Lawyers who have gone the extra mile to be innovative – often starting something that would not have happened without them – are honoured in the Individuals category.

The 10 individuals came to the fore during the research for each section of the report, through a combination of quality of recommendations, the nature of what they are doing – that is, how they are adding value beyond their basic professional remit – and through follow-up interviews.

Ranking the final shortlist from these 10 innovators was the job of six judges. Three were from outside the FT: Geoffrey Vos, QC, Chairman of the Bar; Geoffrey Timms, group head of legal at Legal & General Group; and Nick Carter-Pegg, partner at BDO Stoy Hayward. The rest were from the newspaper: Simon Targett, associate editor; James Pickford, editor of the Business Life section; and Michael Peel, legal correspondent.

As one judge put it, the list “demonstrates the breadth of new thinking in the legal business today”. The innovations for which individuals have been recommended vary widely – from new mediation techniques (Patrick Green) to raising the bar on demutualisation (Glen James), and from a new model for barristers’ chambers (Stephen Ward) to providing thought leadership on conflict in the legal sector (Chris Perrin).

The judges were particularly keen on innovations that were based on the individual’s own initiative, rather than achievements that simply reflected expertise in their day job. “There were lawyers on the list who were doyens in their field and would unquestionably be the ‘go to’ on a specific matter,” says one judge. “However, we are judging being ‘innovative’ and that is a different attribute. That is making a difference by starting something new that maybe would never have been started if it had not been for the individual concerned.”

Interestingly, the top three individuals were all, in very different ways, showing innovation and initiative that underlines how lawyers can contribute to making the world a better place and helping the underprivileged and disadvantaged.

Of Mahnaz Malik, the “startlingly precocious” winner, as one judge puts it, most of the team wax lyrical. “Her initiative seemed to be really innovative and have a major impact over a sustained period. She not only did this herself but clearly got many others involved as well,“ says one. Another says: “The breadth and boldness of Ms Malik’s activities are striking. Her experience shows what can be achieved with energy and determination.”

Jim Rice is commended for “using his specialist knowledge in securitisation law to launch an initiative far outside his traditional arena, in vaccine provision”. Another judge enthuses: “He banged heads together and ensured that some of the best legal and financial brains were put to work for some of the world’s poorest children. Fantastic!”

Lucy Scott-Moncrieff sways one judge because her work “is helping modernise the legal profession, and it has a wider social impact”. He is also impressed by her “20-year commitment to what must be the difficult and often little acknowledged field of mental health practice”.

Now judge for yourself. What follows are edited versions of the biographies written by the RSG research team and received by our judges. Who do you think has been the most innovative? Send your comments to innovativelawyers@ft.com

Winner

Name: Mahnaz Malik

Age: 28

Position: International advocate

Organisation: Independent consultant

Biography: Graduated in law from Cambridge in 1998, as a British Council Chevening Scholar. Appointed advocate in Pakistan in 2000, and, two years later, solicitor in England and Wales and attorney and counsellor at law in the state of New York.

Mahnaz Malik came to the attention of the Innovative Lawyers researchers via her work on Simmons & Simmons’ Project Advocate. This scheme provides legal representation to children detained in appalling conditions in Pakistani jails. Ms Malik was instrumental in getting her firm to set up the programme, which now represents 92 per cent of children held in Lahore’s jails. The extraordinary aspect to this is that Ms Malik was barely a qualified solicitor when she managed to get the firm to support this initiative.

Ms Malik left Simmons & Simmons 18 months ago to set up as a freelance lawyer, giving advice to governments about their investments in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other charitable organisations. She now numbers about 20-30 governments as her clients. As a lawyer, she is triple qualified in England and Wales, New York and Pakistan. She continues to use her contacts to get the City of London to support charitable projects in Pakistan, mainly around children’s causes.

Ms Malik also had the idea to set up the British Pakistan Law Council, a bilateral legal organisation, launched in 2004 by Tony Blair and President Musharraf of Pakistan. Within a month, it became one of the most successful Law Society alliances, in terms of numbers of members. Ms Malik is now the joint co-ordinating chair.

A precocious high achiever, Ms Malik received The Law Society’s National Trainee Solicitor of the Year Award and Trainee Solicitor Most Likely to Succeed on the International Stage Award 2001. She is also the author of two books (fiction) and a film maker. Recently, she was covered in the Guardian as Cherie Blair’s protégé.

Second place

Name: Jim Rice

Age: 50

Position: Securitisation partner

Organisation: Linklaters

Biography: After studying jurisprudence at Oxford, joined Linklaters as an articled clerk in 1980. Became partner in 1989, with spell as a partner in Hong Kong from 1997-99.

