WINNERS

• 1st - Gideon Benaim
Gideon Benaim is often hailed by his peers as “the next Keith Schillings”. This accolade is not simply for his close working relationship with his senior partner but due to his effectiveness as a lawyer.
Benaim only made a partner two years ago and has shown his has the skills to shape the legal landscape in the media arena.
Clients say Benaim is “very much like a dog with a bone as he won’t give up”. They add with that passion comes “all the skills and innovation you need from your lawyer”.
This year he managed to extend the privacy laws to include children after JK Rowling sued photographers for taking pictures of her son. In addition, Benaim secured a win for his client in one of the most expensive libel claims in the UK. After almost a three-year battle the Daily Mail has to pay out around £4m in costs and damages to Las Vegas Sands chairman and chief executive Sheldon Adelson for defamatory allegations falsely linking his to the takeover of Manchester United by Malcolm Glazer.

• 2nd - Chris Carroll
Chris Carroll has had a busy year, travelling the globe extolling the virtues of Travers Smith in emerging markets. Also in the last 12 months, Travers’ managing partner has transformed the firm’s approach to conflicts and set up a formal body to improve communication with associates. Meanwhile the firm’s average profit per equity partner (PEP) has soared to £817,000, boosted by its heavy-hitting corporate practice. Carroll’s straightforward approach to management encourages both loyalty and hard-work in his colleagues, something which has been key to the Travers’ emergence as a small firm with a big reputation.

• 3rd - Nick Thomas
It has been an expansionist year for Kennedys under the excellent leadership of senior partner Nick Thomas.
Thomas is leading the firm’s move into Singapore in the summer.
Closer to home, he has been influential in a number of firm acquisitions including the takeover of Kershaw Abbott Solicitors which took the firm into Manchester and, more recently, the acquisition of Davies Lavery which broke the firm into Birmigham and Maidstone.
Not content with building up its UK network Thomas has also instigated Kennedys’ organic growth, moving the firm into plush new offices in the City.
All this while Kennedys continues to pick up a string of high profile instructions. Thomas was selected by a group of powerful insurance company’s to fight their claim against Buncefield oil depot owners Total and Chevron to recoup commercial losses arising from the 2005 explosion.

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This award is for partners in private practice.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Leadership
• Partner’s contribution to the firm beyond billings
• Business building and commitment to clients
• Innovation and creativity

Please include a synopsis of recent deals and clients

Entries welcome from:
Private practice teams	√
Nominations by in-house teams	√

Previous Winners:
2007	Paul Maher, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw
2006	Chris Lingard, Follett Stock
2005	Nigel Knowles, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary
2004	Mike Francies, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
2003	Erica Handling, Ashurst Morris Crisp