International law firm DAC Beachcroft is delighted to announce that partner Gill Weatherill has been named Public Sector Lawyer of the Year at The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2025.
Gill, who is based in DACB's Newcastle office, leads the firm's national mental health team within its market-leading Health and Social Care sector. She has extensive experience in guiding health and social care providers through the evolving legal and regulatory landscape to ensure safe, high-quality care while managing legal and reputational risks. Notably, in 2024, Gill led the DACB team that successfully defended an NHS Mental Health Trust in the first-ever CQC criminal prosecution at trial.
The accolade, which recognises and celebrates legal talent across the North, North West and Yorkshire, and the Humber, is based on The Legal 500's comprehensive research programme. The legal directory's team of researchers gathers feedback from 300,000 clients, reviews submissions from law firms, and conducts interviews with leading private practice and in-house lawyers, to build a full and up-to-date picture of the global legal market.
Hamza Drabu, Head of Health at DAC Beachcroft, commented, "On behalf of everyone at DAC Beachcroft, I offer my congratulations to Gill on this well-deserved award. The recognition is testament to her unwavering dedication and expertise in supporting our clients on complex legal challenges of the highest strategic importance.
"At a time when the health and social care sector faces immense pressures, Gill's work – alongside the exceptional efforts of our team – plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of frontline care, and I am incredibly proud that it has been acknowledged."
DACB was also shortlisted for five other awards at The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2025, including Insurance Firm of the Year and Public Sector Firm of the Year. Individually, partner Jeff Middleton was shortlisted for Employment Lawyer of the Year, and senior associate Jenny Walker was a finalist in the Employment - Leading Associate of the Year category.
