Catherine Palmer Says She Was ‘Honoured’ To Be Judge At Prestigious Awards

Head of Irwin Mitchel’s French desk, Catherine Palmer, says last night’s ‘The Lawyer European Awards’ once again showcased the remarkable strength and talent within Europe’s legal sector.

The Lawyer European Awards, now in their 14th year, honour leading law firms headquartered in Europe, as well as global firms operating within the European market.

As a judge, Catherine played a vital role in assessing the nominees and selecting the winners for this year's awards. Other judges included HSBC’s deputy general counsel, Beccy Blythe, the ESG board adviser at L’Oreal, Sarah Aziz, and general counsel for Nestlé, Daniele Guarnieri.

On the night Catherine also handed over the award for ‘Law Firm of the Year: France’, which went to Latham & Watkins. Jeantet received a commendation in the category. 

Expert Opinion

"I am honoured to have had the opportunity to serve as a judge at The Lawyer European Awards.

“The awards stand as a testament to the strength and vibrancy of the legal sector and truly exemplify the exceptional strength and talent across Europe.

“As a judge, I had the privilege of playing a part in recognising and celebrating the excellence that exists within our industry.

“It has been an enriching experience to be a part of an event that promotes collaboration and showcases the remarkable contributions of legal professionals.

“Latham & Watkins were a deserving winner for the French award, and it was good to see Jeantet receive a commendation. I also welcome the fact there were more independent law firms taking part this year, even if international firms were notable by their presence.”
Catherine Palmer, Partner and head of Irwin Mitchell's French desk

Catherine joined Irwin Mitchell last year to lead its French desk. France is a major jurisdictional desk for the firm and is a key part of its international growth strategy rollout.

Since joining the firm, she has played a pivotal role in facilitating connections between UK clients and law firms in francophone countries. Catherine and members of the French desk have attended high profile events organised by the Franco British Society, the Franco British Lawyers’ Society, and the French Chamber of Commerce in UK, where she’s a member of the Advisory Council.

Most recently, Catherine chaired an event with the Franco-British Data Society (FBDS). Held at the Residence of the French Ambassador in the UK, the seminar explored artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the fashion industry.

Before moving to Irwin Mitchell, Catherine was General Counsel for KellyDeli Group, where she led a team of five lawyers advising over 11 jurisdictions. In 2019, she was named ‘In-House Lawyer of the Year’ at the Inspirational Women in Law Awards.