There were 37 winners across 37 individual categories this year (the highest since the inception of the awards program) out of 278 finalists, while the highest-scoring individual winner received the Partner of the Year Excellence Award.

Click here to view all the winners.

This year, that prestigious award was given to Herbert Smith Freehills partner Michael Ziegelaar.

Ziegelaar – who is the head of the Melbourne corporate group and the co-head of the Australian Equity Capital Markets Group – won the Mergers and Acquisitions Partner of the Year award earlier in the evening.

It was a successful year for Herbert Smith Freehills, as partners from the law firm also won awards in the class actions, commercial, and corporate categories.

Partners across several other areas of the law were lauded for their achievements, including banking and finance, government, planning and environment, tax, and technology, media, and communications.

The awards also shone a spotlight on senior partners, new partners, pro bono partners, mentors, and wellness advocates for their contribution to the practice of law and the prosperity of the legal profession.

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Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy said: “We are thrilled to have been able to award a record number of winners at this year’s Partner of the Year Awards.

“This year’s awards followed our inaugural Partner Summit – as was fleshed out at that event, partners and partner equivalents across the country are facing and dealing with myriad challenges, both in the market and within their businesses. It is, therefore, essential that we, as a profession, take the time to recognise and celebrate the hard work of those practising in all sectors.

“Congratulations once again to all of tonight’s finalists and eventual winners.”

Over 550 members of the legal profession attended this year’s awards ceremony to toast the success of their colleagues while networking with industry leaders and peers.

They were treated to light and laughter throughout the evening by emcee and Australian comedian and member of the satirical team The Chaser, Julian Morrow.

Since its inception, the Partner of the Year Awards has showcased the depth of law partners and partner equivalents in the Australian legal profession while affirming the sector’s essential role in supporting the expansion of Australia.

The unparalleled awards program recognises specialists from corporate and criminal law, employment law, family law, mergers and acquisitions, alongside senior partners who have held their roles for 15 years or more, as well as new partners in BigLaw and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) law who have been in their role for three years or less.

Many of the top-performing and innovative partners in the legal profession have capitalised on the awards program to distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace by strengthening their position in the legal profession, elevating their personal brand, and cementing their role in advancing the legal industry.

Click here to view the full list of this year’s winners.

For more information about the Partner of the Year Awards program, click here.

This awards program is produced by Captivate Events. If you need help planning your next event, email director Jim Hall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.