2020 Winners and finalists

ACADEMIC OF THE YEAR

Thalia Anthony, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney
Catherine Bond, Faculty of Law, UNSW Sydney
Mary Anne Kenny, Murdoch University
Nicki Mollard, Monash University
Tamsin Paige, Deakin University

Tina Popa, RMIT University

BARRISTER OF THE YEAR

Sharna Clemmett, Greenway Chambers
Sharon Kermath, Victorian Bar
Sage Leslie, Blackburn Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Carolina Soto, Soto Chambers

Kellie Stares, Sir Owen Dixon Chambers

Marea Wilson, Denman Chambers

COMPANY SECRETARY OF THE YEAR

Samantha Einhart, Maurice Blackburn

Helen Hardy, Origin Energy

DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR

Simone Bridges, Baker McKenzie
Rachel Carey, Premier Lawyers
Antonella Pacitti, Ashurst
Jee-Seon Lee, Johnson Winter & Slattery

Sandy Mak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Catherine Merity, Maddocks
Nikki Smythe, Herbert Smith Freehills
Sarah Turner, Gilbert + Tobin

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Meryem Apak, Melbourne Lawyers & Mediators

Kiri Brain, TurksLegal

Adriana Care, Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers
Genevieve Collins, Lander & Rogers
Catherine Henry, Catherine Henry Lawyers
Stacey Jones, Sentinel Law
Katherine Lorenz, Victorian Bar
Marianne Marchesi, Legalite
Joanna Oakey, Aspect Legal
Lina Tjoeng, MLC Lawyers

GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR

Justine Brindley, EML
Kate Carlile, Toll Group

Elizabeth Carroll, IP Australia

Angie Coleman, Springfield City Group
Annie Haggar, Accenture
Kathryn Haigh, AUSTRAC
Marie Le Bras, NBN Co
Erica Martin, eNett International
Emily Peters, Aurecon
Kimberly Reeder, Arrow Energy

HR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Claire Arnold, Bird & Bird
Julia Bucci, Holman Webb Lawyers
Leandra Herberts, Best Wilson Buckley Family Law
Robyn Howard, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Corinne Jones, Clyde & Co
Natalie Mascarenhas, Baker McKenzie
Carolyn Noumertzis, Slater and Gordon
Davina Onas, KCL Law
Belinda Perisic, Coulter Roache

Kayla Seton, Ryan & Seton Lawyers

INDIGENOUS LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law

Cheryl Orr, Cheryl Orr Family Law
Thelma Schwartz, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS)

IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Kate Cook, TAL
Annie Haggar, Accenture
Kate Hasbani, WeWork
Un-Ai Jo, HammondCare
Ria Manguray, Tourism Australia
Elizabeth Pearson, New South Wales Bar Association
Kate Sherburn, Who Gives A Crap
Vanja Simic, Cognizant

Jo Zaharopoulos, Probe Group

Rachael Zavodnyik, Infosys

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR (INDIVIDUAL)

Anne-Marie Cade, Divorce Right
Natalee Davis, Kells
Linda-Rose Daya, Gilbert + Tobin
Zinta Harris, Resolve Estate Law
Lauren Kelindeman, Legalite
Jasmine Koh, Hall & Wilcox
Mellissa Larkin, Peripheral Blue
Shaya Lewis-Dermody, The Family Law Project
Schellie-Jayne Price, Chevron Australia

Caryn Sandler, Gilbert + Tobin

LAW STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Mary Aidonopoulos, King & Wood Mallesons
Giorgia Maiorana, Resolve Divorce
Courtney Remington, Law Compliance

Melany Toombs, The Australian National University; Federal Court of Australia

LEGAL OPERATIONS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Becky Bass, Polaris Lawyers
Ellen Connor, LOD
Danielle Emerson, Herbert Smith Freehills
Jordan Franklin, Proximity
Jemima Harris, LOD

Naomi Hickey-Humble, MinterEllison

Melinda Ridley-Smith, Maddocks
Caryn Sandler, Gilbert + Tobin
Simone Townsend, Kenny Spring Solicitors
Colleen Weiler, Hicksons Lawyers

LEGAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Courtney Brown, Best Wilson Buckley Family Law
Michelle Delos Santos, Hall & Wilcox

Amanda Hall, Refugee Advice & Casework Service

Tiffany Kao, Maurice Blackburn
Christie-Lee Malek, Clifford Chance
Sarah Minter, Coulter Roache
Naomi Mole, MBA Lawyers
Keryn Patman, Lander & Rogers
Danielle Wagner, Peninsula Injury Lawyers
Georgia Williams, FCB Group

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Linda Branton, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Anna Crews, Sprintlaw
Andrea de Palatis, HFW
Briele Heath, Hall & Wilcox

Sacha Kirk, Lawcadia

Pamela Orola, Gadens
Kate Potter, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Anita Thompson, LOD
Kim Wiegand, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Rebecca Wildermuth, Women’s Legal Service Queensland

MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Alicia Albury, Maddocks

Claire Bibby, Claire Bibby
Sharna Clemmett, Greenway Chambers
Sam Harmer, Bartier Perry
Kathy Karadimas, Victorian Bar
Megan Kavanagh, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Michel Margalit, Margalit Injury Lawyers
Erin Mitchell, Potts Lawyers
Pip Murphy, TSM Advisory
Joelene Nel, McLaughlins Lawyers

NOT-FOR-PROFIT LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Ahram Choi, Youth Law Australia

