2021
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2021
A WORD FROM KEY MEDIA THANK YOU to everyone who took part in this year’s Australasian Law Awards. After a difficult year that tested the resilience of many industries, these awards offer a true snapshot of the best and brightest in the legal profession and those who stepped up and put their clients first at a time when it mattered most. This year, the Australasian Law Awards celebrated and recognised excellence in the legal profession across 31 prestigious categories, focusing on the achievements of the country’s best legal professionals and firms. It was wonderful to see such strong industry support for this year’s Australasian Law Awards, and we would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination and acknowledge our esteemed panel of judges for lending their time and expertise to the endeavour. The Australasian Law Awards are brought to you by Key Media, publishers of the leading global family of legal publications, including Australasian Lawyer in Australia, NZ Lawyer in New Zealand, and Canadian Lawyer, Lexpert and Law Times in Canada. We are proud to continue our tradition of celebrating legal excellence in Australasia and would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and awardees.
JUSTIN KENNEDY Managing Director, APAC Key Media
Key Media is an award-winning global media company with eight offices around the world. Our growing portfolio of market-leading products connects business communities and product providers together through print and online publications and events across six key verticals. www.keymedia.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS DEAL AWARDS Debt Market Deal of the Year Equity Market Deal of the Year Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year Mid-Market Deal of the Year M&A Deal of the Year
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IN-HOUSE AWARDS Banking & Financial Services In-house Team of the Year Insurance In-house Team of the Year Young In-house Lawyer of the Year (30 or Under) Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Australian In-house Team of the Year NZ In-house Team of the Year
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INDUSTRY AWARDS Resolution Institute Australian Mediator of the Year Legal Service Provider of the Year
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FIRM AWARDS NZ Deal Firm of the Year Australian Dealmaker of the Year NZ Dealmaker of the Year Corporate Citizen Firm of the Year Excellence in Employee Health & Wellbeing Excellence in Technology & Innovation Boutique Firm of the Year Insurance Specialist Firm of the Year Employment Law Specialist Firm of the Year Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (30 or Under) Law Firm Leader of the Year (≤ 200 Employees) Law Firm Leader of the Year (> 200 employees) State/Regional Firm of the Year Law Firm of the Year (1–100 Lawyers) Law Firm of the Year (101–500 Lawyers) Law Firm of the Year (>500 Lawyers) Diversity Initiative of the Year
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2021
RECOGNISING THE TOP DOGS IN THE AUSTRALASIAN LEGAL INDUSTRY As the profession continues to adjust to new ways of working, the 2021 Australasian Law Awards have crowned the region’s leading lawyers, firms and in-house legal departments
AUSTRALASIAN LAWYER kicked off the new year with a call for law firms, lawyers, in-house legal departments, banks and accountancy firms across Australia and New Zealand to nominate those they considered to be at the top of the pack in the region’s legal industry for the 2021 Australasian Law Awards. In line with the new normal, the nomination process was streamlined and simplified compared to previous years. The awards team received a high volume of top-quality submissions during the nomination process, which ran from the end of January to mid-February. These nominations spotlighted different types of achievements, from individual contributions to the industry to team efforts in closing big deals. A massive panel of over 30 independent expert judges was called upon to review the submissions in a strict process
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to determine the finalists and winners across 31 categories. Continuing a tradition started last year, the awards also honoured excellence awardees in addition to the winners. “The outstanding talent across the board was amazing to witness, and it was very difficult to choose between the varied stories, each with their own strengths,” said judge Elizabeth Carroll, chief legal counsel at IP Australia. “Recognising and rewarding the hard work of our profession feels particularly important in the current climate.”
Riding the wave of COVID-19 Being crowned at the Australasian Law Awards during such a challenging period was a big deal for the winners, given that many had been through significant changes to how they operated and delivered quality service to clients.
METHODOLOGY PROCESS Australasian Lawyer called for nominations from firms, lawyers, in-house departments, banks and accountancy firms operating in Australia and New Zealand Over a five-week window, many quality nominations were received online via the nominations portal on the Australasian Law Awards website
“The fundamentals of the job – working closely with our clients to understand their specific needs and add value to their business – remained the same; however, the approach became largely virtual with client meetings and events moving online,” said Andrew Pike, executive partner – east at big winner Herbert Smith Freehills. “Deal-making and litigation proceedings were largely conducted online too.” Pike, who copped a win for Law Firm Leader of the Year (>200 Employees) said that in the face of the challenges created by the new processes, the firm had concentrated on maintaining strong relationships with clients and helped them address the “pressure points and opportunities” that arose in the course of the pandemic.
