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2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Shine Lawyers star takes out Young Gun Award
A young lawyer who this year launched an Australian-first initiative for environmental justice took out the Hays Recruiting Young Gun Award at the 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards, sponsored by…
A young lawyer who this year launched an Australian-first initiative for environmental justice took out the Hays Recruiting Young Gun Award at the 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards, sponsored by Bentley Motors, at a gala ceremony held at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday night.
An honors graduate of Queensland University of Technology, Jancauskas was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2002 after having worked for two years as an associate in the District Court of Queensland to His Honour Judge Britton SC.
Judges were impressed by her work and leadership in significant pieces of litigation, including a class action damages claim in the US on behalf of 300 Australian clients who were victims of product defects through DePuy Orthopedics.
"Her medical negligent and class action work is ground breaking and important to ordinary people," one judge said.
As a litigation lawyer, she has also acted for 18 female staff members from the ABC in pursuing compensation from the Australian Government.
"Rebecca seems to have the capacity to be a leading plaintiff lawyer nationally," said a judge.
In February this year, Jancauskas launched an Australian-first initiative to further the cause of environmental justice in Australia - the Environmental Justice Society. She is also a regular contributing author to the Pacific Bioconservation Journal and commenced a Master of Laws majoring in Environmental Law in 2010. Jancauskas has been a state committee member for the Australian Lawyers Alliance for the last 18 months.
The finalists of the Hays Recruiting Young Gun Award exemplified an impressive array of emerging legal talent in Australia already making a significant contribution to the profession.
The judges awarded a highly commended to finalist James Farrell who, as the manager and principal lawyer with the PILCH Homeless Person's Legal Clinic, is responsible for supervising and supporting a team of over 300 volunteer lawyers who assist approximately 1000 clients per year.
A second highly commended was awarded to Amy Munro, a senior associate in Mallesons Stephen Jaques' dispute resolution group, who co-ordinates the Sydney Human Rights Law Group.
Other finalists included former Clayton Utz senior associate Gregory Seeto, DLA Piper senior associate Alice Skipper and Scott Traeger from Lander & Rogers.
| Shine Lawyers' Rebecca Jancauskas, winner of the 2011 Hays Young Gun of the Year Awards, with Sir Laurence Street, at the 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards, held in Sydney on Thursday. |
Read more about the achievements of the 2011 Young Gun finalists
>> Meet the 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards Finalists: Young Gun of the Year
Read the full details of each of the winners & finalists for each award:
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Macquarie University student takes top honours
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Shine Lawyers star takes out Young Gun Award
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Laing O'Rourke named In-House Team of the Year
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Colin Biggers & Paisley recognised for best practice
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Freehills top of class in talent management
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Innovation at Advent Lawyers earns top gong
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Gilbert & Tobin's Garry Besson named Dealmaker of the Year
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Slater & Gordon's Andrew Grech named managing partner of the year
>> 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards: Sir Laurence Street honoured with Life Achievement award