Elaine Johnson, Environmental Defenders Office
Carolyn Juratowitch, Hub Community Projects
Chi Kalu, Hub Community Projects
Kiri-Ana Libbesson, Settlement Services International
Julie Sarkozi, Women’s Legal Service Queensland
Thelma Schwartz, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS)
Anna Swain, knowmore
Janet Taylor, Central Australian Women’s Legal Service
Kristen Watt, Heart Foundation

PARTNER OF THE YEAR - BIGLAW

Connie Chen, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Frances Dreyer, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Nadia Kalic, Clifford Chance
Debbie Kaminskas, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Meredith Paynter, King & Wood Mallesons
Michelle Segaert, EY
Dora Stilianos, Baker McKenzie
Ilona Strong, Hall & Wilcox

Alexandra Tighe, Holding Redlich

Sarah Turner, Gilbert + Tobin

PARTNER OF THE YEAR - SME LAW

Kellie Dell'Oro, Meridian Lawyers
Jeannette Fahd, Just Defence Lawyers
Anneka Frayne, Stacks Law Firm

Kelli Martin, KLM Solicitors

Stacy Miller, Cronin Miller Litigation
Mary Nemeth, DWF
Amy Nikolovski, Duncan Basheer Hannon
Joanna Oakey, Aspect Legal
Bonnie Phillips, Coulter Roache
Hayley Stephens, Sentinel Law

PRO BONO LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Joanna Abraham, Victoria Legal Aid

Ella Alexander, Makinson d'Apice Lawyers

Genna Angelowitsch, Adviceline Injury Lawyers
Jade Bond, Bartier Perry
Lara Douvartzidis, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Nadia Kalic, Clifford Chance
Simone Matthews, IUIH Legal Service
Skye Owen, Lander & Rogers
Fiona Sinclair, Queen’s Square Chambers
Alexia Ereboni Yazdani, Hillside Legal

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR - BIGLAW

Adriana Abu Abara, DLA Piper

Stephanie Andrews, McCabe Curwood
Sheree Buchanan, Shine Lawyers
Zoe Christodoulou, Gadens
Camilla Counsel, Mills Oakley
Elizabeth Flatley, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Victoria Gordon, Holding Redlich
Syvannah Harper, Maurice Blackburn
Dilusha Jayasekara, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Nicola Picherit, EY

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR - IN-HOUSE

Emma Carolan, TAL Life Limited

Yasmin Thus, GrowthOps
Nell Van Weerdenburg, LOD

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR - SME LAW

Lisa Aguilar, Keypoint Law
Natalee Davis, Kells
Stephanie Forward-Smith, Rouse Lawyers
Danielle Hanson, Potts Lawyers
Madison Kelly, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Kiarah Kelly, Brisbane Family Law Centre
Brooke Mallard, MBA Lawyers

Isabel McLelland, Makinson d'Apice

Laura Villemagne-Sánchez, Emera Smith Family Law
Cate Young, Hicksons Lawyers

SENIOR ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR - BIGLAW

Elizabeth Blanch, Maddocks
Valentina Garcia, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Morgen Kerry, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Mary Kinna, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Helen McHugh, McCabe Curwood
Katie Minogue, Maurice Blackburn
Paula Nassif, King & Wood Mallesons
Kathy Neilson, EY

Mia Pantechis, Maurice Blackburn

Marianna Schneider, Herbert Smith Freehills

SENIOR ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR - SME LAW

Ingrid Bremers (Paterson), Proximity

Sarah Bullock, Cornwalls

Emma Cameron, Bird & Bird
Yunn Chen, Hammond Taylor
Amanda Malinowsky, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Emma Milne, Velocity Legal
Emma Peters, Cowell Clarke
Dani Salinger, FCB Group
Ashleigh Vumbaca, Bradbury Legal

SOLE PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR

Kathryn Adams, Hallett Law
Bonnie Esposito, Focus on Family

Rebecca Murray, RTI Consultants

Despina Priala, Priala Legal

SPECIAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR

Kimberly Allen, Shine Lawyers
Catherine Hing, Gilchrist Connell
Naraya Lamart, HFW
Rebecca Lindhout, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Rebekah Lovely, Revolution Law
Jane O'Neill, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Lee Pascoe, Norton Rose Fulbright
Mandy Tsang, King & Wood Mallesons
Sophy Woodward, HFW

Amy Zhang, Harmers Workplace Lawyers

THOUGHT LEADER OF THE YEAR

Molina Asthana, Swarup Asthana Lawyers and Business Advisors

Natasha Blycha, Herbert Smith Freehills

Tegan Boorman, Social Law Co.
Sharon Burchell, County Court of Victoria
Anne-Marie Cade, Divorce Right
Fay Calderone, Hall & Wilcox
Kate Clark, Clark & Associates Mediation Services
Zinta Harris, Resolve Estate Law
Shaya Lewis-Dermody, The Family Law Project
Anne Petterd, Baker McKenzie

WELLNESS ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Anne-Marie Cade, Divorce Right
Kate Cliff, Kate Cliff Meditation

Lauren Kelindeman, Legalite

Zagi Kozarov, Kozarov Lawyers
Mellissa Larkin, Peripheral Blue
Anna Leacock, Sparke Helmore
Christie-Lee Malek, Clifford Chance
Sylvie Maranis, Armstrong Legal
Lauren Solomonson, Coulter Roache
Elva Zhang, ANL Container Line