“ The outstanding talent across the board was amazing to witness, and it was very difficult to choose between the varied stories, each with their own strengths. Recognising and rewarding the hard work of our profession feels particularly important in the current climate”
The awards team worked with Australasian Lawyer to supplement the nominations with research gleaned from the publication and narrow the field down to a list of finalists in each category The excellence awardees were announced online on 29 April, while the winners were unveiled in a series of breaking news stories on Australasian Lawyer over 15 June to 17 June. CATEGORIES A total of 31 categories were featured in the Australasian Law Awards that looked at achievements related to deals, firms, individual lawyers and in-house legal teams KEY DATES The pool for nominations was opened on 20 January and closed on 19 February Excellence awardees were announced via the Australasian Lawyer website and newsletter on 29 April The winners of the deal categories were announced on 15 June in a breaking news story
2021
The winners of the in-house categories were announced on 16 June in a breaking news story The winners of the industry and firm categories were announced on 17 June in a breaking news story
Elizabeth Carroll Chief legal counsel, IP Australia
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New law firm LegalVision, which nabbed the top prize for Law Firm of the Year (1–100 Lawyers), was able to capitalise on the chance to expand its business beyond Australia and into New Zealand while in the thick of COVID-19. The firm also maximised its membership offering LVConnect to meet client needs. “Many businesses have had to cut down on costs as a result of COVID-19, and consequently we have seen a surge in enquiries from businesses looking for new law firms that offer more cost certainty,” said CEO Lachlan McKnight. While flexibility has always been needed in in-house practices, Nova Entertainment group GC and company secretary Ben Willis said the pandemic had “amplified [the] juggle” of the daily “myriad, disparate challenges” that characterise this area of legal practice. “The unprecedented combination of novel workplace challenges, commercial frustration and volatile market conditions has required a shift in commercial strategy and governance, and an associated modification in how in-house lawyers support new-world business practices,” he said.
Rewarding supporting roles The ability to thrive in the past year wasn’t based just on locking down the big deals and picking up individual achievements but also on knowing where to provide needed support. “In-house best practice is predicated upon a clear understanding of the business’s strategic ambitions and effective relationships with functional stakeholders. I encourage my team to integrate cross-functionally and form strong relationships with colleagues, with a view to better understanding the nature, scope and ambition of the workstreams they are advising on,” said Willis, who is also among the Australasian Law Awards judges.
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“First and foremost, in-house lawyers should be commercially minded and consider how the advice they provide to stakeholders can support the business’s strategic objectives.” Carroll added that successfully serving in a supporting role during this time was crucial to helping nominees stand out. “In-house lawyers stepping up to assist their organisations respond to COVID-19 demonstrates the true value of the in-house function. Many of the entries related to teams assisting their organisation to adapt to enormously difficult circumstances. The key role of in-house lawyers as problem-solvers was on display, and the support they offered to clients at their most challenging hour was incredible,” she said. Firms also saw the positive outcomes of being willing to provide support not just to clients but to staff as well. KCL Law principal lawyer Sam Frey, who was named Law Firm Leader of the Year (<200 Employees), explained that the firm had responded to the pandemic by keeping all of its employees on. “We retained all employees, both full-time and part-time, as well as employed additional lawyers in the areas of construction and family law. We did not make anyone redundant,” Frey said. “[We] maintained employee salaries and maintained employee safety and wellbeing.” The Fold Legal, which was awarded Boutique Firm of the Year, kept its team together despite remote work arrangements by optimising its digital resources. “We attended and hosted client meetings, events and training via video conference, and collaborated and socialised as a team through Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp – in many ways learning more about each other and our clients than we would have had the opportunity to otherwise,” partner Charmian Holmes said.
Looking to the horizon With COVID-19 continuing its global rampage over a year later, the profession has come to accept that many of the novel approaches introduced due to the pandemic will be here to stay. “Experience tells us that in our profession, evolution rather than revolution tends to be the way of things, even in the face of extraordinary challenges like COVID-19,” said Shane Barber, Bird & Bird Australia managing partner and one of the judges on the Australasian Law Awards panel. “There has been much acceleration in areas of change that were already underway – whether that be in relation to agile working, the use of legal tech solutions or the expansion of our services into adjacencies.” Remote or hybrid working models are anticipated to be a part of the legal industry’s landscape in the long run, and the digitisation of the profession is expected to accelerate further. Nonetheless, Barber urges the industry to keep in mind that “we are a people profession”. “We need to continue to keep making all of the incremental changes to the manner of our working that technology allows and circumstances require, but it’s our personal and professional skills that really matter at the end of the day,” he said. The Australasian Law Awards was not exempt from having to incorporate major changes into its process and presentation. For the first time in the history of the awards, the winners were announced virtually in a series of breaking news features from 15 to 17 June. Read on for more information on the 2021 Australasian Law Awards winners and excellence awardees. Key Media and Australasian Lawyer congratulate the winners and nominees, who have exemplified excellence in the legal industry across the region.
