The winners of this year’s Australian Law Awards were announced last night at the premier legal event in the country.
The awards were presented at a sold-out event at The Westin in Sydney. More than 600 people attended to celebrate the achievements of the 25 winners.
The awards, which recognise the best and brightest in the legal profession, are now in their 15th year.
Carmel Mulhern, general counsel at Telstra Corporation Limited, was the star of the night, taking home both the Lawyers Weekly Excellence Award and the General Counsel of the Year Award. Telstra also won the In-House Team of the Year Award.
The judges commended Ms Mulhern for her exceptional legal and commercial skills as well as her genuine commitment to diversity.
“There is much talk about promotion of women within the corporate and legal spheres,” wrote one judge. “Carmel is spearheading her organisation to actually create the opportunities for women to succeed.”
The hotly contested Law Firm of the Year Award was awarded to Herbert Smith Freehills. The firm is a “success story with corporate clients”, according to the judges. The judges applauded the firm’s introduction of innovative client relationship initiatives.
Lawyers Weekly congratulates all the finalists and winners.
The winners of the 2015 Australian Law Awards are:
Employee Program of the year
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Law Student of the Year
Benjamin Tomasi, UWA/State Solicitor WA
Insurance Team of the Year
Hall & Wilcox
Workplace Relations & Employment Team of the Year
Norton Rose Fulbright
Intellectual Property Team of the Year
Gilbert & Tobin
Property Team of the Year
Clayton Utz
Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Transaction Team of the Year
Arnold Bloch Leibler
Banking & Finance Team of the Year
King & Wood Mallesons
Government Team of the Year
Clayton Utz
Regional Law Firm of the Year
RMB Lawyers
Senior Associate of the Year
John Moran, Norton Rose Fulbright
Sole Practitioner of the Year
Rod Genders, Genders & Partners
Pro Bono Program of the Year
Salvos Legal & Salvos Legal Humanitarian
In-House Lawyer of the Year
Jane Elise Bates, Airservices Australia
In-House Team of the Year
Telstra Corporation Ltd
Partner of the Year
Berkeley Cox, King & Wood Mallesons
Young Gun of the Year
Samuel Kang, Gilbert + Tobin
Dealmaker of the Year
Philippa Stone, Herbert Smith Freehills
General Counsel of the Year
Carmel Mulhern, Telstra Corporation Limited
Managing Partner of the Year
Tony Macvean, Hall & Wilcox
Innovator of the Year
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Nexus Law Group
Law Firm of the Year
Herbert Smith Freehills
Lawyers Weekly Excellence Award
Carmel Mulhern, Telstra Corporation Limited
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