graeme Quar & Co.”

Alison and Biscoes director colleagues Jane Hodge and Tim Gamester collected their award from former England, Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton footballer Kevin Keegan, who was guest speaker at the HILS annual dinner.

The event was attended by 250 – including society president Matthew Robbins of Jasper Vincent and the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth David Fuller – and 21 firms were represented.

Guests gathered for drinks at the adventure play zone, Action Stations, where some swapped their dinner jackets for safety harnesses and tried the skills on the climbing wall.

After drinks they went over the road to Boathouse 7 where the three-course dinner and awards ceremony took place.

As well as handing out the wards Kevin Keegan spoke about his varied career in football and later signed England and Newcastle shirts which he had donated to a charity auction.

The evening raised £2,000 which will be split equally between the Solicitors Benevolent Association and the Flutterby Fund, a charity which aim is to improve the lives of physically and mentally impaired children from low income.

Sponsors for the event were Landmark, Independent Financial Solutions , JLT, Brighter Law Solutions, College Chambers and Think Marble.