Home » About » Recommendations and awards

We place great emphasis on ensuring that our legal expertise and client service are of the highest standard to provide reassurance to our clients. This has been recognised by independent industry bodies.

Legal directories

Our legal expertise is recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories. These directories undertake research on the legal sector and rank firms in order of their capabilities.

Law Society accreditations

Debenhams Ottaway has been recognised by the Law Society in a number of its accreditation schemes.

What does this mean for you?

  • reassurance and peace of mind – highly qualified people with the right expertise
  • you’re not relying on our word – recognition by industry bodies
  • you’ll receive legal services of the highest standard – regular assessments ensure this level is always maintained across the entire firm
  • you can easily identify legal practitioners with proven competency in given areas of law.

Awards

Over the years we have been shortlisted for and won of a variety of awards, both locally and nationally

  • LawNet Awards 2022 Winner, Excellence in Customer Service
  • Hertfordshire Law Society Awards 2022 Winner, Excellence in Client Service
  • Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards 2022 Finalist, Excellence in Customer Commitment
  • St Albans Chamber of Commerce Community Business Awards 2021 winner, Customer Service
  • St Albans Chamber of Commerce Community Business Awards 2020 winner, Susan Glenholme, Team Leader
  • St Albans Chamber of Commerce Community Business Awards 2019 winner, CSR
  • Law Society Excellence Awards 2015 Winner, Excellence in Private Client Practice
  • Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards 2015 Finalist, Community Champion
  • Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards 2014 Winner, Medium to Large Business of the Year
  • STEP Private Client Awards 2014/15 Finalist, Legal Team of the Year (Midsize)
  • Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards 2013 Finalist, Excellence in Customer Service.

  • Lexcel

    Lexcel is the Law Society’s international practice management standard. It is only awarded to law firms who meet the highest management and customer care standards. Lexcel accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet required standards of excellence in areas such as client care, case management and risk management.

  • Chambers High Net Worth

    The Chambers High Net Worth guide ranks the leading lawyers and law firms who work with wealthy individuals, their families and advisers. The rankings are based on recommendations by HNW clients and professional advisers and in-depth analysis carried out by a dedicated team of experienced researchers.

    We have been recognised in the following area in the latest Chambers High Net Worth rankings

    • Private Wealth Law (Band 1)
    • Susan Glenholme (Band 1)

  • Chambers UK

    We have been recognised in the following areas in the latest Chambers UK rankings

    • Family (Band 1)
    • Real estate / commercial property (Band 1)
    • Litigation (Band 4)
    • Employment (Band 4)
    • Ruth Boulton (Band 1)
    • Helen Young (Band 1)
    • Alexander Neale (Band 2)
    • Jonathan Foy (Band 2)
    • James Brawn (Band 3)
    • Juliet Schalker (Band 3)
    • Louise Attrup (Band 3)
    • Michael Kerrigan (Up and coming)
    • Natalie Lester (Up and coming)

  • Legal 500

    We have been recognised in the following areas in the latest Legal 500 rankings

    • Personal tax, trusts and probate (Tier 1)
    • Family (Tier 1)
    • Employment (Tier 2)
    • Charities and not-for-profit (Tier 2)
    • Commercial property (Tier 2)
    • Commercial litigation (Tier 2)
    • Corporate and commercial (Tier 2)
    • Contentious trusts and probate (Tier 4)
    • Insolvency and Corporate Recovery (Tier 4)
    •  Susan Glenholme (Hall of Fame)
    • Helen Young (Leading Partner)
    • Ruth Boulton (Leading Partner)
    • Juliet Schalker (Leading Partner)
    • Andrew Yates (Leading Partner)
    • Stacey St Clair (Next Generation Partner)
    • Natalie Lester (Leading Associate)

  • ISO 9001

    ISO 9001 is the international standard for a quality management system (“QMS”).  In order to be certified to the ISO 9001 standard, a company must follow the requirements set forth in the ISO 9001 Standard. The standard is used by organizations to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements and to demonstrate continuous improvement.

  • Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS)

    Debenhams Ottaway was one of the first law firms in Hertfordshire to receive the Law Society’s Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS). WIQS provides a best practice quality mark for Wills and Estate Administration advice that consumers can trust. The scheme sets client service standards to ensure transparency in process, costs and communications. It outlines required practices for will drafting, probate and estate administration to help address common risks, errors and inconsistencies that arise in delivering advice.

  • Conveyancing Quality Scheme

    The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices. Membership achievement establishes a level of credibility for member firms based upon

    • the integrity of the Senior Responsible Officer and other key conveyancing staff
    • the firm’s adherence to good practice management standards
    • adherence to prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures through the scheme protocol.

  • Eurojuris

    We are members of Eurojuris, one of the largest law firm networks in Europe and North America with further connections to the Middle East and Asia.  Through this membership we have developed personal connections with lawyers from all over the world allowing us to help our clients operate their businesses and manage their legal affairs internationally. To find out more about Eurojuris, please visit their website.

  • LawNet Awards 2022 Winner, Excellence in Customer Service

    Debenhams Ottaway won the excellence in customer service category at the LawNet Awards 2022 that celebrate excellence and achievements across the LawNet network. The award recognises how much we value our clients and focus on giving them the best client experience.