2021 Excellence Awardees
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Firm Awards
NZ Deal Firm of the Year
Bell Gully Corporate
Chapman Tripp
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Russell McVeagh - Corporate Advisory
Simpson Grierson - Corporate Advisory
Chapman Tripp
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Russell McVeagh - Corporate Advisory
Simpson Grierson - Corporate Advisory
Australian Dealmaker of the Year
Chelsey Drake, Allens
James Stewart, DLA Piper
Sandy Mak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Timothy Sackar, Clayton Utz
Tony Damian, Herbert Smith Freehills
James Stewart, DLA Piper
Sandy Mak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Timothy Sackar, Clayton Utz
Tony Damian, Herbert Smith Freehills
NZ Dealmaker of the Year
Anna Buchly, Bell Gully
Ian Beaumont, Russell McVeagh
Michael Pollard, Simpson Grierson
Nathanael Starrenburg, Harmos Horton Lusk
Roger Wallis, Chapman Tripp
Silvana Schenone, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Ian Beaumont, Russell McVeagh
Michael Pollard, Simpson Grierson
Nathanael Starrenburg, Harmos Horton Lusk
Roger Wallis, Chapman Tripp
Silvana Schenone, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Corporate Citizen Firm of the Year
Ashurst
Barry.Nilsson
Clayton Utz
Lander & Rogers
Gadens
Barry.Nilsson
Clayton Utz
Lander & Rogers
Gadens
Excellence in Employee Health & Wellbeing
Allens
Baker McKenzie
Clayton Utz
Hamilton Locke
Legalite
Baker McKenzie
Clayton Utz
Hamilton Locke
Legalite
Excellence in Technology & Innovation
Clayton Utz
Gilbert + Tobin
Herbert Smith Freehills
Lander & Rogers
LodgeX Legal
K&L Gates
Gilbert + Tobin
Herbert Smith Freehills
Lander & Rogers
LodgeX Legal
K&L Gates
Employment Law Specialist Firm of the Year
Aitken Legal
Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA)
Danny King Legal
Harmers Workplace Lawyers
McDonald Murholme
Workdynamic Australia
Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA)
Danny King Legal
Harmers Workplace Lawyers
McDonald Murholme
Workdynamic Australia
Insurance Specialist Firm of the Year
Barry.Nilsson
Gilchrist Connell
Holman Webb Lawyers
Meridian Lawyers
Moray & Agnew
TurksLegal
Gilchrist Connell
Holman Webb Lawyers
Meridian Lawyers
Moray & Agnew
TurksLegal
Boutique Firm of the Year
Aptum Legal
Clarendon Lawyers
Keystone Lawyers
Speirs Ryan
The Fold Legal
Wright Legal - Banking and Finance Lawyers
Clarendon Lawyers
Keystone Lawyers
Speirs Ryan
The Fold Legal
Wright Legal - Banking and Finance Lawyers
Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (30 or under)
Declan Norrie, Proximity
Kerrie Duong, Baker McKenzie
Kevin Pai, Bugden Allen Lawyers
Kevin Shum, Allen & Overy
Lauren Jeffries, Herbert Smith Freehills
Kerrie Duong, Baker McKenzie
Kevin Pai, Bugden Allen Lawyers
Kevin Shum, Allen & Overy
Lauren Jeffries, Herbert Smith Freehills
Law Firm Leader of the Year ( < 200 employees)
Amanda Banton, Banton Group
Bechara Shamieh, Madison Marcus
Kelli Martin, KLM Solicitors
Nick Humphrey, Hamilton Locke
Sam Frey, KCL Law
Stipe Vuleta, Chamberlains
Bechara Shamieh, Madison Marcus
Kelli Martin, KLM Solicitors
Nick Humphrey, Hamilton Locke
Sam Frey, KCL Law
Stipe Vuleta, Chamberlains
Law Firm Leader of the Year ( > 200 employees)
Andrew Pike, Herbert Smith Freehills
Anthony Foley, Baker McKenzie
Genevieve Collins, Lander & Rogers
Levent Shevki, Cornwalls
Anthony Foley, Baker McKenzie
Genevieve Collins, Lander & Rogers
Levent Shevki, Cornwalls
State/Regional Firm of the Tear
Ailier
Cooper Grace Ward
Keypoint Law
NDA Law
New South Lawyers
Cooper Grace Ward
Keypoint Law
NDA Law
New South Lawyers
Law Firm of the Year (1-100 lawyers)
Banton Group
Chamberlains Law Firm
Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers
LegalVision
Thynne + Macartney
Chamberlains Law Firm
Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers
LegalVision
Thynne + Macartney
Law Firm of the Year (101-500 lawyers)
Baker McKenzie
Clyde & Co
Gilbert + Tobin
Hall & Wilcox
Mills Oakley
Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Clyde & Co
Gilbert + Tobin
Hall & Wilcox
Mills Oakley
Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Law Firm of the Year ( > 500 lawyers)
Allens
Ashurst
Clayton Utz