“ We need to continue to keep making all of the incremental changes to the manner of our working that technology allows and circumstances require, but it’s our personal and professional skills that really matter at the end of the day”
Shane Barber
Managing partner, Bird & Bird Australia
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2021
DEBT MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR
Reached completion during calendar year 2020. Judged on its Australian aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation. WINNER
National Broadband Network medium-term notes issuance Firms: Allen & Overy, Allens Linklaters, nbn co Legal Team Accountant: Grant Samuel Banks: ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank, NAB, Westpac
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Australian Office of Financial Management ‘Forbearance’ SPV Firms: Clayton Utz, Eticore, King & Wood Mallesons Accountant: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Bank: Bank of New York
Heartland reverse mortgage securitisation Firms: Allen & Overy, Clayton Utz, Slaughter & May Banks: Australian Seniors Finance (a subsidiary of Heartland Bank), BNY, M&G Investments
Newcrest US-dollar corporate bond offering Firms: Allens, Sullivan & Cromwell Accountant: Ernst & Young Banks: ANZ, Barclays Capital Asia, BofA Securities, HSBC Securities (USA), J.P. Morgan Securities, MUFG Securities Americas, RBC Capital Markets
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EQUITY MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR
Reached completion during calendar year 2020. Judged on its Australian aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation. WINNER
IOOF combined COVID super-sized placement and accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer Firms: Allen & Overy, Allens, King & Wood Mallesons Accountant: EY Bank: Citigroup EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Adore Beauty IPO Firm: Gilbert + Tobin Accountant: KPMG Banks: Crestone Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Shaw and Partners, UBS
Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure IPO Firms: Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons, MinterEllison, Sullivan & Cromwell Accountants: PwC, Deloitte Banks: Bell Potter Securities, Citigroup Global Markets Australia, Credit Suisse (Australia), Crestone Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch Equities (Australia), Morgans Financial, Ord Minnett, Wilsons Corporate Finance
Nuix IPO Firms: Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin, Sidley Austin, Sullivan & Cromwell Accountant: PwC Banks: Macquarie Capital (affiliate of Macquarie Group), Morgan Stanley Australia Securities
Sydney Airport equity raising Firms: Allens, King Wood Mallesons Accountants: KPMG, PwC Bank: UBS
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2021
INFRASTRUCTURE & PROJECTS DEAL OF THE YEAR
Reached completion during calendar year 2020. Judged on its Australian aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation. WINNER
Moranbah North-Grosvenor mining complex transaction Firms: Barbosa Müssnich Aragão Advogados, Clayton Utz, Freshfields, Linklaters, MinterEllison Accountants: EY, PwC EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Gunnedah and Suntop Solar projects Firms: Herbert Smith Freehills, K&L Gates, Maddocks, Norton Rose Fulbright
Ichthys LNG project refinancing Firms: Allens, Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith Freehills, Latham & Watkins, NautaDutilh NV Banks: Citigroup, Mizuho Bank
Parramatta Council 5 Parramatta Square and Town Hall project Firms: Ashurst, King & Wood Mallesons
Port Kembla LNG import facility Firms: Allens, Ashurst, Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills, HWL Ebsworth, K&L Gates
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INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR
Reached completion during calendar year 2020. Judged on its Australian aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation. WINNER
Bain Capital acquisition of Virgin Australia Firms: Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills, Jones Day, K&L Gates Accountant: Deloitte Bank: Jefferies EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
LJ Hooker restructuring Firms: Allens Linklaters, Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Gadens, Gilbert + Tobin Accountant: KPMG
Ovato restructuring Firms: Allens, Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie, Cornwalls, Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons, MinterEllison, Norton Rose Fulbright Accountants: McGrathNicol, 333 Capital Advisors: Duff & Phelps, Scottish Pacific Business Finance, Wexted Advisors Banks: ANZ, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft
Pilbara Minerals acquisition of Altura Lithium Operations Firms: Allen & Overy, Clayton Utz, Lavan Bank: Macquarie
Purchase of Cockatoo Island mining assets Firm: Pragma Lawyers Accountant/Receiver-Manager: Auxilium Partners
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2021
MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR
Value AU$50m–$500m. Reached completion during calendar year 2020. Judged on its Australian aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation. WINNER
BGH Capital acquisition of Healius Primary Care Firms: Allens, Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons Accountants: EY, PwC Banks: Morgan Stanley, UBS
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Aroa Biosurgery IPO Firms: Aroa Biosurgery IPO, Chapman Tripp, MinterEllison, Rimon Law
Citadel acquisition of Wellbeing Software Firms: Ashurst, Gadens, Gilbert + Tobin, Herbert Smith Freehills, Stephenson Harwood (UK), Taylor Wessing (UK)
Crescent Capital Partners acquisition of PRP Firms: Allen & Overy, Allens, Herbert Smith Freehills, Jones Day, MinterEllison Accountant: Ernst & Young Banks: Barings Global Private Loans, Barings Segregated Loans, BAYVK R PD 1 Loan, Goldman Sachs Australia Capital Markets, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
eBay acquisition of Cox Australia Media Solutions Firms: DLA Piper, Gilbert + Tobin, Hogan Lovells Accountant: EY
Piangil Almond Orchard sale Firms: Gadens, MinterEllison
Tattarang cross-border purchase of RM Williams Firms: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin, Simpson Grierson Bank: Goldman Sachs
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M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR
Reached completion during calendar year 2020. Judged on its Australian aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation. WINNER
Vodafone Hutchison Australia acquisition of TPG Corporation Firms: Allens, Herbert Smith Freehills, Norton Rose Fulbright, Prolegis Lawyers Advisor: Lonergan Edwards & Associates Accountants: Deloitte, Herbert Smith Freehills, KPMG Banks: BofA Securities Inc, Deutsche Bank AG, Macquarie Capital EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Anheuser-Busch InBev divestment in Australia Firms: Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gilbert + Tobin, Johnson Winter & Slattery Accountants: EY, PwC Banks: Lazard, Nomura, Rothschild
CIMIC divestment of its interest in Thiess Firms: Allen & Overy, Allens, Ashurst, Borden Ladner Gervais, Desai Law Group, ENSafrica (Mauritius), Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners, Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa, McKinsey & Company, MinterEllison, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Morales & Besa, Pimenta e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, Rajah & Tann Singapore, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, Wood Mackenzie Advisor: Marsh Accountants: EY, JP Morgan, PwC
GrainCorp demerger of its international malting business Firms: Gilbert + Tobin, KWM Accountants: KPMG, PwC Banks: Blackpeak Capital, Credit Suisse, Grant Samuel, Macquarie Resolution Life acquisition of the Australian and New Zealand life insurance businesses of AMP Life Firms: Allens, Ashurst, Bell Gully – New Zealand, Chapman Tripp – New Zealand, Debevoise & Plimpton, Greenwoods, Herbert Smith Freehills, KWM Accountant: KPMG Banks: Deutsche Bank, UBS Saracen Mineral Holding merger with Northern Star Resources Firms: Ashurst, DLA Piper Accountants: Deloitte Corporate Finance, Ernst & Young Strategy and Transactions, PwC Banks: Macquarie Capital, Sternship Advisers
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2021
BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
INSURANCE IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
YOUNG IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (30 OR UNDER)
Open to any Australia-based in-house legal team in a banking or financial services company or organisation. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work during calendar year 2020.
Open to any Australia-based in-house legal team in an insurance company or organisation. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work during calendar year 2020.
Open to qualified lawyers not exceeding 30 years of age as at 1 January 2020 who are permanently employed within the in-house legal function of a company or organisation in Australia. Judged on the quality, quantity, importance and innovativeness of their work during calendar year 2020.
WINNER
WINNER
WINNER
Macquarie Capital Legal Team
AIA Australia
Esther Lee NSW Treasury
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
HUB24 Legal Team
Berkley Insurance Australia
hummgroup
HBF Health
Adam Papadakis Boehringer Ingelheim
Legal & Compliance Team, Active Super
IAG Legal
UBS AG, Australia Branch
Kate Cook TAL Life Seyda Andrews Accor Theo Kapodistrias UpGuard
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AUSTRALIAN IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR
AUSTRALIAN IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
NZ IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Open to qualified lawyers permanently employed within the in-house legal function of a company or organisation in Australia. Judged on the quality, quantity, importance and innovativeness of their work during calendar year 2020.
