The legal profession’s premier event, The Lawyer Awards, is taking place at The Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday 23 June. Here are the strongest performers of 2009 that find themselves in contention
LAW FIRMS:
Law Firm of the Year
Sponsored by Travelers
- Ashurst
- Berwin Leighton Paisner
- CMS Cameron McKenna
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Norton Rose
- SJ Berwin
- Stephenson Harwood
Regional/National Law Firm of the Year
- Boyes Turner
- Brethertons
- Carson McDowell
- Harper Macleod
- HBJ Gateley Wareing
- Hill Dickinson
- Russell Jones & Walker
International Law Firm of the Year
Sponsored by GRS Legal
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Greenberg Traurig
- K&L Gates
- Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker
- Sullivan & Cromwell
- Uría Menéndez
- Weil Gotshal & Manges
Niche Firm of the Year
Sponsored by Robert Walters
- Follett Stock
- Hamilton Pratt
- iLaw
- Maples Teesdale
- Milestone International Tax Partners
- Stewarts Law
- TPP Law
Middle East Team of the Year
- Al Tamimi & Company
- Ashurst
- Clifford Chance
- DLA Piper
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Hadef & Partners
- Herbert Smith
- Reed Smith
Offshore Law Firm of the Year
- Appleby
- Carey Olsen
- Conyers Dill & Pearman
- Harney Westwood & Riegels
- Ogier
- Oostvogels Pfister Feyten
- Walkers
Partner of the Year
Sponsored by Marsh
- William Curtin, Hogan & Hartson
- Steven Davis, Dewey & LeBoeuf
- David Gray, Eversheds
- Charles Randell, Slaughter and May
- Natasha Rees, Forsters
- Niri Shanmuganathan, Taylor Wessing
- Brian Spiro, BCL Burton Copeland
Assistant Solicitor of the Year
- Mark Bardell, Herbert Smith
- Chris Bracebridge, Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker
- Andrew Brydon, Simmons & Simmons
- Matthew Himsworth, Schillings
- Ayesha James, Pinsent Masons
- Steve Mackie, Addleshaw Goddard
- Samantha Mangwana, Russell Jones & Walker
- Rupa Patel, Simmons & Simmons
THE BAR:
Chambers of the Year
- Blackstone Chambers
- Hardwicke Building
- Landmark Chambers
- Maitland Chambers
- Park Lane Plowden Chambers
- Serle Court
- Tanfield Chambers
- XXIV Old Buildings
Barrister of the Year
- Stuart Catchpole QC, 39 Essex Street
- Timothy Dutton QC, Fountain Court
- Jonathan Gaisman QC, 7 King’s Bench Walk
- Richard Lissack QC, Outer Temple Chambers
- Nicholas Mostyn QC, 1 Hare Court
- David Pannick QC, Blackstone Chambers
- Dinah Rose QC, Blackstone Chambers
PRACTICE AREAS:
Banking & Finance Team of the Year
Sponsored by Partners Wealth Management
- Gide Loyrette Nouel
- Kirkland & Ellis
- Linklaters
- Lovells
- Simmons & Simmons
- SJ Berwin
- Slaughter and May
Competition/Regulatory Team of the Year
Sponsored by LECG
- Allen & Overy
- Clifford Chance
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Herbert Smith
- Linklaters
- Norton Rose
- Olswang
- Slaughter and May
Real Estate Team of the Year
- Allen & Overy
- Berwin Leighton Paisner
- Clifford Chance
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Maples Teesdale
- Pinsent Masons
Corporate Team of the Year
Sponsored by RBC Wealth Management
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Clifford Chance
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Herbert Smith
- Hogan & Hartson
- Linklaters
- Norton Rose
- Slaughter and May
Employment Team of the Year
Sponsored by 11 KBW
- Cloisters
- DLA Piper
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Linklaters
- Osborne Clarke
- Russell Jones & Walker
- Wragge & Co
TMT Team of the Year
- Bristows
- Denton Wilde Sapte
- Field Fisher Waterhouse
- Herbert Smith
- Howrey
- Wragge & Co
Infrastructure/Energy Team of the Year
Sponsored by Barclay Simpson
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Burges Salmon
- Clifford Chance
- Herbert Smith
- Linklaters
- Pinsent Masons
