We’re delighted to share that Michael Imperato has been named Legal Hero Wales 2026 at the Legal News Wales Awards.
This award recognises a career of exceptional service, leadership and impact, and reflects the remarkable contribution Michael has made to public law and access to justice in Wales. His work has had a lasting impact on individuals, families and communities across the country, and this recognition is thoroughly deserved — one we’re incredibly proud to celebrate as a firm.
On the night, the judges delivered a powerful citation highlighting Michael’s career, his achievements, and the impact of his work. Their words speak to both the scale of his contribution and the values that underpin everything he does. We are pleased to share their words below:
This award recognises a career of exceptional service, leadership and impact from lawyer in Wales whose career to date has changed lives.
This year’s Legal Hero Wales is Michael Imperato – Solicitor at Watkins & Gunn.
Please allow me to share why…
Over the course of his career, Michael has become one of the most respected public law lawyers in Wales. Independent legal directories place him at the pinnacle of the profession, recognising both his legal expertise and his leadership within public law and human rights. Yet those who know Michael would tell you that his greatest achievements are not found in rankings, titles or accolades. They are found in the lives he has changed. The communities he has helped protect and the people whose voices have been heard because he chose to stand beside them.
In 2014, Michael made a decision that would help reshape the public law landscape in Wales. At the time, individuals and community groups seeking to challenge decisions affecting schools, hospitals, libraries, social care and other vital public services had limited access to specialist claimant public law advice within Wales. Michael recognised that gap. More importantly, he recognised the consequences of it. Rather than accepting that situation, he chose to do something about it. He joined Watkins & Gunn and established Wales’s first specialist claimant public law practice.
More than a decade later, the impact of that decision continues to be felt across the nation. Communities across Wales now have access to specialist representation in cases involving education, health, local government, social care and human rights. The team he helped build has become one of the leading claimant public law practices in Wales.
But Michael’s legacy cannot be measured simply in reported judgments or legal precedents. It can be measured in the schools that remained open, the services that were protected and the families who found support when public systems failed them and the communities that were given the opportunity to be heard.
Over the years, Michael has been involved in many of the most significant public law challenges in Wales, helping to shape the interpretation of Welsh legislation and strengthen accountability in public decision-making.
Yet what impressed the judges most was not simply the scale of his legal achievements. It was the humanity that sits behind them. Behind every judicial review, every inquest and every legal challenge is a human story and throughout his career, Michael has never lost sight of that.
One case involved an eight-year-old boy from North Wales living with a rare and life-limiting condition that required round-the-clock care. For years, disputes between public bodies left his mother effectively trapped in the role of a second full-time carer, unable to leave her home or live independently. Michael stood beside that family through lengthy proceedings, raising important questions about the responsibilities of public bodies and the support owed to vulnerable children and their families. Ultimately, the case secured a life-changing outcome. Not simply a legal victory, but a transformation in the day-to-day reality of a family who had spent years fighting for help.
Stories like these run throughout Michael’s career. They demonstrate a belief that the law should not be an abstract exercise. It should be a force for fairness, accountability and positive change. That commitment is perhaps nowhere more evident than in Michael’s work on the Infected Blood Scandal.
In 2017, Haemophilia Wales approached him after struggling to secure legal support. Michael initially advised on a pro bono basis and helped raise funds through crowdfunding. Long before there was a public inquiry. Long before there was national attention – there were victims and families searching for answers and Michael stood beside them. His team went on to play a significant role in securing the inquiry that would become the largest public inquiry in British history. Today, Michael and his colleagues continue to represent hundreds of victims and families affected by one of the most devastating public scandals this country has ever seen. It is work that requires not only legal expertise, but immense compassion, resilience and determination.
Alongside his legal practice, Michael has dedicated countless hours to public service. He has mentored younger lawyers and supported the next generation of legal professionals. He has lectured at Cardiff University, helping to bridge the gap between academia and practice. He has served as President of Cardiff & District Law Society and contributed to national human rights and public law initiatives. Michael has acted as a school governor, charity trustee and advocate for children and vulnerable people. He has also held senior positions within Welsh public bodies, helping guide decision-making and governance at the highest levels.
The breadth of that contribution is extraordinary.
But perhaps what stands out most is that it has always been rooted in service – to the legal profession and to communities – through an unwavering belief that justice should belong to everyone.
The judges felt that Michael embodies the very best qualities of the legal profession. Not only as an exceptional lawyer, But as a mentor – a leader – and a champion for access to justice.
This evening, we are proud to recognise not only an exceptional lawyer, but an exceptional human being.
Please join me in celebrating the recipient of the Legal Hero Wales Award 2026…
Michael Imperato.