Who were the big winners at the Australasian Law Awards last night?
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The Australasian Law Awards were held at The Star Sydney last night with the best firms, in-house legal teams and deals revealed.
The event was attended by over 650 of the top legal professionals from across Australia and New Zealand. Awards were presented in 33 categories recognising the work of dealmakers, specialist and boutique firms, and the arbitrators, mediators and young talents that are setting the benchmark in the industry.
Comedian Lawrence Mooney delighted the crowds in his role as the MC, while acoustic band Luke Zanc Duo were back to entertain with their classic tunes. Audiences were also thrilled by the gravity defying performance of Aerialize, Sydney Aerial Theatre.
Among the hotly anticipated awards were those sponsored by event partner FTI Consulting. Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year was picked up by Mary Roberts of Telstra, Boutique Firm of the Year was won by Vincent Young Lawyers and Law Firm of the Year (>500 employees) by Herbert Smith Freehills.
In the deal categories, Arnold Bloch Leibler, Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin and King & Wood Mallesons took the Australian Deal of the Year for their work on the Arrium restructuring.
In two highly contested categories, Hayley Warren from RCR Tomlinson took home the trophy for the Young In-house Lawyer of the Year, and Rebecca Johnston of HodgkinsonJohnston won Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year. These victories show a bright future for the legal profession.
Bird & Bird held on to the Australasian Lawyer IP Specialist Firm of the Year, once again impressing judges with their excellence in client service and specialist expertise.
New Zealanders also made a good showing with Bell Gully picking up New Zealand Deal Firm of the Year and Pip Greenwood of Russell McVeagh winning NZ Dealmaker of the Year.
Australasian Lawyer congratulates all of last night’s award finalists and winners. Photos and video coverage from the event will be available next week at www.auslawawards.com.au.
2018 Australasian Law Awards winners:
Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year
Winner: Arrium Restructuring
Property, Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year
Winner: Melbourne Metro Project
Debt Market Deal of the Year
Winner: Reliance Rail debt facilities re-financing
Energy & Resources Deal of the Year
Winner: Lattice Energy dual track IPO/trade sale
Equity Market Deal of the Year
Winner: Yancoal Capital Raising
M&A Deal of the Year
Winner: Yancoal acquisition of Coal & Allied
International Deal of the Year
Winner: Humanwell Healthcare/CITIC Capital acquisition of Ansell sexual wellness business
Corporate Citizen Firm of the Year
Winner: DLA Piper
JLT Employee Health & Wellbeing Award
Winner: Cooper Grace Ward
Employment Law Specialist Firm of the Year
Winner: Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors
AIG Insurance Specialist Firm of the Year
Winner: Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Australasian Lawyer IP Specialist Firm of the Year
Winner: Bird & Bird
FTI Consulting Boutique Firm of the Year
Winner: Vincent Young Lawyers
Resolution Institute Australian Arbitrator of the Year
Winner: John Wakefield
Resolution Institute Australian Mediator of the Year
Winner: Dr Anne Purcell
Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (30 or under)
Winner: Rebecca Johnston, HodgkinsonJohnston
Young In-house Lawyer of the Year (30 or under)
Winner: Hayley Warren, RCR Tomlinson
Banking & Financial Services In-house Team of the Year
Winner: Toyota Finance Australia
Sparke Helmore Insurance In-house Team of the Year
Winner: AIA Australia & New Zealand
MinterEllison Investment Bank In-House Team of the Year
Winner: Macquarie Capital Legal Team
Russell McVeagh NZ In-house Team of the Year
Winner: Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
FTI Consulting Australian In-House Lawyer of the Year
Winner: Mary Roberts, Telstra
NZ Dealmaker of the Year
Winner: Pip Greenwood, Russell McVeagh
Scarlis Pringle Australian Dealmaker of the Year
Winner: Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, Herbert Smith Freehills
New Zealand Deal Firm of the Year
Winner: Bell Gully
Australian Deal Team of the Year
Winner: Allens
Law Firm Leader of the Year (<200 Employees)
Winner: Claire Carton, Griffin Legal
Scarlis Pringle Law Firm Leader of the Year (>200 Employees)
Winner: Robert Cutler, Clayton Utz
Clayton Utz Australian In-house Team of the Year
Winner: BHP Legal Team
Australian Deal of the Year
Winner: Arrium restructuring
State/Regional Law Firm of the Year
Winner: Carter Newell Lawyers
Automio Law Firm of the Year (1-100 employees)
Winner: Russells
GlobalX Law Firm of the Year (101-500 employees)
Winner: Sparke Helmore Lawyers
FTI Consulting Law Firm of the Year (>500 employees)
Winner: Hebert Smith Freehills