Open to any in-house legal team in a company or organisation operating in Australia. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their internal and transactional work during calendar year 2020.
Open to any in-house legal team in a company or organisation operating in New Zealand. Judged on the responsiveness, efficiency and excellence of their internal legal work during calendar year 2020.
WINNER
WINNER
WINNER
Annie Haggar Accenture
Sydney Airport Legal Team
Airways
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Kiri-Ana Libbesson Settlement Services International
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Chief Counsel Portfolio, comprising AFP Legal and Criminal Assets Litigation teams
AIA New Zealand
Marnie Manning Coroners Court of Victoria Michael Chin eftpos Payments Australia
DPDHL In-house Legal Team James Hardie Industries plc
Nathan Lanthois Transdev Australasia
NSW Treasury Office of General Counsel
Paul Gregory WesTrac
Regulatory Legal Services Branch in the Therapeutic Goods Administration (part of the Australian Government Department of Health)
Fonterra Cooperative Group Metlifecare Perpetual Guardian Legal Team UBS New Zealand
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2021
RESOLUTION INSTITUTE AUSTRALIAN MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR
LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Open to NMAS-accredited mediators. Judged on their achievements and performance during calendar year 2020.
Open to service providers in the legal sector operating in Australia. Judged on their overall customer service proposition; the industry’s need for the service; how the service has added value, and their overall commitment to customers; their demonstrated commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.
AWARD SPONSOR
RESOLUTION INSTITUTE WINNER
Dr Anne Purcell Resolution Partners EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Alison James SHAW Dispute Resolution Lisanne Iriks Life Mediation Marguerite Picard Smart Separation
Resolution Institute is the peak industry body across dispute resolution disciplines in Australia and Aotearoa, New Zealand. We are a vibrant community of mediators, arbitrators, expert determiners, adjudicators, restorative justice practitioners and other dispute resolution professionals. We value integrity, excellence, innovation, collaboration, diversity and influence. We reflect these values in our work for and with our members. E: infoaus@resolution.institute W: www.resolution.institute
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Thomson Reuters Australia
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
BigHand
“ We have been an integral part of these awards now for four years, and it’s a real pleasure to see this vital and rewarding work being recognised at this prestigious level, work made all the more challenging for everyone in this time of a global pandemic” Amber Williams CEO, Resolution Institute
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WINNER
GlobalX LOD Sprintlaw
NZ DEAL FIRM OF THE YEAR
AUSTRALIAN DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR
NZ DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR
Open to law firms based in New Zealand. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of overall firm involvement in major deals during calendar year 2020.
Is permanently employed within a law firm in Australia. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their deal involvement during calendar year 2020.
Is permanently employed within a law firm in New Zealand. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their deal involvement during calendar year 2020.
WINNERS
WINNER
WINNER
Bell Gully Corporate
Tony Damian Herbert Smith Freehills
Silvana Schenone MinterEllisonRuddWatts
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Chelsey Drake Allens
Anna Buchly Bell Gully
James Stewart DLA Piper
Ian Beaumont Russell McVeagh
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Sandy Mak Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Michael Pollard Simpson Grierson
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Timothy Sackar Clayton Utz
Nathanael Starrenburg Harmos Horton Lusk
Chapman Tripp
Russell McVeagh Corporate Advisory
Roger Wallis Chapman Tripp
Simpson Grierson Corporate Advisory
www.auslawawards.com.au
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2021
CORPORATE CITIZEN FIRM OF THE YEAR
EXCELLENCE IN EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLBEING
Open to all law firms in Australia and New Zealand. Judged on the quantity, quality, impact and innovativeness of a firm’s sustainability, community, diversity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility initiatives during calendar year 2020.
Open to all law firms in Australia and New Zealand. Judged on the quantity, quality, impact and innovativeness of a firm’s employee health and wellbeing initiatives during calendar year 2020.
WINNER
WINNERS
Clayton Utz
Allens
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Ashurst Barry.Nilsson. Lander & Rogers Gadens
Legalite EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Baker McKenzie Clayton Utz Hamilton Locke
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EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
Open to firms operating in Australia that can demonstrate innovative use of technology in legal service delivery. Judged on the scope of innovation; impact on the firm’s legal and business processes; success of the change management and implementation process; and evidence that the technology has supported business objectives. WINNER
FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE
LodgeX Legal LodgeX believes that innovators look at the present, reimagine a future and have the courage to realise that future vision and in doing so shape change.