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Herbert Smith Freehills
Ashurst
Clayton Utz
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Herbert Smith Freehills
Diversity Initiative of the Year
Ashurst
Bird & Bird
Hall & Wilcox
Harmers Workplace Lawyers
Wotton + Kearney
Bird & Bird
Hall & Wilcox
Harmers Workplace Lawyers
Wotton + Kearney
Industry Awards
Resolution Institute Australian Mediator of the Year
Dr. Anne Purcell, Resolution Partners
Alison James, SHAW Dispute Resolution
Lisanne Iriks, Life Mediation
Marguerite Picard, Smart Separation
Alison James, SHAW Dispute Resolution
Lisanne Iriks, Life Mediation
Marguerite Picard, Smart Separation
Legal Service Provider of the Year
BigHand
GlobalX
LOD
Sprintlaw
Thomson Reuters Australia
GlobalX
LOD
Sprintlaw
Thomson Reuters Australia
In-House Awards
Banking & Financial Services In-House Team of the Year
HUB24 Legal Team
hummgroup
Legal & Compliance Team, Active Super
Macquarie Capital Legal Team
UBS AG, Australia Branch
hummgroup
Legal & Compliance Team, Active Super
Macquarie Capital Legal Team
UBS AG, Australia Branch
Insurance In-house Team of the Year
AIA Australia
Berkley Insurance Australia
HBF Health
IAG Legal
Berkley Insurance Australia
HBF Health
IAG Legal
Young In-House Lawyer of the Year (30 or under)
Adam Papadakis, Boehringer Ingelheim
Esther Lee, NSW Treasury
Kate Cook, TAL Life
Seyda Andrews, Accor
Theo Kapodistrias, UpGuard
Esther Lee, NSW Treasury
Kate Cook, TAL Life
Seyda Andrews, Accor
Theo Kapodistrias, UpGuard
Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year
Annie Haggar, Accenture
Kiri-Ana Libbesson, Settlement Services International
Marnie Manning, Coroners Court of Victoria
Michael Chin, eftpos Payments Australia
Nathan Lanthois, Transdev Australasia
Paul Gregory, WesTrac
Kiri-Ana Libbesson, Settlement Services International
Marnie Manning, Coroners Court of Victoria
Michael Chin, eftpos Payments Australia
Nathan Lanthois, Transdev Australasia
Paul Gregory, WesTrac
Australian In-house Team of the Year
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Chief Counsel Portfolio, comprising AFP Legal and Criminal Assets Litigation teams
DPDHL In House Legal Team
James Hardie Industries plc
NSW Treasury Office of General Counsel
Regulatory Legal Services Branch in the Therapeutic Goods Administration (part of the Australian Government Department of Health)
Sydney Airport Legal Team
DPDHL In House Legal Team
James Hardie Industries plc
NSW Treasury Office of General Counsel
Regulatory Legal Services Branch in the Therapeutic Goods Administration (part of the Australian Government Department of Health)
Sydney Airport Legal Team
NZ In-house Team of the Year
AIA New Zealand
Airways
Fonterra Cooperative Group
Metlifecare
Perpetual Guardian Legal Team
UBS New Zealand
Airways
Fonterra Cooperative Group
Metlifecare
Perpetual Guardian Legal Team
UBS New Zealand
M&A Deal of the Year
Anheuser-Busch InBev divestment in Australia
Firms: Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gilbert + Tobin, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Accountants: EY, PwC
Banks: Lazard, Nomura, Rothschild
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 AmarchandMangaldas & Co, Wood Mackenzie
Advisor: Marsh
Accountants: EY, JP Morgan, PwC
Advisor: Marsh
Accountants: EY, JP Morgan, PwC
GrainCorp demerger of its international malting business
Firm: Gilbert + Tobin, KWM
Accountants: KPMG, PwC
Banks: Blackpeak Capital, Credit Suisse, Grant Samuel, Macquarie
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, Chapmann Tripp – New Zealand, Debevoise & Plimpton, Greenwoods, Herbert Smith Freehills, KWM
Accountant: KPMG
Banks: Deutsche Bank, UBS
Accountant: KPMG
Banks: Deutsche Bank, UBS
Saracen Mineral Holding merger with Northern Star Resources
Firm: Ashurst, DLA Piper
Accountants: Deloitte Corporate Finance, Ernst & Young Strategy and Transactions, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Banks: Macquarie Capital, Sternship Advisers
Accountants: Deloitte Corporate Finance, Ernst & Young Strategy and Transactions, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Banks: Macquarie Capital, Sternship Advisers
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
Advisor: Lonergan Edwards & Associates
