Member News
Award-winning law firm EMG Solicitors celebrated the ten year anniversary of its charity partnership with Headway - the brain injury association with a rip-roaring hoedown at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on Thursday 13 November, raising £45,000.
The firm’s annual WonderLAN Ball, which this year had a country music theme, saw 550 guests raise thousands of pounds for the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury. B Corp accredited EMG Solicitors, which is headquartered in the North East and has offices across the UK, has supported Headway since 2015, raising £185,000 for the charity and the brain injury survivors it supports.
‘A Night in Nashville’ brought some good ol’ southern hospitality to Newcastle upon Tyne, with live music from One Night in Nashville, a blazin’ fire show, and fundraising games including a silent auction, raffle and rodeo bull ride. The evening was hosted by BBC Radio Newcastle’s breakfast presenter, Matt Bailey.
Emma Gaudern, CEO of EMG Solicitors, said: “We established the WonderLAN Ball as a way for us to give back to the community of brain injury survivors we are so proud to represent through our Court of Protection work. Finding a supportive and collaborative partner in Headway has been essential to the event’s success and we’re very proud to be celebrating ten years of our partnership.
“Headway is an incredibly important charity because it specialises in working with adults and children with an acquired brain injury, a cause that is close to all our hearts at EMG. I’d like to thank each and every person that joined us at this year’s WonderLAN Ball for being so generous. And to all our wonderful sponsors, Frenkel Topping, Active Care Group Case Management, Active Neuro, BM Brooks Adroit, Conçerva, Design for Independence, Handelsbanken, PLG Consultants, Utilita Arena Newcastle and Winn Solicitors, who we couldn’t run the event without.”
As one of the leading Court of Protection teams in the country, many of EMG Solicitors' clients are survivors of brain injury. The law firm provides much needed support to ensure people affected by brain injury can lead fulfilling and independent lives.
The money raised by the annual WonderLAN Ball ensures that every year, over 100 brain injury survivors and their family members, carers, and volunteers from the North East are able to enjoy a fun-filled accessible activity weekend at the Calvert Trust in Kielder as part of Headway’s Look Ahead North weekend. Activities include high ropes, archery, music therapy sessions, and live entertainment in the evenings.
Luke Griggs, CEO of Headway – the brain injury association, said: “The WonderLAN Ball brings together so many people who passionately care about improving life after brain injury. The money raised is crucial to our annual Look Ahead North weekend; an opportunity for brain injury survivors to experience camaraderie, team building and emotional support. And it simply would not be possible without the efforts of Emma and Jemma, their team and all those who contribute to the amazing WonderLAN Ball each year.”
Providing support to local and national charities, voluntary organisations and community groups has been central to EMG’s work since the company was established in 2014. Founded on the values of integrity and kindness, EMG Solicitors plays an important role in the local community: helping to raise aspirations, improve quality of life, deliver social mobility and instill pride in the local area.
As well as delivering the WonderLAN Ball, EMG Solicitors also has its own charitable fund, which sees the firm donate 5% of its profits in the form of charitable grants. To date, the EMG Community Fund, which is managed by Point North (formerly County Durham Community Foundation), has awarded more than £73,000 in charitable grants, supporting more than 32,000 people across the North.
Jemma Morland, Director and Head of Court of Protection Property & Affairs at EMG Solicitors, said: “It's incredibly rewarding to know that all the money we’ve raised for Headway goes towards putting on an incredible event where people get to have fun, build their confidence and enhance their lives.
“All of us at EMG Solicitors feel passionately about everything the charity has achieved and continues to achieve. Headway has a really interesting and exciting agenda for change and we feel honoured to be part of that.”
EMG Solicitors is ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500 list for personal tax, trusts and probate. It was named Private Client Firm of the Year at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2024 and featured in The Times and Sunday Times UK list of 100 Best Places to Work 2024. For more information about EMG Solicitors, visit www.emgsolicitors.com.
