2021 Winners and finalists

ACADEMIC OF THE YEAR

Katy Barnett, University of Melbourne
Pauline Collins, University of Southern Queensland
Anna Copeland, Murdoch University
Rachel Hews, Queensland University of Technology
Sarah Hook, Western Sydney University
Dominique Moritz, University of the Sunshine Coast
Sandra Noakes, Western Sydney University
Cassandra Seery, Deakin University

Tania Sourdin, University of Newcastle

Cassandra Steer, Australian National University

BARRISTER OF THE YEAR

Anna Bertone, Quay 11 Chambers

Laina Chan, Melbourne TEC Chambers

Kellie Edwards, Denman Chambers
Tina Jowett Sixth, Floor Windeyer Chambers
Sharon Kermath, Svenson Barristers
Carmel Lee, Greenway Chambers
Shanna Mahony, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Carolina Soto, Soto Chambers
Renae Stocks, Sir George Kneipp Chambers
Carly Whelan, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

COMPANY SECRETARY OF THE YEAR

Samantha Einhart, Maurice Blackburn

Simone Tierney, Australian Financial Crimes Exchange

DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR

Bryony Evans, King & Wood Mallesons

Kate Jefferson, Baker McKenzie
Jee-Seon Lee, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Sandy Mak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Tuanh Nguyen, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Diana Nicholson, King & Wood Mallesons
Joni Pirovich, Blockchain & Digital Assets - Services + Law (formerly Mills Oakley)
Paula Robinson, Ailier
Nikki Smythe, Herbert Smith Freehills
Jackie Solakovski, Lander & Rogers

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Natalie Bannister, Hall & Wilcox
Kate Clark, Enhanced Litigation Management Solutions

Annabel Griffin, Hazelbrook Legal

Zoe Lynam, Proximity
Joanna Oakey, Aspect Legal
Felicity Pantelidis, Maurice Blackburn
Danielle Snell, Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell
Lina Tjoeng, MLC Lawyers
Allison Warburton, Lacuna Legal Providers
Fiona Wong, Gilton Valeo Lawyers

GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR

Teresa Allan, Capgemini Australia
Penelope (Penne) Carter, Bristol Myers Squibb
Angie Coleman, Springfield City Group
Melissa Corbutt, Bravura Solutions
Simone Nokes, Central Real Group
Dorothy Pawlukowski, National Australia Bank
Anna Tichborne, Megaport
Sarah Tinsley, Culture Amp

Natalie Truong, Penten

Rachael Zavodnyik, Infosys

HR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Shaneen Argall, Arnold Bloch Leibler
Stephanie Beard, Harwood Andrews
Rachael Britton, McCabes (formerly Addisons)
Julia Bucci, Holman Webb Lawyers

Belinda Cohen, Gilchrist Connell

Narelle Hawken, Access Law Group
Leandra Herberts, Best Wilson Buckley Family Law
Robyn Howard, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Sofia Khan, LOD
Belinda Perisic, Coulter Roache

INDIGENOUS LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Petra Franks, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Thelma Schwartz, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service

Elizabeth Tsitsikronis, NSW Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment

IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Amanda Bibi, Australian Taxation Office
Lucy Dillon, PepsiCo
Katherine Garside, Aurecon
Un-Ai Jo, HammondCare
Eliza Knapp, Cognizant Technology Solutions Australia
Danielle Norris, Australian Grand Prix Corporation
Mel Scott, Megaport
Kate Sherburn, Who Gives A Crap

Calli Tsipidis, Foxtel Group

Marina Yastreboff, UNSW Sydney

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR (INDIVIDUAL)

Claire Bibby, Claire Bibby
Tegan Boorman, Social Law Co.
Adriana Care, Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers
Tanya Chapman, Catherine Henry Lawyers
Sarina Eggers-Stable, Business Kitz and Legal Kitz
Lauren Kelindeman, Legalite
Terri Mottershead, Centre for Legal Innovation at The College of Law
Caryn Sandler, Gilbert + Tobin
Elizabeth Tsitsikronis, NSW Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment

Anika Valenti, Terri Janke and Company

LAW STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Charlotte Bull, Proximity
Janelle Chaptini, Finlaysons
Emma Cockburn, MinterEllison
Sarah McKenzie, DLA Piper
Olivia Morris, Allens

Deslyn Sinha, Employsure Law

Rachel Stanton, Gilbert + Tobin
Alli Taylor, Coulter Roache
Hannah Williams, Hamilton Janke Lawyers
Haiqiu Zhu, NSW Court of Appeal

LEGAL OPERATIONS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Erin Blight, Lavan
Serina Pace, Pace Lawyers Adelaide Legal
Libby Boyce, FCB Group
Rachael Britton, McCabes (formerly Addisons)
Ellen Connor, LOD

Linda-Rose Daya, Gilbert + Tobin

Natasha Hannah, Lawpath
Narelle Hawken, Access Law Group
Simone Townsend, Kenny Spring Solicitors
Colleen Weiler, Hicksons Lawyers

LEGAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Nicole Caryofyllis, Massons
Dayna Gilbert, Helix Legal
Rebecca Gregory, KLM Solicitors

Lauren Hall, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

Sarah Lock, Shine Lawyers
Sophia Mao, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Angela Muser, Cornwalls
Melissa Parker, Coulter Roache
Olivia Parsons, Blackwattle Legal
Georgia Williams, FCB Group

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Laini Bennett, LegalVision
Sara Bradshaw, Hood Sweeney (formerly Finlaysons)

Anna Crews, Sprintlaw

Beth Gooch, Proximity
Briele Heath, Hall & Wilcox
Arielle Jakich, LOD
Sacha Kirk, Lawcadia
Pamela Orola, Gadens
Emily Taffs, Gadens
Sarah Waley, Turks

MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Megan Caines, Polaris Lawyers
Alicia Carroll, Coulter Roache
Lee Formica, Lander & Rogers
Deborah Kliger, Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams
Ana Kolovos, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Jessica Koot, Access Law Group
Selina Nikoloudakis, Andersons Solicitors
Kelli Stallard, Hall & Wilcox
Lisa To, Bartier Perry

Belinda Wong, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

NOT-FOR-PROFIT LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Sara Al-Bostanji, Victoria Legal Aid
Ahram Choi, Youth Law Australia

Tania Clarke, Women's Legal Service Victoria

Melisa Coveney, North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service
Sandeep Dhillon, Anti-Slavery Australia
Emma Hearne, National Justice Project
Chinyere Kalu, HUB Community Legal
Kiri-Ana Libbesson, Settlement Services Internatiol
Amber Russell, Central Australian Women's Legal Service
Thelma Schwartz, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service

PARTNER OF THE YEAR - BIGLAW

Donna Bartlett, Gadens
Rechelle Brost, Mills Oakley
Natalie Bryant, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Alison Choy Flannigan, Hall & Wilcox
Samantha Daly, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Debbie Kaminskas, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Angelina Lagana, KPMG Law

Nicole Pedler, Herbert Smith Freehills

Colleen Platford, Gilbert + Tobin
Lisa To, Bartier Perry

PARTNER OF THE YEAR - SME LAW

Adriana Care, Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers
Katrina Favre, KF Lawyers Australia
Caroline Hutchinson, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Danny King, Danny King Legal
Mellissa Larkin, Peripheral Blue Legal
Marial Lewis, Crossover Law Group
Kate Mulligan, King Irving
Joanna Oakey, Aspect Legal

Naomi Pearce, Pearce IP

Fidan Shevket, Fox & Staniland

PRO BONO LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Helen Davison, HopgoodGanim Lawyers
Lara Douvartzidis, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Rafaella Felthun, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Alexandra Longbottom, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers
Tina Masrour, Hammond Taylor

Georgia Murphy-Haste, Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Leah Perkins, Carina Ford Immigration Lawyers
Leah Ratcliff, Jones Day
Verity Smith, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Angela Tan, Wotton + Kearney

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR - BIGLAW

Olivia Boyages, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Rebecca Campbell, Colin Biggers & Paisley
Kala Campbell, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Victoria Gordon, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Minnie Hannaford, Holding Redlich
Olivia Kiss, Clyde & Co
Sian Pannach, Clyde & Co
Laura Sampson, Slater and Gordon Lawyers