- Shearman & Sterling
- Sullivan & Cromwell
Litigation Team of the Year
Sponsored by Abrahams Russell
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Clifford Chance
- Herbert Smith
- Russell Jones & Walker
- Slaughter and May
- Steeles Law
- Stephenson Harwood
Private Client Team of the Year
Sponsored by Equity Trust
- Brodies
- Burges Salmon
- Farrer & Co
- HBJ Gateley Wareing
- LG
- Mills & Reeve
- Taylor Wessing
Pro Bono Team of the Year
- BPP Law School
- International Lawyers Project
- Lovells
- Mishcon de Reya
- Oury Clark Solicitors
- Reed Smith
- Taylor Wessing
IN-HOUSE:
In-house Lawyer of the Year
Sponsored by Eversheds
- Dominic Bacon, CMC Markets
- Sarah Drennan, AS Watson
- Martin Hirst, Lend Lease Projects
- Adil Hussain, Gatehouse Bank
- Elaine Marriner, HMV Group
- Sandie Okoro, Baring Asset Management
- Jonathan Peddie, Barclays Global Retail & Commercial Banking
- Thomas Werlen, Novartis International
In-house Banking & Financial Services Team of the Year
Sponsored by McGrigors
- Barclays Legal & Compliance
- Capital One Bank (Europe)
- Lloyd’s of London
- Man Group
- Nomura
In-house Commerce & Industry Team of the Year
Sponsored by Mayer Brown
- Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Bupa
- Cadbury
- Christie’s
- Kimberly-Clark Europe
- Sainsbury’s
In-house Public Sector Team of the Year
Sponsored by Hays Legal
- British Waterways
- Essex Legal Services
- Help The Aged – Wills & Legacies
- Kent Legal Services
- London Borough of Brent
In-house TMT Team of the Year
Sponsored by Kemp Little
- BT
- COLT Telecom Group
- Hutchison 3G UK
- ITV
- PartyGaming
I would recommend very highly Dominic Bacon as in-house lawyer of the year. I have worked with him since 1994 and think he is an excellent lawyer.
At the risk of starting some kind of bandwagon (!), I guess I would agree with the comment about Dominic. I am not particularly familiar with the other candidates, but I have worked with Dominic both when at Gulf International Band and now at CMC, and have always found him to be refreshingly straightforward and to the point. As an inhouse lawyer, I think he steers the perfect line between getting the law right and taking the wider commercial/legal view. A perfect consiglierie for the Board, I would imagine.
I have worked with Dominic Bacon on a number of key deals over 2007-9 and the level of informed opinion and key initiatives that he utilised has aided key commercial deals to come to fruition. His insight is invaluable in today’s challenging economic climate
Everyone loves Dominic Bacon!! Woop!
I have no knowledge of Dominic Bacon – but I agree with everyone else – and perhaps he can solve the credit crunch too.
I support Martin Hirst. Never heard of the other candidates.
I have known and worked with the legend that is Martin Hirst for many years. There is no competition for this award, surely? Better to have the full breakfast than simply the rashers from the sandwich.
Martin Hirst has my vote.
Whilst I have worked with both Dominic and Martin, I appear to be the only 1! I have to say that I found Martin’s off the wall sense of humour more encapsulating. What Martin manages to combine is black letter law with charisma, charm and wit.
Martin has managed to keep a smile in otherwise inclement economic times and has been a rock. He is totally dependable and never looks for excuses. He is a consummate professional with an even larger appetite for life.
I hope he wins as he deserves the recogntion.
sounds like quite a lot of brown nosing the boss going on at CMC Markets!
I know neither Dominic nor Martin but I vote for whoever will sign off on my fabricated expenses claim.
Is it me or is it not the same people each year?
How refreshing to see a all round good guy like Steve Mackie be nominated for Assistant of the Year. Vote for Steve!
Martin Hirst has my vote.
