Louise joined DACB in 2008, became partner in 2014, and was elected Leeds Location Head in 2023. She also spearheads DACB's national employment practices liability (EPL) insurance practice and oversees the firm's employment team in Leeds, which is recognised as the largest specialist employment team in the region. Together with her team, Louise supports household name clients across the retail, hospitality, leisure, insurance, logistics and healthcare sectors.

Employment Lawyer of the Year isn't the first accolade bestowed on Louise in 2024. Earlier this year she was named one of The Lawyer's Hot 100, a list which recognises the most adventurous, innovative and dynamic lawyers and barristers in the UK, where she was described as "a legal luminary juggling multiple roles with flair."

Louise commented, "I'm honoured to be recognised by The Legal 500, but I couldn't do what I do without working with such brilliant people, both in Leeds, the wider employment group and the firm as a whole. It's an absolute privilege to work with them to support our clients and our colleagues, and I was delighted to be able to celebrate this win with colleagues from Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle on the night, at an awards ceremony which really showcased the wealth of legal talent in the North."

DACB was also shortlisted for four other awards at The Northern Powerhouse Awards, including Insurance Firm of the Year and Public Sector Firm of the Year. Individually, partner Emily Senior was also up for Insurance Lawyer of the Year and partner Harald Loeffler was nominated for TMT Lawyer of the Year.

The Northern Powerhouse Awards, run by the legal directory The Legal 500, recognise and celebrate legal talent across the North, North West & Yorkshire and the Humber. The awards ceremony took place in Leeds on 13 March 2024.