2024 Winners & Finalists

Academic of the Year

Karnika Bansal, James Cook University
Maxine Evers, University of Technology Sydney
Mark Humphery-Jenner, UNSW
Chun-Chi (Michael) Hung, UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice
Derick Luong, UNSW, University of Technology Sydney

Christopher Pearce, UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice

Katie Robertson, University of Melbourne
Vicki Sentas, UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice
Ken Wu, University of Technology Sydney - Faculty of Law

Barrister of the Year

Adam Butt, 8 Wentworth Chambers
Laina Chan, 2 Selborne Chambers

Kellie Edwards, 153 Phillip & The List Australia

Tahlia Ferrari, Victorian Bar
Paul Folino Gallo, Wentworth Chambers
Sharon Kermath, Barrister at Law
Olla Otrebski, New South Wales Bar
Francois Salama, 13th Floor St James Hall

Company Secretary of the Year

Mayank Gupta, Cornwalls
Sarina Mari, Minor DKL Food Group

Kara McGowan, Sigma Healthcare

Dealmaker of the Year

Con Boulougouris, MinterEllison
Jane Garber-Rosenzweig, BDC Law
Kate Koidl, MinterEllison
Sandy Mak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, Herbert Smith Freehills
Bruce McFarlane, BDC Law
Ben McLaughlin, Baker McKenzie
James Rozsa, Johnson Winter Slattery
James Stewart, DLA Piper

Michael Ziegelaar, Herbert Smith Freehills

General Counsel of the Year

Sharon Cook, NAB
Robert de Boer, Energy Corporation of NSW

Laura Hartmann, Grampians Health

Theo Kapodistrias, Evergen
Luana Melis, Time & Place
Keiko Minami, Darktrace
Amy Nichol, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Katrin O’Sullivan, The Fred Hollows Foundation
Aimee Pomogacs, Grill’d & Koko Black
Kate Sherburn, Who Gives A Crap

In-House Lawyer of the Year

Emma Berry, Kinrise
Cynthia Chan, Westpac
Harrison Chen, Woolworths Group
Mel Cheng, Darktrace
Michael Chin, National Australia Bank
Syvannah Harper Heffernan, Council for the City of Gold Coast
Jaclyn Masters, GeelongPort
Shannon O’Hara, QBE Insurance

Katrin O’Sullivan, The Fred Hollows Foundation

Shaniya Vilash, Treasury Wine Estates

Indigenous Leader of the Year

Sionea Breust, SCB Legal

Matthew Karakoulakis, AMK Law

Duane Keighran, Keighran Legal + Advisory
Jade Turner, Jackson John Defence Lawyers
Kathleen Nola Wincen, Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland

Innovator of the Year (Individual)

Vira Alchin, Holman Webb Lawyers
Mengpei Gao, Ascent Lawyers

Regie Anne Gardoce, Sprintlaw

Emma Kendall, DLA Piper
Perpetua Kish, Balance Family Law& The Kind Lawyers
Alana Kushnir, Guest Work Agency
Bruce McFarlane, BDC Law
Cicely Sylow, Land Lease Law
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Dominic Woolrych, Lawpath

Law Student of the Year

Emily Calbert, UNSW
Jacob Carson, University of Newcastle
Daniella Cosentino, Monash University
Carla da Roza, Terri Janke and Company
Caroline Grumley, Western Sydney University
Sai Muthukumar, Piper Alderman
Meg Pradeep, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Kyla Rivera, Allens

Jessica Wood, Supreme Court of Queensland

Lina Zaioor, UNSW, King & Wood Mallesons

Legal Operations Professional of the Year

Belinda Carlesso, BDC Law
Michael Chin, National Australia Bank
Eden Cortes, NSW Department of Communities and Justice - Legal

Linda-Rose Daya, Gilbert + Tobin

Michelle Makela, Taylor Rose Australia
Megan Stone, Sunstate Conveyancing

Legal Support Professional of the Year

Olivia Blackburn, Transport for NSW
Nicole Blazinovic, Polaris Lawyers
Megan Carter, Shine Lawyers

Dani Fagg, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

Siobhan Green, Wallmans Lawyers
Jessica Harrington, Umbrella Family Law
Sara Morgan, Ramsden Lawyers
Monique Nguyen, Lander & Rogers
Sonia Pereira,(Formally Coronis Conveyancing)
Deon Wylie, Your Legal Bookkeeper

Litigator of the Year

Ben Allen, Dentons

Jason Betts, Herbert Smith Freehills
Marcus Carbone, MTK Lawyers
Michael Donelly, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Rory Markham, Adero Law
Terry McCormick, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Patrick Mead, Carter Newell
Michael Tourkakes, De Marco Lawyers
Trevor Withane, Ironbridge Legal
Zile Yu, Quantum Law Group

