Ms Banks, who works with Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors, was presented with the award at a gala event in the Titanic Building, hosted by the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Her work on the successful UK Supreme Court challenge to to the rules governing the payment of a Widowed Parent’s Allowance was recognised by award judges as “outstanding, ground-breaking and game changing”.

Ms Banks was profiled by Irish Legal News in 2018 ahead of her appearance before the court, which heard the case during its first-ever sitting in Belfast.

Commenting on her award, Ms Banks said: “It is a huge honour to have won this award and to have taken part in an evening celebrating Belfast’s many thriving businesses.

“It is particularly important in the current climate to showcase the achievements of our local businesses and the talent that we have here, as well as having the work of a Belfast law firm celebrated at this event.

“It is lovely to be recognised for hard work and I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by supportive colleagues who nominated me.”