Smokeball Community Hero Awards 2026
Smokeball’s Community Hero Award shines a light on the impactful work that legal professionals conduct in their communities all across UK.
The winner will receive:
- £500 travel voucher
- Custom engraved Crystal Trophy
- Ability to use the Smokeball Community Hero Award for 2026 logo on their website
- Professionally produced hero video
Meet our 2026 finalists
Amy Wallhead, Partner and Head of Private Client at Culver Law, is passionate about breaking down barriers to legal services for Deaf and Deafblind communities.
Recognising the lack of accessible legal information, Amy dedicated her personal time to learning British Sign Language and qualifying as a Deafblind Interpreter-Guide. She has since transformed how Culver Law supports these communities, introducing video relay services, British Sign Language website translations and accessible legal consultations.
Beyond her work at the firm, Amy regularly delivers educational talks, volunteers at Deaf community events and runs monthly legal advice sessions with DeafPLUS. She also co-founded the Advisers for Deaf Network to encourage greater accessibility across professional services.
Amy's dedication has helped individuals who previously struggled to find legal representation access the advice and support they deserve. Her commitment to inclusion, equal opportunity and building trust within the community makes her a deserving Community Hero Award finalist.
Ben Darby, Managing Partner of Darby & Darby Solicitors in South Devon, is a passionate advocate for mentoring, inclusivity and creating opportunities for the next generation of legal professionals.
Throughout his career, Ben has dedicated his time to supporting aspiring lawyers through mentoring programmes, work experience and career guidance, helping individuals overcome barriers and build successful legal careers. Several of his mentees have gone on to become qualified solicitors and departmental leaders.
As President of the Devon & Somerset Law Society, Ben has championed inclusivity, accessibility and stronger connections across the legal profession. He has also raised nearly £2,500 for Young Devon and Young Somerset, supporting disadvantaged young people in his community.
Ben's commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging innovation and making the legal profession more accessible reflects the spirit of the Community Hero Award. His belief in helping others flourish makes him a deserving finalist.
Dav Mahet, founder of TML Solicitors in Leicester, is a passionate advocate for creating opportunities, supporting young people and giving back to his community.
Since establishing TML Solicitors in 2013, Dav has dedicated himself to mentoring aspiring lawyers, providing work placements, supporting legal education and helping individuals build successful careers.
Beyond the legal profession, Dav has raised thousands of pounds for charitable causes, including disabled children, men's mental health and families with children in intensive care. He also supports young athletes through sponsorship and equipment, helping them pursue opportunities they might otherwise struggle to access.
Through TML's monthly Random Acts of Charity initiative, Dav has inspired his team to make community giving a regular part of the firm's culture, from supporting local schools to helping people experiencing homelessness.
Dav's generosity, leadership and commitment to creating lasting opportunities make him a deserving Community Hero Award finalist.
Fazle Elahi, co-founder and Director of Square Mile Solicitors, is a dedicated immigration and human rights solicitor whose commitment to helping vulnerable individuals extends far beyond his day-to-day legal practice.
Through his extensive pro bono work, Fazle provides free legal advice and representation to refugees, asylum seekers and families who might otherwise struggle to access justice. He volunteers with legal advice clinics, mentors aspiring lawyers and serves as a Trustee of the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network.
His impact is deeply personal. In one remarkable case, Fazle helped a family facing years of immigration uncertainty secure legal status, enabling a father battling cancer to access vital medical treatment.
Recognised on the Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales for three consecutive years, Fazle embodies the spirit of the Community Hero Award through his compassion, dedication and belief that everyone deserves access to justice, regardless of their circumstances.
Ian Hunt, Managing Partner of East Devon Law Solicitors, has dedicated over 40 years to the legal profession, with a longstanding commitment to supporting charities, mentoring aspiring lawyers and giving back to his community.
Since founding East Devon Law 15 years ago, Ian has made charitable giving central to the firm's culture. The firm has raised over £1 million for charities since 2012, including facilitating more than £400,000 in client donations to a local hospice.
Beyond fundraising, Ian provides pro bono legal services to local charities, supports veterans' organisations and champions opportunities for young people through his role as Chair of the CILEX Foundation Trust. East Devon Law also operates an annual community grant scheme supporting local causes.
