Kirsten Maslen wins eighth annual Local Government Young Solicitor of the Year Award

Kirsten Maslen of West Sussex County Council was announced as the winner of the award at the Solicitors in Local Government annual dinner in Warwick on Friday 30 March. Trowers & Hamlins, the City and public sector law firm, inaugurated and devised the award which it has sponsored for the eight years since its inception.

Kirsten is West Sussex County Council’s most senior dedicated procurement law practitioner and has been at the forefront of the work to create the team she now leads, which provides a one-stop shop for the Council’s projects, procurement and legal advice. Key projects include the establishment of the Shoreham and Woodard Academies in West Sussex.

Kirsten was shortlisted alongside Sancho Brett of Cornwall Council and Lia Musto-Shinton of Wakefield Council.

Kirsten Maslen said:
“I’m delighted to have received this recognition. Working with West Sussex Council since 2005 has been a tremendous experience, and I look forward to continuing pushing forward plans and projects for the area”.

Malcolm Iley, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins and chair of the judges, commented:
“The judges look for evidence of innovation, material impact on an authority’s performance, and best practice and or contribution to raising the profile of local government lawyers. Kirsten more than demonstrated this and is a well-deserving winner”.

The award recognises local government solicitors who have up to 10 years post qualification experience and draws attention to the unique and valuable contribution that young solicitors make to their authorities and their communities. It aims to support and promote the values that underpin the work of local government lawyers, this award has helped to support and promote the values that underpin their work.

The previous winners of the award are:

Naomi Bentley-Lawson, Warwickshire County Council (2011)
Laurie Trounce, Cornwall Council (2010)
Nathalie Birkett - Nottinghamshire County Council (2009)
Cathryn Moore – North Yorkshire County Council (2008)
Habib Aziz – Leeds City Council (2007)
Simon Goacher – Metropolitan Borough of Wirral (2006)
Louise Whitesman – Herefordshire Council (2005)