Accountants: Deloitte, Herbert Smith Freehills, KPMG
Banks: BofA Securities Inc, Deutsche Bank AG, Macquarie Capital
Mid-Market Deal of the Year
Aroa Biosurgery IPO
Firms: Aroa Biosurgery IPO, Chapman Tripp, MinterEllison, Rimon Law
BGH Capital acquisition of Healius Primary Care
Firms: Allens,Herbert Smith Freehills, King Wood Mallesons
Accountants: EY, PwC
Banks: Morgan Stanley, UBS
Accountants: EY, PwC
Banks: Morgan Stanley, UBS
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
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
Accountant: EY
Piangil Almond Orchard sale
Firm: Gadens, MinterEllison
Tattarang cross-border purchase of RM Williams
Firms: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin, Simpson Grierson
Firms: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin, Simpson Grierson
Bank: Goldman Sachs
Firms: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin, Simpson Grierson
Bank: Goldman Sachs
Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year
Bain Capital acquisition of Virgin Australia
Firm: Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills, Jones Day, K&L Gates
Accountant: Deloitte
Banks: Jefferies
Accountant: Deloitte
Banks: Jefferies
LJ Hooker restructuring
Firms: Allens Linklaters, Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, Corrs Chambers Westgarth,Gadens, Gilbert + Tobin
Accountant: KPMG
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
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
Bank: Macquarie
Purchase of Cockatoo Island mining assets
Firm: Pragma Lawyers
Accountant/Receiver-Manager: Auxilium Partners
Accountant/Receiver-Manager: Auxilium Partners
Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year
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
Banks: Citigroup, Mizuho Bank
Moranbah North-Grosvenor mining complex transaction
Firms: Barbosa Müssnich Aragão Advogados, Clayton Utz, Freshfields, Linklaters, MinterEllison
Accountants: EY, PwC
Accountants: EY, PwC
Parramatta Council 5 Parramatta Square and Town Hall project
Firms: Ashurst, King & Wood Mallesons
Port Kembla LNG import facility
Firm: Allens, Ashurst, Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills, HWL Ebsworth, K&L Gates
Equity Market Deal of the Year
Adore Beauty IPO
Firm: Gilbert + Tobin
Accountant: KPMG
Banks: Crestone Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Shaw and Partners, UBS
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: PricewaterhouseCoopers, 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
Accountants: PricewaterhouseCoopers, 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
IOOF combined COVID super-sized placement and accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer
Firms: Allen & Overy, Allens, King & Wood Mallesons
Accountant: EY
Bank: Citigroup
Accountant: EY
Bank: Citigroup
Nuix IPO
Firms: Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin, Sidley Austin, Sullivan & Cromwell
Accountant: PricewaterhouseCoopers
Banks: Macquarie Capital (affiliate of Macquarie Group), Morgan Stanley Australia Securities
Accountant: PricewaterhouseCoopers
Banks: Macquarie Capital (affiliate of Macquarie Group), Morgan Stanley Australia Securities
Sydney Airport equity raising
Firm: Allens, King Wood Mallesons
Accountants: KPMG, PwC
Bank: UBS
Accountants: KPMG, PwC
Bank: UBS
Debt Market Deal of the Year
Australian Office of Financial Management 'Forbearance' SPV
Firms: Clayton Utz, Eticore, King & Wood Mallesons
Accountant: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Bank: Bank of New York
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
Banks: Australian Seniors Finance (a subsidiary of Heartland Bank), BNY, M&G Investments
National Broadband Network medium-term notes issuance
Firms: Allen & Overy, Allens Linklaters, nbnco Legal Team
Accountant: Grant Samuel
Banks: ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank, NAB, Westpac
Accountant: Grant Samuel
Banks: ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank, NAB, Westpac
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
Accountant: Ernst & Young
Banks: ANZ, Barclays Capital Asia, BofA Securities, HSBC Securities (USA), J.P. Morgan Securities, MUFG Securities Americas, RBC Capital Markets