As Hungarian legal counsel for a local company, I always appreciate Dominic’s no nonsense, honest approach to life as well as business. He’s steered me through some tough times in the past 2 years and as far as I’m concerned, he’s my beacon, or should I say, Bacon? He kicks ass over Martin Hirst, even though I’ve never heard of this man (I can only assume he’s another lawyer in the contest). Seriously Dominic, CMC needs you to win this contest, as much as the UK needs Jade.
I met Steve Mackie at a Tour de France themed stag in Leeds. On that basis alone he has my vote.
The Cadbury’s in house team are also a fantastic group of talented legal brains combined with impeccable tastebuds. A powerful combination.
Mackie and Cadbury’s have my votes
Steven Mackie is a prince amongst men. He has the patience of a saint and a knowledge of his area of specialism which is unparalleled. Addleshaws should be greatful they have someone so down to earth within their team. Everytime I have instructed him he has delivered, often beyond the call of duty
Martin Hirst has my vote.
My vote goes to Martin Hirst. Well done Martin
Well I’m going to vote for the London Borough of Brent!
Cadbury (please note there is no s) are a team of limitless talent and boundless energy and enthusiasm – not all down to the obvious staff perks. The only negative is the support by some members of dubious football teams (are Sheffield Wednesday a real football team?). However compared to others in their group they are the stand out team
I’ve never met Dominic Bacon but was at school with a chap called Dominic who liked bacon so my vote would be with Dominic. I also think a knighthood would be appropriate.
I would gladly sell my children, my house and all its contents just to pay for one hour of Dominique Baconhirst’s advice which is not just top drawer but silk-handkerchief-in-the-top-drawer-of-the-Chippendale-dresser-in-the-large-Georgian-stately-home-in-Hampshire-with-the-Bentleys-parked-on-the-gravel-drive-outside-next-to-the-bandstand. As a lawyer he/she is peerless, but as a human being he/she is someone we can all learn from, and this is particularly true following the significant injuries after the gender realignment surgery and we wish him/her well in the continued recovery. His/her/their contribution to the discovery of penicillin, albeit prompted by a rather virulent STD, was a portent of outstanding discoveries to come throughout the 20th Century including the television, jet engine, monorail, anti-lock automotive braking, carbon fibre, and (of course) the nose hair remover. The 21st Century has been no less impressive. Who can forget the opening address at the UN War Crimes Tribunal and we praise the inventiveness of his/her solution to the Middle East conflict through judicious use of Blu-tack. I, for one, will be setting fire to my dinner suit on 23 June outside the Royal Courts of Justice and walking home in my pants with the word “TRAVESTY” tattooed on my chest if the obviously just decision is not reached.
I know none of these people but the idea of a full breakfast with all the trimmings is making my mouth water. Some good Clonakilty black and white pudding as well – mmmm. Go Dominic. I presume the rashers comment was a pun on the surname Bacon? Truly Inspired.
Well, it seems like the bandwagon for Dominic Bacon is well underway. I would question whether this is wise in these times of swine flu.
Martin is the man.
I support my Martin Hirst!
Martin Hirst has my vote.
Kate has my vote – or perhaps Yasmin. Oops – wrong competition.
I second the nomination for the London Borough of Brent. Truly wonderful situ if somewhat high council tax.
We can thoroughly recommend Elaine Marriner – we have worked with her for a number of years now on deals for the HMV Group; she is practical and commercial and richly deserves this award.
Homer “Pork, bacon, ham, my three favourite animals.”
Lisa “But dad, they all come from the same animal.”
Homer “Oh, Lisa, what mythical beast is this?”
Answer: Dominic Bacon. There is no flu in pork once it’s cooked.
I think Samantha Mangwana should win the Assistant Solicitor or the Year. She is a fantastic lawyer
Have had the priviledge to work with Dominic Bacon in both Gulf International Bank and CMC Markets- both jobs in which he managed to spearhead to come across as both a legal and compliance guru not to mention always exuding an approachable attitude; most unusual for most in-house counsels I have had to work with. He certainly deserves the award for the way he expertly handles both legal and compliance ‘hats’ for multiple jurisdictions. Dominic must win!
Well done Martin, you cured the competition and trotted up to trough at the winners table.
Smoking!
Apologies for the late post, I have been busy decanting as I fear I may have Wine Flu.