As COVID-19 pushed the legal profession to go digital, the 2020 New Zealand Law Awards honoured the country's best lawyers, firms and in-house legal departments in a virtual ceremony
In June 2020, firms, lawyers, in-house departments, banks and accountancy firms across New Zealand were invited to nominate the best in the country’s legal services market for the 2020 New Zealand Law Awards.
Over a five-week nomination period, the New Zealand Law Awards team received an influx of high-quality submissions, highlighting the efforts and achievements of firms, individuals and teams who stepped up over the past year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a stringent evaluation process conducted by a panel of more than 20 independent expert judges over several months, the winners were crowned in a virtual ceremony 10 December. For the first time in their 17-year history, the New Zealand Law Awards were celebrated entirely online.
“It’s important that we are highlighting and celebrating the high-quality work, innovation and positive change happening within New Zealand’s legal profession, as well as celebrating the excellence and leadership of those lawyers who are creating new standards,” said Jo Avenell, CEO of award sponsor Russell McVeagh.
WINNER: Acquisition financing of Vodafone New Zealand
WINNER: Napier Port IPO
WINNER: City Rail Link
WINNER: Vodafone New Zealand acquisition
WINNER: Receivership of Ebert Construction retention fund
WINNER: Synlait acquisition of Dairyworks
WINNER: Vodafone New Zealand Acquisition
WINNER: Leah Taylor, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
WINNER: Julian Benefield, Foodstuffs North Island
WINNER: BNZ
WINNER: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Legal Team
WINNER: Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law
WINNER: Gilbert Walker
WINNER: AJ Park
WINNER: Thompson Blackie Biddles
WINNER: Fee Langstone
WINNER: Gilbert Walker
WINNER: Juno Legal
WINNER: Tompkins Wake
WINNER: Russell McVeagh
WINNER: Paul Sills, Mediator & Barrister
WINNER: Angela Harford, Bell Gully
WINNER: Jon Calder, Tompkins Wake
WINNER: Anna Buchly, Bell Gully
WINNER: Bell Gully Corporate Team
WINNER: Webb Henderson
WINNER: WRMK Lawyers
WINNERS: Harmos Horton Lusk – Corporate Team
Tompkins Wake
WINNER: Russell McVeagh