Guided by his belief in "service above self", Ian's generosity, leadership and lifelong dedication to helping others make him a deserving Community Hero Award finalist.
Join us for the Winner Announcement
Live webinar and winner announcement:
What will set the best law firms apart in 2027?
Monday 7 December 2026 | 12:30–1:30pm
Join Smokeball and Christina Blacklaws, former President of the Law Society of England and Wales, for a forward-looking conversation on what will define great law firms in 2027 - from technology and AI to client experience, culture, leadership and community impact.
We’ll then be joined by our 2026 Community Hero Award finalists for a live Q&A, before revealing this year’s Community Hero Award winner and celebrating the difference they’ve made to their colleagues, clients and community.
About our Community Hero Award
At Smokeball, we’re all about powering people-law — giving legal professionals more time and space to focus on the people who need them most. Across the UK legal profession, people are taking that commitment even further, going above and beyond for their colleagues, clients and communities.
The Smokeball Community Hero Award recognises and celebrates those making a positive difference beyond their day-to-day work, whether through:
- Supporting charities and fundraising initiatives
- Championing diversity and inclusion
- Mentoring students and junior lawyers
- Leading sustainability initiatives
- Creating positive change in their local communities
- Random acts of kindness that make a meaningful difference
The 2026 judging panel
All Smokeball Community Hero Award nominations will be evaluated by our panel of esteemed industry experts.
Kirsty Pappin
Founder, Aries Legal Practice Management
Kirsty Pappin has more than 20 years of experience in the legal industry, having worked with both UK and US law firms. Her broad experience enables her to help small and medium-sized firms improve efficiency, strengthen operations and prepare for the future of legal practice.
Kirsty founded Aries Legal Practice Management in early 2023, providing fractional practice management, operational consulting and bespoke project support to law firms across the UK and internationally. Through her work, she is passionate about helping legal professionals embrace innovation, build stronger businesses and deliver better outcomes for their clients.
Alex Jenner
UK Country Manager, Smokeball
Alex Jenner is the UK Country Manager at Smokeball, where she leads the company’s growth strategy and supports law firms as they embrace innovation, technology and AI to transform the way they work. With extensive experience building and scaling technology businesses, Alex's passion has always been about creating meaningful impact for small businesses and their communities.
As a strong advocate for the legal community, Alex works closely with firms across the UK to champion new ideas, recognise excellence and celebrate those making a difference within the profession. Her commitment to innovation, leadership and positive change makes her an invaluable member of the Community Hero Awards judging panel.
Amy Stonton
UK Client Success Manager, Smokeball
Amy Stonton is Head of Client Success at Smokeball UK, where she leads the customer experience strategy and works closely with law firms to help them embrace technology, strengthen client relationships and build more efficient, future-focused practices.
With almost two decades of experience across technology and professional services, Amy has developed a reputation for building high-performing teams and delivering exceptional customer outcomes. Before joining Smokeball, she led international teams focused on growth, retention and customer engagement. Passionate about the intersection of people, data and technology, she brings a collaborative, customer-first approach to everything she does.
FAQs
Everything you want to know.
What is the Smokeball Community Hero Award?
It's a new annual awards programme celebrating legal professionals across the UK who go above and beyond to make a positive impact in their communities - whether through charity work, mentoring, diversity and inclusion initiatives, sustainability efforts, or community leadership. It's based on Smokeball's successful Community Hero Awards in Australia.
Why is Smokeball doing this?
It reflects our core value that "Caring is Not Optional." At Smokeball, we're about powering people law - putting people, not just process, at the centre of everything we do. This award is our chance to recognise the people behind the legal profession, not just commercial or firm success, and celebrate the genuine difference legal professionals make in their communities.
Do you have to be a Smokeball customer to enter?
No. The award is open to the entire UK legal profession, whether or not the nominee or nominator uses Smokeball.
Who can be nominated?
- Is employed in a job within the legal industry
- Is aged 18 or over
- Resides in the UK
Who can nominate?