Gilbert + Tobin
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Clayton Utz Herbert Smith Freehills Lander & Rogers LodgeX Legal K&L Gates
LodgeX Legal is a law firm with a difference. It successfully combines technology with legal process to create a reliable, trusted and efficient solution for electronic property settlements. LodgeX was initially conceived as a seamless complement to PEXA to open up PEXA to those users that did not or could not directly transact on PEXA. To enable true scalability without compromise to standards, LodgeX Legal developed its bespoke platform, Lapp. Lapp is a booking and workflow management platform which manages settlements and gives real-time updates and visibility to customers. Customers are able to book a settlement, upload documents, provide instructions and track their settlements securely without ever needing to subscribe to PEXA. Key platform features include a handy booking card complete with all documents and communications; full audit trail, status updates combined with multiple integrations realise proven time savings of up to three hours per file for LodgeX customers. LodgeX operates Australia-wide and has completed transactions in every electronically enabled jurisdiction. It has also successfully lodged thousands of dealings ranging from simple to complex. It provides a complete lodgement and settlement service for lawyers, conveyancers, financial institutions, developers and corporations and is actively involved within the industry through participation in key stakeholder groups and advisory boards. LodgeX’s vision remains to set the gold standard for e-conveyancing Australia-wide. For more information, visit: www.lodgex.com.au
www.auslawawards.com.au
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BOUTIQUE FIRM OF THE YEAR
INSURANCE SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR
EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR
Open to any law firm in Australia that derives at least 50% of its revenue from one practice area. Judged on excellence in client service and specialist expertise during calendar year 2020.
Open to any law firm in Australia that derives at least 50% of its revenue from insurance law matters. Judged on excellence in client service and specialist expertise during calendar year 2020.
Open to any law firm in Australia that derives at least 50% of its revenue from employment law matters. Judged on excellence in client service and specialist expertise during calendar year 2020.
WINNERS
WINNER
WINNER
Aptum Legal
The Fold Legal
TurksLegal
Harmers Workplace Lawyers
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Barry.Nilsson.
Aitken Legal
Gilchrist Connell
Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA)
Holman Webb Lawyers Meridian Lawyers Moray & Agnew
Danny King Legal McDonald Murholme Workdynamic Australia
Wright Legal – Banking and Finance Lawyers EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Clarendon Lawyers Keystone Lawyers Speirs Ryan
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FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE
McDonald Murholme For over 25 years, McDonald Murholme has become identified as the leading employment law firm in Australia for all employees. The firm is dedicated to making Australian employment laws work for employees when confronted with a better-resourced and more powerful employer. With a mission to focus on fairness no matter what socioeconomic background the client comes from, McDonald Murholme takes pride in achieving the very best results for anyone who walks through its doors. Overwhelmingly, employment law firms work for employers. McDonald Murholme expertly navigates the challenges of working for employees, which requires both the ability to make out a good case, and a capacity to assist individuals who are devastated by the loss of their job. Clients often state that their employment matter significantly impacted their mental health and praise McDonald Murholme for its fast and efficient service which helps to alleviate the clients’ stress. By working collaboratively, the team at McDonald Murholme can manage a high volume of claims for a boutique business, resulting in some big wins for clients. At times, McDonald Murholme is able to achieve a result for its clients within as little as 24 hours, which inevitably minimises legal costs. McDonald Murholme is intent on advancing the legal profession through its support of lawyers and law students throughout the various stages of their careers. Managing Director Alan McDonald operates with an open-door policy, guiding junior lawyers during the initial stages of their careers to become sound legal professionals. For more information, visit: www.mcdonaldmurholme.com.au
www.auslawawards.com.au
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2021
YOUNG PRIVATE PRACTICE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (30 OR UNDER)
LAW FIRM LEADER OF THE YEAR (≤200 EMPLOYEES)
LAW FIRM LEADER OF THE YEAR (>200 EMPLOYEES)
Open to qualified lawyers not exceeding 30 years of age as at 1 January 2020 who are permanently employed within a law firm in Australia. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work during calendar year 2020.
Managing partner, CEO or similar of a law firm in Australia with up to 200 employees (or full-time equivalents). Judged on their achievements and performance during calendar year 2020.
Managing partner, CEO or similar of a law firm in Australia with more than 200 employees (or full-time equivalents). Judged on their achievements and performance during calendar year 2020.