Erin Smith, Mills Oakley

Regina Yap, Hogan Lovells

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR - IN-HOUSE

Yolla Abousleiman, Electrical Trades Union of Australia
Anna Colless, Global Creatures
Lucy Dillon, PepsiCo
Claudia Morris, Active Super
Aleksandra Nikolic, Telstra
Jessica Nile, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Stacey Rose-Ackroyd, Enero Group

Calli Tsipidis, Foxtel Group

Shaniya Vilash, Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific
Jessica Voglis, Toll

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR - SME LAW

Lisa Aguilar, Keypoint Law
Kirstie Barfoot, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Katrina Dang, Bird & Bird
Maddison Harrington, Gilchrist Connell
Caitlin Holloway, Aulich
Jade Hovey, Coulter Roache
Eda Ince, King Irving
Rachel Last, Travis Schultz and Partners

Michelle Mon, Massons

Clarissa Sempel, Access Law Group

SENIOR ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR - BIGLAW

Monique Azzopardi, Clayton Utz
Jessie Buchan, DLA Piper
Leah Cutri, Baker McKenzie

Kathleen Jeremy, Baker McKenzie

Felicity Karageorge, Johnson Winter & Slattery
Paula Nassif, King & Wood Mallesons
Mandy-Lee Rademan, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Kristin Richardson, Maddocks
Ella Simmons, Hall & Wilcox
Claire Walczak, Lander & Rogers

SENIOR ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR - SME LAW

Hayley Aldrich, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers

Ingrid Bremers, Proximity
Lisa Christo, NDA Law
Adele Granata, FCB Group
Deborah Kliger, Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams
Jessica Koot, Access Law Group
Emma Milne, Velocity Legal
Ole Mitrevski, Massons
Kimi Shah, Kalus Kenny Intelex
Mish Wijesuriya, Hicksons Lawyers

SOLE PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR

Adele Anthony, Your Legacy Lawyer
Alison Cusack, Cusack and Co
Katrina Favre, KF Lawyers Australia
Cassandra Kalpaxis, Kalpaxis Legal
Kate Marr, Marr Family Lawyers
Despina Priala, Priala Legal
Kirsty Salvestro, Flourish Family Law

Sarah Stoddart, Vitality Law Australia

Hayley Tarr, Tarr Law
Shona Tarulli, Tarulli Lane Lawyers

SPECIAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR

Elly Ashley, Holding Redlich
Melinda Bell, Hall & Wilcox
Clare Eves, Shine Lawyers
Eleanor Kwak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
YvonneLam, Clyde & Co
Tuanh Nguyen, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Joni Pirovich, Blockchain & Digital Assets - Services + Law (formerly Mills Oakley)

Danielle Sibenaler, Thynne + Macartney
Helen Tieu, Gilchrist Connell
Amy Zhang, Harmers Workplace Lawyers

THOUGHT LEADER OF THE YEAR

Tegan Boorman, Social Law Co.

Anne-Marie Cade, Divorce Right
Zinta Harris, Resolve Estate Law
Catherine Henry, Catherine Henry Lawyers
Amanda Humble, Jones Harley Toole
Rose Inglis, Leo Cussen Centre for Law
Amelia Loughland, Herbert Smith Freehills
Felicity McLeish, Wright Prospecting
Sandra Pepper, Queensland Law Society
Mannie Verma, Vision & Regal Group

WELLNESS ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Fay Calderone, Hall & Wilcox
Sarina Eggers-Stable, Business Kitz and Legal Kitz
Lauren Kelindeman, Legalite
Zagi Kozarov, Kozarov Lawyers
Mellissa Larkin, Peripheral Blue
Alison McNamara, Chamberlains Law Firm
Amelia Schubach, Hamilton Locke
Karen Spitz, Shine lawyers

Desi Vlahos, Leo Cussen Centre for Law

Belinda Winter, Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers

WOMEN IN LAW EXCELLENCE AWARD

Hayley Aldrich, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers