Australasian Law Awards 2021 Commemorative Guide

2021

COMMEMOR ATIVE GUIDE

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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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2021

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

www.auslawawards.com.au

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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