2024 awards categories

1. Get to know more about the categories for awards by downloading the criteria for judging. Simply fill out the form below and select the category you want to download.

2. Check the boxes of the categories you want to download. Click the category name to see description.

Select All

Banking and Finance Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who delivers clear analysis and financially strategic advice towards clients’ business objectives. It includes banking and finance partners who work with Australian lenders, borrowers and security providers, providing robust legal solutions to clients within this space.

Capital Markets Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has advised on capital markets matters for Australian companies. It includes capital markets partners who have advised individuals, companies and agencies on such matters, ensuring reasonable and successful results.

Class Actions Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has successfully adapted to the rapid pace of change in the class actions environment and has undertaken and completed notable work in class action proceedings while demonstrating persistence and resilience.

Commercial Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has kept the wheels turning in Australia’s commercial arena. It includes commercial partners who work right across Australia’s corporate sectors.

Competition, Trade and Regulation Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has demonstrated skill in advising on competition, trade and regulatory law matters. It includes competition, trade and regulation partners who deal with both major corporations and government regulators.

Construction and Infrastructure Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has shown aptitude in advising on the complex matters presented by the construction and infrastructure boom across Australia. It includes construction and infrastructure partners who have advised on local, state and national matters, ensuring the best business outcomes for their clients.

Corporate Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has advised corporate companies headquartered in Australia. It includes corporate partners who have advised high-profile clients on their transactions, ensuring reasonable and successful results.

Criminal Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has gone to great lengths to ensure favourable outcomes for their clients in often immensely personal cases. It includes criminal partners who have advised on criminal matters of all kinds, including, but not limited to, theft, fraud, infringement warrants, speeding and breach of court orders.

Cyber Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has advised on cyber security and data protection matters for Australian companies. It includes cyber security and data protection partners who have advised individuals, companies and agencies on such matters, ensuring reasonable and successful results.

Dispute Resolution Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has assisted clients in matters concerning dispute resolution. It includes dispute resolution partners who have assisted both individuals and companies.

Employment Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has kept up with the demands of employment law. It includes employment partners who have advised a broad range of clients, including, but not limited to, large government departments, listed companies, private and public sector entities, and not-for-profit organisations.

Family Law Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has navigated their client through complex relationships and emotionally charged situations. It includes family law partners who have advised clients on family law matters, including, but not limited to, divorce, surrogacy, adoption, domestic violence and missing children.

Financial Services Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has stayed at the cutting edge in the fast-moving world of financial services. It includes all financial services partners who have shown competence in advising on a number of financial services matters, including, but not limited to, superannuation, life insurance, distribution and financial services law.

Government Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has managed to uphold a proactive service offering in the high-stakes government practice area. It includes government partners who have led the charge or provided assistance on acting in government or public sector transactions.

Health Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has helped ensure critical services are provided to the public. It includes health partners who have partaken in work affecting the medical, research and hospital sector in Australia.

Innovator of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has successfully implemented innovative projects and/or strategic initiatives.

Insolvency and Restructuring Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has actively been able to untangle, or rework, complex business relationships to ensure favourable outcomes for clients. It includes insolvency and/or restructuring partners who have advised either individuals or companies on restructurings and insolvencies in their respective fields.

Insurance Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has showcased in-depth legal analysis on all insurance matters. It includes insurance partners who have represented insurers and/or claimants.

Intellectual Property Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has effectively upheld the legal responsibilities of clients involved in intellectual property. It includes intellectual property partners who have honed their information-sharing knowledge to advise clients on a number of matters, including, but not limited to, patent, trademark, copyright and design disputes.

Litigation Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has assisted clients in matters concerning litigation. It includes litigation partners who have assisted both individuals and companies.

Mentor of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has played an avid role in ensuring the next generation of partners continuously develops their skills and acumen within the business of law. It includes all partners who have maintained at least one mentor-mentee relationship over the past 12 months.

Mergers and Acquisitions Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has advised on key mergers and acquisitions of Australian companies. It includes M&A partners who have advised clients on such transactions, ensuring reasonable and successful results.

Migration Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has helped ensure success for individuals looking to migrate to Australia. It includes migration partners who have advised clients from all jurisdictions outside of Australia, guiding them on their rights and responsibilities around taking up residency in the country.

Native Title Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has successfully shown leadership in complex cases involving native title matters and/or disputes. It includes partners who have advised on a range of native title matters and/or disputes, including, but not limited to, property law and human rights matters, constitutional principles and compensation claims.

New Partner of the Year (Big Law) – 3 years or less

This award recognises a new partner (or partner equivalent) who has demonstrated outstanding performance and potential.

New Partner of the Year (SME Law) – 3 years or less

This award recognises a new partner (or partner equivalent) who has demonstrated outstanding performance and potential.

Personal Injury Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has supported vulnerable clients across the community in seeking compensation for harm suffered following injury, illness, or other traumatic experiences, with empathetic, thoughtful, and diligent professional guidance.

Planning and Environment Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has displayed expertise in policy debates and legislation affecting the planning and environment sector. It includes planning and environment partners who have played a part in mitigating risks associated with numerous developments and advised private entities in relation to the environmental management of major infrastructure projects.

Pro Bono Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has provided invaluable service to those who need it most. It includes pro bono partners who have advised both individual and group clients who are unable to afford legal assistance.

Projects, Energy and Resources Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has had a strong hand in projects, energy and resources work in Australia. It includes partners who have advised on projects, energy and resources matters and have maintained a clear vision for the benefit of their clients, assisting on deals that had a significant impact on the economy, including oil and gas matters.

Real Estate Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has played an active role in Australian real estate development. It includes real estate partners who have advised on significant and complex property transactions, commercial and/or residential, including deals with foreign investment elements.

Senior Partner of the Year - 15 years or more

Successful partners are not only profitable, they also foster a positive work culture within their practice group and lay foundations for new and emerging members of a firm’s partnership.
This award recognises outstanding performance by an individual who has been at partner level for 15 years or more.

Sports and Entertainment Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has successfully adapted to the rapid pace of change in the areas of sports and entertainment and has undertaken and completed notable work in matters and disputes while demonstrating persistence and resilience.

Taxation Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who specialises in intricate taxation matters. It includes taxation partners who have dealt with the complexity of taxation legislation, advising on matters including, but not limited to, tax disputes and transfer pricing provisions.

Technology, Media and Telecommunications Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who has continuously adapted to the rapid pace of technological change, ensuring effective outcomes for their clients. It includes technology, media and telecommunications partners who have advised on matters concerning technology, media and telecommunications matters, for a diverse range of individual clients and companies.

Wellness Advocate of the Year

This award recognises a partner who has actively advocated for health and wellness initiatives, events and/or activities among their peers and the community at large.

Wills and Estates Partner of the Year

This award recognises a partner (or partner equivalent) who operates in the area of wills and estates law, including estate litigation. Applicants will have undertaken and completed notable work in the wills and estates and/or estate litigation spaces while demonstrating persistence and resilience.

This is required.

Thank you for your interest in Partner of the Year Awards 2024.

Please find the attached category descriptions.

For any additional information, or any questions, please contact Adrian Connell via email or alternatively call 0448 021 996.

We look forward to seeing your submission.

Best wishes,
Partner of the Year Awards Team

Thank you for submitting! Please check your email.