Managing Partner of the Year

Sarah Cappello, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers

Emma Covacevich, Clayton Utz

Anthony Curtin, Merton Lawyers
Krish Gosai, Gosai Law
Grant Guenther, Macpherson Kelley
Nick Humphrey, Hamilton Locke
Andrew Lacey, McCabes
Rory Markham, Adero Law
Kelli Martin, KLM Solicitors
Doug Stipanicev, Dentons

Mediator/Arbitrator of the Year

Paula Bruce, Resolution Services Group

Nicole Davidson, Nicole Davidson Negotiation
Maurice Edwards, Rafton Family Lawyers
Debra Parker, Parker Coles Curtis
Dr Anne Purcell, Resolution Partners
Matthew Shepherd, Ramsden Family Law
Anna Wynne, Anna Wynne & Associates

Mentor of the Year

Eric Boone, Madison Marcus

Tina Bruno, Northern Community Legal Service Inc

Laina Chan, 2 Selborne Chambers
Genevieve Dee, Lander & Rogers
Ramina Dimitri, Slater & Gordon
Carla Giles, The Family Law Co
Rebecca Hegarty, Bartier Perry
Kelli Martin, KLM Solicitors
Garth Tinsley, Clyde & Co
Anika Valenti, Terri Janke and Company

Partner of the Year

Julian Barclay, Thursday Legal
Dalvin Chien, Mills Oakley

Tony Damian, Herbert Smith Freehills

Genevieve Dee, Lander & Rogers
Justin Fox, Hamilton Locke
Abigail Gill, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Chris Mitchell, DLA Piper
Keith Redenbach, Redenbach Legal
Michael Seton, Seton Family Lawyers
Philippa Stone, Herbert Smith Freehills

Regional/Suburban Lawyer of the Year

Adele Anthony, Your Legacy Lawyer
Caroline Callegari, Sharrock Pitman Legal
Manny Conditsis, Conditsis Lawyers
Ailsa Day, Ramsden Lawyers
Carla Giles, The Family Law Co
James Goddard, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Rebekah Lovely, Revolution Law
Michael Seton, Seton Family Lawyers

Matthew Ward, Morrisons - Criminal and Traffic Law Specialists

Ashleigh Wisbey, Seacliff Family Law

Rising Star of the Year (In-House)

Harrison Chen, Woolworths Group

Mel Cheng, Darktrace
Sammie Fung, The Kraft Heinz Company
Gabrielle Hunter, Canva
Tia Konczak, Cancer Council Queensland
Sarah Standen, Procreate
Shaniya Vilash, Treasury Wine Estates

Rising Star of the Year (Private Practice)

Chantelle Bianca-Rose Bauer, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Shelley Jones, Coulter Legal
Brenton Lam, Aldermane
Rosalind Li, Velocity Legal
Daniel Lucanus, Ashurst
Shanon Mirels, McDonald Murholme
Preashni Pillay, Vialto Partners

Keeley Press, SLF Lawyers

Emily Priddle, Redlich’s Work Injury Lawyers
Jessica Rosengren, Gilshenan & Luton Legal Practice
Tracy Roubekas, Maison Chen Law Group
Madison Williams, Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Senior Associate of the Year

Kate Alroe, Lander & Rogers
Nicholas Camac, King & Wood Mallesons
Andrew Chakrabarty, Adero Law
David Halhead, Henry Carus + Associates
Martin Mallon, Attwood Marshall Lawyers
William Parton, Birchgrove Legal
Fatima Rauf, O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors

Derek Smith, Aldermane

Sam Tempone, Hall & Wilcox
Anika Valenti, Terri Janke and Company

Sole Practitioner of the Year

Melissa Barlas, Conveyed
Marija Caruana-Smith, Altura Legal
Alison Cusack, Cusack & Co
Avanthi De Alwis, HDH Legal
Amanda Elias, Greenleaf Legal

Annie Haggar, Cyber GC

Catherine Higgins, LawBase
William McCullough, MCC Advisory
Emily Purvis, PURE Equine Law
Renee Roumanos, Renee Roumanos Legal

Special Counsel of the Year

Sylvia Alcarraz, Dentons
Anthony Farinola, McInnes Wilson Lawyers

Luke Furness, Clayton Utz

Matthew Giles, DWF (Australia)
Lucy Hall, Gilbert + Tobin
Linda Huan, KHQ Lawyers
Helen McHugh, McCabes
Paula Nassif, Maddocks
Michael Sheehan, Macpherson Kelley
Amy Zhang, Harmers Workplace Lawyers