Jim Rice is nominated for his work on behalf of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) spearheading the development fund of a ground-breaking scheme to provide lifesaving vaccines to millions of children in developing countries. He played a vital role in the outcome of the project, bringing not only his top-notch legal skills but also his outstanding project management, diplomatic and leadership skills.

Mr Rice acted as the conduit for the different ideas about how to implement the scheme, from the client, the World Bank, the investment bankers and other professionals involved in the project.

He also provided a leadership role to a team of young lawyers and was described as “inspirational” in keeping them motivated through a very complicated securitisation transaction that added little to their CVs or their billing hours – the job was done partly pro bono.

Mr Rice himself has a track record in applying what he does best for the wider benefit of the community. In 2006, as well as the GAVI project, he worked on Barclay’s investment in the Charity Bank.

Third place

Name: Lucy Scott-Moncrieff

Position: Partner

Organisation: Scott-Moncrieff, Harbour & Sinclair

Biography: Qualified as a legal aid solicitor in 1978. Practised as a criminal defence lawyer but since 1987 has been a mental health practitioner, and more recently has gone into human rights law.

Lucy Scott-Moncrieff was highly recommended as a “true” innovator in the legal world for her work in providing essential services to vulnerable clients, particularly in the mental health sector.

Her innovation lies in the way she has created a “virtual” network of independent solicitors. Ms Scott-Moncrieff provides the infrastructure support to enable them to operate effectively and profitably in a legal aid practice.

The approach delivers legal aid sustainably and profitably. It also has relevance beyond legal aid as it is a perfect example of flexible working that does not force people to choose between family and career. One referee comments: “It is extremely innovative for a legal aid practice and runs counter to the prevailing culture of defeat in the sector.”

Ms Scott-Moncrieff has been active in the Law Society for many years, and is chair of the Law Society’s Access to Justice Committee. She is also one of two solicitors appointed to the new QC selection panel. Ever the campaigner, Ms Scott-Moncrieff has led the way in criticising the draft Mental Health Bill.

Name: Emily Taylor

Position: Head of legal and policy

Organisation: Nominet

Biography: Read Classics at Cambridge, and gained a distinction at the College of Law. Trained at McKenna & Co (now CMS Cameron McKenna), and qualified in the contentious IP department. Worked at Manches’ Oxford office before joining Nominet in 2000.

Emily Taylor has been at the heart of developing the UK’s renowned internet regulatory environment. But given the global nature of the web, her regulatory influence has also been felt outside the UK – she is the only UK member of the United Nations’ Advisory Group for the Internet Governance Forum. This forum is a first for the UN in giving a voice to the industry rather than just governments.

Here and elsewhere, she consistently argues not for more regulation, but for less or better regulation: she has lobbied frequently for a pragmatic, flexible approach to internet governance and is playing her part in establishing a UK internet forum.

Being head of legal and policy might be seen as a contradiction for some, but it suits Ms Taylor’s approach perfectly. When internet crimes outrun the available internet law, she can work out the applicable “offline” laws that apply. She has helped police officers – eager to prosecute but unsure how to do so – turn their cases into convictions.

Name: Glen James

Age: 54

Position: Partner

Organisation: Slaughter and May

Biography: Has spent entire career at Slaughter and May. Joined from Oxford as an articled clerk in 1974, qualified as a solicitor in 1976 and became a partner in 1983.

Glen James is the UK’s leading demutualisation lawyer. He acted on the first (Scottish Equitable), the most recent (Standard Life) and all those in between.

His corporate experience is impeccable, consisting of M&A work in the 1980s and 1990s, mixed with investment banking work and water privatisations. But it is his insurance sector expertise that is the basis for his inclusion as a legal innovator. His “dogged determination” has done much to drive the law forward in this sector.

Mr James’s knowledge of the insurance sector has evolved as the law and corporate structures themselves have developed. His ability to work out solutions that may maintain or enhance these enormously complex deals is crucial to their success.

One of his partners says: “He was a groundbreaker in the development of the distribution of ‘orphan funds’ – money which would otherwise be in limbo.”

He is equally happy being the lawyer or the leader on a demutualisation or flotation. For him, innovative lawyers do not just follow instructions – they constantly contribute to them and help create them.

Name: Stephen Ward

Age: 38

Position: Managing director

Organisation: Clerksroom

Biography: Has been a barrister’s clerk since 1983, becoming a senior clerk to chambers in 1993 when aged 25 – the youngest senior clerk in the UK. Established Clerksroom in 2001.

Stephen Ward has been instrumental in commercialising the way in which chambers offer their legal services. He has broken away from tradition to such an extent that his innovation, Clerksroom, has been described as being “years ahead” and the “best kept secret” at the Bar.

Along with Harry Hodgkin and Jonathan Dingle, he has led the way in creating a new model of barristers’ chambers. Clerksroom is a round-the-clock “virtual chambers”, living clerical and administrative support services to barristers, mediators and arbitrators working throughout the UK. The 20 clerks (the Bar average is around five) work for 63 barristers, nearly 200 arbitrators and 540 mediators.

Mr Ward’s ambition was to find the most cost-effective model of operating traditional chambers. The solution lay in low overheads: barristers pay only 10 per cent of their earnings and have no room rental fees. Crucially, Clerksroom is owned by the clerks, not the barristers, and has been set up as a “commercialised barristers’ chambers”.

As managing director and company secretary, Mr Ward is heavily involved in business development and continues to innovate.

Name: Patrick Green

Age: 40

Position: Barrister

Organisation: Henderson Chambers

Biography: Has been a barrister since 1990 and an accredited mediator since 1997. A co-founder and director of ResoLex, he is also a trainer and lecturer in alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

As far as barristers are concerned, Patrick Green is raising the bar for innovation. He is pioneering new techniques of mediation that are changing the ADR paradigm. He is a tireless champion of client interests and business needs.

Mr Green spent time in the US in the late 1990s, where he first witnessed the potential of mediation. An unconventional thinker, he sees mediation as a transaction management tool for business.

This stands in stark contrast to the usual “vanilla mediation” route that simply seeks an efficient legal solution between lawyers. He is especially concerned in preserving ongoing commercial relationships between clients.

In 2000, he co-founded ResoLex with project manager Stephen Ward. ResoLex is an applied mediation company that seeks to apply the principles of neutral facilitation throughout a project, as well as bring mediation into business transactions to avoid future disputes. It offers a suite of tools that seek to put parties on the project delivery, not dispute, path. As Mr Green explains: “It’s about people working together successfully.”

Name: Chris Perrin

Age: 50

Position: General counsel

Organisation: Clifford Chance

Biography: Joined Clifford Chance in 1980 after studying English at Oxford and attending law school in Cambridge. Became partner in 1988 and executive partner and general counsel in 2004.

Conflicts “czar” Chris Perrin has been at the forefront of delineating the rules on commercial and professional conflict in the legal sector for nearly 10 years. In a time of increasing regulation and change, the laws and rules on conflicts have never been more important.

Mr Perrin has been responsible for streamlining and simplifying many of these rules, working closely with the Law Society and pioneering his own firm’s approach to the issue. He is acknowledged as a leading expert on conflicts, as demonstrated by his work as chair of the working party asked to draft new conflict rules for England and Wales. Mr Perrin has also been asked to chair the City of London Law Society’s committee on Professional Rules and Regulation.

This thought leadership is put into practice by the Clifford Chance conflict centre, a 40-strong team working in London and New York. This centralised approach was unique in Europe and has now been emulated by other major firms. It was Mr Perrin’s brainchild and it was ahead of the game.

Name: Joy Kingsley

Age: 51

Position: Managing partner

Organisation: Pannone

Biography: Qualified in 1980, having trained with Pannone. Was made a salaried partner in 1983 and an equity partner in 1986. Oversaw a series of mergers during the firm’s leanest times and was elected managing partner in 1995.

Joy Kingsley is probably one of the most ambitious, daring law firm managers in the business. She dares to think outside the box and to grab opportunities when she sees them. Ms Kingsley took over as managing partner from founder Roger Pannone in 1995, at a difficult time for the company. Under her leadership, the firm has more than trebled in size from 200 to 700 people.

Managing partners at other firms say that her “infectious enthusiasm” permeates the firm. She manages to engage people at all levels and commentators say that there is genuinely no difference between partners and employees. This openness and frankness is not often found in law firms, but appears to emanate from the top down.

Ms Kingsley consciously tries to bring on younger members of staff to give them early responsibility. She has also been forward thinking in giving non-solicitor professional managers equity status within the firm, and has allowed some equity partners who have management responsibilities reduced earning targets.

Name: Tony Angel

Age: 54

Position: Managing partner

Organisation: Linklaters

Biography: Studied natural sciences and law at Cambridge before joining Linklaters as a trainee. Went on to be a tax partner and managing partner of the global firm in 1998. Tony Angel stands out as one of the best law firm managers in the industry. Now in his last year in tenure, he has steered his firm through ten years of international expansion and consolidation.

Mr Angel is a visionary and strategist in a sector that is not known for sophisticated management. He was one of the first law firm managers to take the job seriously, putting himself on every management course and rapidly becoming a respected thinker on management issues. But his real strength is his ability to implement a well thought-out strategy. One legal publication described him as able to “turn an executive decision into an art form”.

Mr Angel is not afraid to take tough decisions and presided over the removal of under-performing partners from the firm – a notoriously difficult job, and one shunned by most managers.

Critics often accuse him of turning his firm into a corporation. But Mr Angel contends that he has made the firm function with a corporation’s efficiency while maintaining its partnership ethos.