WINNER
WINNER
WINNERS
Kerrie Duong Baker McKenzie
Sam Frey KCL Law
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Declan Norrie Proximity
Amanda Banton Banton Group
Kevin Pai Bugden Allen Lawyers
Bechara Shamieh Madison Marcus
Kevin Shum Allen & Overy
Kelli Martin KLM Solicitors
Lauren Jeffries Herbert Smith Freehills
Nick Humphrey Hamilton Locke Stipe Vuleta Chamberlains
Andrew Pike Herbert Smith Freehills
Genevieve Collins Lander & Rogers EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Anthony Foley Baker McKenzie Levent Shevki Cornwalls
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STATE/REGIONAL FIRM OF THE YEAR
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (1–100 LAWYERS)
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (101–500 LAWYERS)
Open to non-national law firms that are headquartered in and derive the majority of their revenue from a single state or from regional areas (outside of major capital cities). Judged on excellence in client service and demonstrated expertise across a range of practice areas.
Open to any law firm in Australia with up to 100 lawyers. Judged on excellence in client service and demonstrated expertise across a range of practice areas.
Open to any law firm in Australia with 101–500 lawyers. Judged on excellence in client service and demonstrated expertise across a range of practice areas.
WINNER
WINNER
WINNER
Keypoint Law
LegalVision
Gilbert + Tobin
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Ailier
Banton Group
Baker McKenzie
Cooper Grace Ward
Chamberlains Law Firm
Clyde & Co
NDA Law
Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers
Hall & Wilcox
New South Lawyers
Thynne + Macartney
Mills Oakley Sparke Helmore Lawyers
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2021
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (>500 LAWYERS)
DIVERSITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Open to any law firm in Australia with more than 500 lawyers. Judged on excellence in client service and demonstrated expertise across a broad range of practice areas and experience acting on the largest, most complex and urgent transactions and disputes.
Open to all Australia and New Zealand-based law firms and law departments. Judged on the concrete steps the law firm or law department took during 2020 to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
WINNER
WINNER
Herbert Smith Freehills
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Ashurst
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Allens
Bird & Bird
Ashurst
Hall & Wilcox
Clayton Utz
Harmers Workplace Lawyers
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Wotton + Kearney
A LOOK BACK: 2020 WINNERS DEBT MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR
AUSTRALIAN DEAL OF THE YEAR
Debt acquisition facility to fund Saracen Mineral Holdings’ ‘Super Pit’ acquisition
Brookfield acquisition of Healthscope
Firms: Herbert Smith Freehills, Wright Legal Accountant: PwC Advisors: RBC Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs Australia, Noah’s Rule
ENERGY & RESOURCES DEAL OF THE YEAR
Firms: Allens, Arnold Bloch Leibler, Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons, Mayne Wetherell Accountants: Deloitte, EY Advisor: Grant Samuel Banks: Merrill Lynch, UBS AG
Mineral Resources sale of lithium assets to Albemarle
THE RESOLUTION INSTITUTE AUSTRALIAN ARBITRATOR OF THE YEAR
Firms: Gilbert + Tobin, MinterEllison
Donna Ross, Donna Ross Dispute Resolution
EQUITY MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR Westpac capital raising Firms: Allen & Overy, Allens, Herbert Smith Freehills
AUSTRALIAN DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR Tony Damian, Herbert Smith Freehills
INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR
AUSTRALIAN IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR
Wollongong Coal and Jindal Steel & Power debt restructuring
Connie Carnabuci, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Firms: AZB, DLA, Kirkland & Ellis, Madun Gujadhur Chambers, Gilbert + Tobin
INTERNATIONAL DEAL OF THE YEAR
THE RESOLUTION INSTITUTE AUSTRALIAN MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR Dr Anne Purcell, Resolution Partners
Amcor US listing and acquisition of Bemis Firms: Herbert Smith Freehills, Kirkland & Ellis, MinterEllison, Moulis Legal Banks: Moelis & Company, UBS
LAW FIRM LEADER OF THE YEAR (>200 LAWYERS) Danny Gilbert, Gilbert + Tobin
M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR
LAW FIRM LEADER OF THE YEAR (≤200 LAWYERS)
Brookfield acquisition of Healthscope
Paul Hopkins, Carter Newell Lawyers
Firms: Allens, Arnold Bloch Leibler, Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons, Mayne Wetherell Accountants: Deloitte, EY Advisor: Grant Samuel Banks: Merrill Lynch, UBS AG
