06 Jul Peak performers scoop LawNet Challenge
Qaiser Khanzada of Barker Gillette
The Barker Gillette winning team
A group of London lawyers has taken the LawNet Challenge title, after battling with torrential rain and mud to become the only team to complete this year’s punishing 28 mile course.
The Barker Gillette team, comprising partners Steven Barker and Qaiser Khanzada and office assistant Marc De Vera, completed the gruelling trek in the Shutlingsloe area of the Peak District in 11 hours and 40 minutes.
Over 70 walkers in 16 teams had started out, all drawn from LawNet member firms across the country, but only four walkers managed to complete the trek – the three remaining members of the team from Barker Gillette and LawNet organiser George Coombes.
Qaiser Khanzada said: “Our success was down to the excellent map reading skills of Steven Barker, who is a seasoned walker and really knows how to navigate. We also took tips from the local sheep, which were sheltering by the stone walls, and we tried to do the same when Singapore-style rain was combined with biting wind. But we are very pleased we made it – although very sore too.”
Each year leading law firm network LawNet arranges a Challenge event for its 67-strong membership of independent firms. Previous events have included the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and Striding Edge to Helvellyn.
It’s organised by George Coombes, LawNet’s Marketing & Services Manager, who said: “We thought it was bad luck last June when there was snowfall just a week before we tackled Snowdon. But the weather this weekend was even worse, with already wet ground becoming impossible as we were hit by downpours from lunchtime on. The field sections of the walk were like a bog, and the up and downhill sections gradually became a mud slide.”
One team of walkers found themselves five miles off track, and despite getting back on to the route, were forced to retire when they could not reach the final checkpoint in time. The conditions saw most people forced to give up about half way through and the winning Barker Gillette team lost two members at 26 miles, just a mile before the final check point, when Laura St-Gallay was injured and colleague Penny Bax stayed with her whilst help arrived.
The challenge is overseen by a support team of mountaineering experts, and support leader Stephen Evered said: “We saw a few who were really struggling around the third and fourth checkpoint, but who carried on regardless, which was surely a huge personal achievement for them. We also were impressed by the leadership of some of the team captains who maintained their group’s morale, even though some were really struggling.
LawNet chief executive John Thomas added: “It was great to see the determination and enthusiasm of all the members who took part in such tough conditions.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
The combined income of the 67 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £20m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Each year LawNet delivers over 40 CPD accredited learning events at venues throughout the UK, covering a wide range of technical legal updates, practice management and business development topics, including a leading-edge strategic leadership and management development programme. All the learning days are CPD accredited, many are provided as a free service within membership, and the member-defined programme ensures that topics tackle key issues affecting that particular area of practice.
All LawNet firms must achieve ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification within two years of joining, and securing and maintaining that accreditation is a condition of membership. Through a unique agreement with the Law Society, firms can also secure and hold the Lexcel practice management standard and benefit from a simplified dual auditing process for the two marks, with the independent assessment delivered through LawNet.
Twitter: @LawNetUK