Anyone - a colleague, another legal professional, or the nominee themselves. Self-nominations are welcome.
Can someone nominate more than one person?
Yes, but each individual person can only be nominated once by the same nominator.
What kind of contributions are recognised?
There isn't a fixed set of categories - nominees can be recognised for going above and beyond in ways including:
- Supporting charities and fundraising initiatives
- Championing diversity and inclusion
- Mentoring students and junior lawyers
- Leading sustainability initiatives
- Creating positive change in their local communities
- Random acts of kindness that make a meaningful difference
Does the nominee need to fit neatly into one category?
No - these are examples of the kind of contribution we're looking for. Nominees can be recognised for work that spans more than one area.
How do I nominate someone?
Via the nomination form here. It asks about the nominee's background, the impact they've made, who has benefited, challenges they've overcome, and why they deserve recognition. Supporting testimonials, media articles or photos can also be submitted.
How long does the nomination form take to complete?
A few minutes for the basics, though a stronger nomination will include more detail and, where possible, supporting evidence (testimonials, articles, photos).
How will the winner be announced?
As part of a live Smokeball webinar on Monday 7 December - "What will set the best law firms apart in 2027?" - featuring a keynote speaker, a live Q&A with the finalists, and the live winner reveal.
This has not been set up yet but the link will be live to register once the Award goes live.
What does the winner receive?
- £500 travel voucher
- Custom engraved crystal trophy
- Use of the Smokeball Community Hero Award 2026 logo on their website
- A professionally produced hero video telling their story
Do finalists get anything?
Yes - all finalists receive a written profile, a website feature, and a social media campaign shedding light on their achievements, regardless of who wins.
Who judges the award?
- Kirsty Pappin, Founder, Aries Legal Practice Management
- Alex Jenner, UK Country Manager, Smokeball
- Amy Stonton, UK Client Success Manager, Smokeball
What are they judging on?
Judging is based on the information provided in the nomination form, which can include:
- Examples of achievements, initiative, planning, management and leadership
- Approximate hours contributed (paid and/or unpaid)
- Achievements and contribution to the community
- Impact on the community or workplace
- How the nominee's actions have inspired their community or workplace
- Barriers or difficulties faced and overcome
- Self-development or training (if applicable)
How many finalists will be selected?
There will be four finalists selected.
What if I don't win - was it worth entering?
All finalists receive a written profile, a website feature and a social media campaign - so there's meaningful recognition even without winning. Many nominees also value simply having their story told and shared.
Is my firm's or my personal data safe if I enter?
Information collected is used solely for the purposes of running the award (judging, contacting finalists/winners, and promotional purposes related to the campaign) in line with Smokeball's Privacy Policy.
Terms and conditions
Nomination Period: Nominations open on Monday, 7 September 2026 at 9:00am BST and close on Monday, 26 October 2026 at 11:59pm GMT.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the award, the nominee must be a UK resident aged 18 years or over and employed in a role within the UK legal industry.
How to Enter: To enter, the nominator must complete all required questions on the 2026 Smokeball Community Hero Award nomination form and submit the form within the Nomination Period. A nominator may nominate more than one (1) person but may only nominate each person once. Self-nominations are permitted, provided the nominee meets the eligibility requirements.
Judging: Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges against a range of criteria, including the nominee’s contribution to their community, achievements, innovation and overall impact. The judges’ decision will be final.
Finalists Announcement: Finalists will be announced on Monday, 9 November 2026.
Winner Announcement: The winner of the 2026 Smokeball Community Hero Award will be announced on Monday, 7 December 2026.
Prize: The winner of the 2026 Smokeball Community Hero Award will receive a £500 prize and a Smokeball Community Hero Award trophy.
Privacy: Information collected as part of the award will be handled in accordance with Smokeball’s Privacy Policy. Information collected through the nomination process will be used for the purposes of administering and promoting the Smokeball Community Hero Award, which may include disclosure to third parties where necessary to administer the award or provide the prize.By submitting a nomination, nominators acknowledge that information relating to nominees may be used for promotional and publicity purposes in connection with the Smokeball Community Hero Award, including on Smokeball’s website, social media channels, email communications and other marketing materials.