Law & legal affairs: 2013 Scott+Co Legal Awards THERE is a frisson running in the offices of firms and individuals who have been advised they are among the finalists for the 2013 Scott+Co Legal Awards, not least in the Glasgow offices of Irwin Mitchell Scotland (IMS). The firm has been shortlisted in three categories, for Litigation Team of the Year and Fundraising Team of the Year, while Fraser Watson is in the keenly contested race for Paralegal of the Year. Irwin Mitchell Scotland's managing partner, Craig Marshall, said: "These nominations reflect the hard work all of our staff put in every day for the most important people in our business, our clients. It's great to see effort recognised like this. IMS came about in the first wave of cross-border mergers, in 2007, between the Glasgow firm, Golds, and Manchester-based Irwin Mitchell, which also had offices in Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Sheffield, and the Spanish cities of Marbella and Madrid. Both were leaders in commoditised services for financial institutions and the insurance sector, but were also well established in personal injury and medical negligence litigation that, over the years, has regularly raised its public profile. In Scotland, for example, IMS is representing many of the people affected as a result of the Edinburgh legionnaires" disease outbreak; 35 clients in total, including two families of the deceased. Despite calls for a public inquiry into last year's outbreak falling on deaf ears so far, IMS has been pursuing answers to information required by those affected through freedom of information requests to NHS Lothian, the Health and Safety Executive and the Procurator Fiscal. Since 2007, the Glasgow office has enjoyed substantial growth in terms of private and institutional clients. Personal injury partner Elaine Russell says: "The personal injury area has particularly seen significant growth over the last couple of years with 69 per cent business growth in 2010/11 and a further 60 per cent in 2011/12. In the last 18 months over £7.9 million has been achieved in excess of 2000 cases on behalf of Scottish clients in insurance services, personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Legal staff numbers in Scotland have grown significantly since 2007 and now stand at six partners, one associate director, nine associates, five solicitors and 12 paralegals, including team leader Fraser Watson. Marshall said the firm's fund-raising team is delighted to be nominated for its efforts after raising money for local and UK charities such as Yorkhill Children's Foundation in Glasgow, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Support and Child Bereavement UK. Events in 2012 included a 5K run, a cycle ride between Marie Curie centres in Glasgow and Newcastle, an Olympic-themed lunch, a Wii fitness challenge and a relay along the route of the Edinburgh Marathon. Marshall added: "Fund-raising for charities which are close to all our hearts is a big part of our social responsibility programme and the dress-down days, bake sales, fun runs and challenges we've held to boost the Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation is a great way for us to give something back to the community. It's been a real team effort and we are looking forward to the awards night, when hopefully we will be celebrating again.