Australasian Law Awards 2021 crowns the winners of the industry and firm categories

“As the chief executive officer of Resolution Institute, I am enormously proud of our sponsorship of the Australian Mediator of the Year award in the Australasian Law Awards,” Resolution Institute CEO Amber Williams said. “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.”

“I look forward to many more years of participation in these awards as this exciting growth industry continues to attract the best and the brightest practitioners this country has to offer. Australia is showing the rest of the world how arbitration and mediation are done and the awards reflect that,” she said.

Industry Awards:

Resolution Institute Australian Mediator of the Year

Winner: Dr. Anne Purcell, Resolution Partners

Excellence Awardees

• Alison James, SHAW Dispute Resolution
• Lisanne Iriks, Life Mediation
• Marguerite Picard, Smart Separation

Legal Service Provider of the Year

Winner: Thomson Reuters Australia

Excellence Awardees

• BigHand
• GlobalX
• LOD
• Sprintlaw

Firm Awards:

NZ Deal Firm of the Year

Winner: Bell Gully Corporate
Winner: Chapman Tripp

Excellence Awardees

• MinterEllisonRuddWatts
• Russell McVeagh – Corporate Advisory
• Simpson Grierson – Corporate Advisory

Australian Dealmaker of the Year

Winner: Tony Damian, Herbert Smith Freehills

Excellence Awardees

• Chelsey Drake, Allens
• James Stewart, DLA Piper
• Sandy Mak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
• Timothy Sackar, Clayton Utz

NZ Dealmaker of the Year

Winner: Silvana Schenone, MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Excellence Awardees

• Anna Buchly, Bell Gully
• Ian Beaumont, Russell McVeagh
• Michael Pollard, Simpson Grierson
• Nathanael Starrenburg, Harmos Horton Lusk
• Roger Wallis, Chapman Tripp

Corporate Citizen of the Year

Winner: Clayton Utz

Excellence Awardees

• Ashurst
• Barry.Nilsson.
• Lander & Rogers
• Gadens

Excellence in Employee Health & Wellbeing

Winner: Allens
Winner: Legalite

Excellence Awardees

• Baker McKenzie
• Clayton Utz
• Hamilton Locke

Excellence in Technology & Innovation

Winner: Gilbert + Tobin

Excellence Awardees

• Clayton Utz
• Herbert Smith Freehills
• Lander & Rogers
• LodgeX Legal
• K&L Gates

Employment Law Specialist Firm of the Year

Winner: Harmers Workplace Lawyers

Excellence Awardees

• Aitken Legal
• Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA)
• Danny King Legal
• McDonald Murholme
• Workdynamic Australia

Insurance Specialist Firm of the Year

Winner: TurksLegal

Excellence Awardees

• Barry.Nilsson.
• Gilchrist Connell
• Holman Webb Lawyers
• Meridian Lawyers
• Moray & Agnew

Boutique Firm of the Year

Winner: Aptum Legal
Winner: The Fold Legal
Winner: Wright Legal - Banking and Finance Lawyers

Excellence Awardees

• Clarendon Lawyers
• Keystone Lawyers
• Speirs Ryan

Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (30 or under)

Winner: Kerrie Duong, Baker McKenzie

Excellence Awardees

• Declan Norrie, Proximity
• Kevin Pai, Bugden Allen Lawyers
• Kevin Shum, Allen & Overy
• Lauren Jeffries, Herbert Smith Freehills

Law Firm Leader of the Year (<200 Employees)

Winner: Sam Frey, KCL Law

Excellence Awardees

• Amanda Banton, Banton Group
• Bechara Shamieh, Madison Marcus
• Kelli Martin, KLM Solicitors
• Nick Humphrey, Hamilton Locke
• Stipe Vuleta, Chamberlains

Law Firm Leader of the Year (>200 Employees)

Winner: Andrew Pike, Herbert Smith Freehills
Winner: Genevieve Collins, Lander & Rogers

Excellence Awardees

• Anthony Foley, Baker McKenzie
• Levent Shevki, Cornwalls

State/Regional Firm of the Year

Winner: Keypoint Law

Excellence Awardees

• Ailier
• Cooper Grace Ward
• NDA Law
• New South Lawyers

Law Firm of the Year (1-100 Lawyers)

Winner: LegalVision

Excellence Awardees

• Banton Group
• Chamberlains Law Firm
• Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers
• Thynne + Macartney

Law Firm of the Year (101-500 Lawyers)

Winner: Gilbert + Tobin

Excellence Awardees

• Baker McKenzie
• Clyde & Co
• Hall & Wilcox
• Mills Oakley
• Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Law Firm of the Year (>500 Lawyers)

Winner: Herbert Smith Freehills

Excellence Awardees

• Allens
• Ashurst
• Clayton Utz
• Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Diversity Initiative of the Year

Winner: Ashurst

Excellence Awardees

• Bird & Bird
• Hall & Wilcox
• Harmers Workplace Lawyers
• Wotton + Kearney

Congratulations to all the winners and excellence award recipients.

The awards team at Australasian Lawyer will be working with the winners on new ways to celebrate and share their successes with their clients, colleagues and communities.

The winners list is also provided here.