NZ DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR Henry Willis, Webb Henderson
PROPERTY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROJECTS DEAL OF THE YEAR
YOUNG IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (30 OR UNDER)
Sydney Metro public private partnership
Annie Pang, Vodafone Hutchison Australia
Firms: Allens, Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie, King & Wood Mallesons Accountant: EY
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2021
YOUNG PRIVATE PRACTICE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (30 OR UNDER)
SPARKE HELMORE INSURANCE IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Myra Beal, Herbert Smith Freehills
IAG – Insurance Australia Group
AUSTRALIAN DEAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
INSURANCE SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR
Herbert Smith Freehills M&A Team
Meridian Lawyers
CLAYTON UTZ AUSTRALIAN IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (> 500 LAWYERS)
Lendlease Building Legal Team
BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
GLOBALX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (101–500 LAWYERS)
Bank of Queensland Group Legal Team
Gilbert + Tobin
BOUTIQUE FIRM OF THE YEAR
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (1–100 LAWYERS)
Clarendon Lawyers
Chamberlains Law Firm
CORPORATE CITIZEN FIRM OF THE YEAR
LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Gilbert + Tobin
Thomson Reuters Australia
EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR
NZ DEAL FIRM OF THE YEAR
Workdynamic Australia
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
MARSH EXCELLENCE IN EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD
NZ IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Clayton Utz
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Allens
Spark New Zealand
EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
STATE/REGIONAL FIRM OF THE YEAR
Sprintlaw
New South Lawyers
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2021 JUDGING PANEL
Thank you to our esteemed judges for lending their time and expertise to help recognise and celebrate excellence in the legal profession MARIA A POZZA Director and Lawyer, Gravity Lawyers
SHANE BARBER Managing Partner – Australia, Bird & Bird
RICHARD BELL Corporate General Counsel and Group Company Secretary, Aristocrat
RACHEL BESLEY General Counsel, Deloitte
CLAIRE BIBBY Senior Lawyer, Advocate, Mediator and Arbitrator
REHANA BOX Partner, Ashurst
ANNA BUCHLY Chairman, Bell Gully
ELIZABETH CARROLL Chief Legal Counsel, IP Australia
DAN COOTES Head of Legal, Australasia BT
ANDREW CORDNER Director of Legal, Fonterra Co-operative Group
KELLY CRAWFORD Arup Australasia Region Counsel (Acting), Arup
DAVID CULLEN Group General Counsel, AMP Limited
CAMPBELL DAVIDSON Managing Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
ALISON DEITZ Managing Partner Australia, Norton Rose Fulbright
JON DOWNES Head of Legal – Asia-Pacific, Corporate Risk & Broking, Willis Towers Watson
TIM FFRENCH General Counsel. Commonwealth Department of Education, Skills and Employment
SHANNON FINCH Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions, Jones Day
ANTHONY FOLEY Australia Managing Partner, Baker McKenzie
PETER FRANCIS Partner and General Counsel, Maddocks
JAIME FRASCA Senior Legal Director and Company Secretary, ANZ, Dell Technologies
NICK GALLOWAY Regional Counsel ANZ and SEA, PPG Industries
RAY GIBLETT Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
KATRINA GOWANS National Legal Operations Lead, Origin Energy
JIM HOLDING Consultant, DLA Piper
PAUL HOPKINS Managing Partner, Carter Newell
JON HUNT Partner, Landers
SUE KENCH Global Chief Executive, King & Wood Mallesons
RICHARD MCNAMEE Legal Director – Australia and New Zealand, Baxter Healthcare
BLANKA MOSS General Counsel, Schindler
CARMEL MULHERN Group General Counsel and Group Executive, Legal & Group Governance, Commonwealth Bank
HODA NAHLOUS Partner, KPMG Law
JOHN NERURKER CEO, Mills Oakley
NICK NICHOLA Managing Partner, Australia, K&L Gates
ADAM PAPADAKIS Senior Legal Counsel and Compliance Officer, Boehringer Ingelheim
RYAN RAYFIELD Vice President – General Counsel and Company Secretary (Australia & New Zealand), American Express
IAN ROBERTSON National Managing Partner – Sydney, Holding Redlich
NIKKI ROBINSON Partner, Sydney, Clayton Utz
PHILLIP SALEM National Managing Partner, Sparke Helmore
LYNDALL STOYLES Group General Counsel and Group Executive, Telstra
TROY SWAN General Counsel and Company Secretary, Winc Australia
ADRIAN TEMBEL Chief Executive Partner, Thomson Geer Lawyers
MARK WEENINK GM Regulatory Affairs, Corporate Legal Services and General Counsel NZ, Westpac New Zealand Limited
TAL WILLIAMS Partner Holman Webb Lawyers
BEN WILLIS Head of Legal, Nova Entertainment
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