ILANZ is delighted to announce the winners for the 2021 In-house Lawyer Awards. The judges made a point of noting that all of the nominations received this year were of a very high calibre and they faced a significant challenge in selecting finalists. The judges congratulate all those who were finalists as well as the winners.
Award Categories
Artemis Executive Recruitment In-house Innovation Award
The 2021 Artemis Executive Recruitment In-house Innovation Award may be awarded to an in-house lawyer or in-house legal team that best demonstrates excellence in innovation in the delivery of in-house legal services. This could be innovation in connection with a specific project, or a broader innovation initiative relating to culture, people, technology or process.
The winner will receive a scholarship package from Artemis Executive Recruitment with a value of NZ$5,000 to be spent on professional development initiatives.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
Powerco Legal Team, Powerco
Silver Fern Farms Legal Team, Silver Fern Farms
Xero Legal Team, Xero Limited
Winner: Powerco Legal Team, Powerco
MAS Young In-house Lawyer of the Year Award
The 2021 MAS Young In-house Lawyer of the Year may be awarded to a lawyer who has demonstrated their potential as a leading member of the In-house legal profession in New Zealand through:
- Excellence in the provision of legal services that have significantly contributed to their organisation’s performance.
- Academic ability and the ability to develop knowledge of areas of law not previously practised by the nominee.
- Leadership potential.
The winner will receive a scholarship package from MAS with a value of NZ$5,000 to be spent on initiatives that will help them develop their career.
Nominees for the Young In-house Lawyer of the Year must have worked in an In-house counsel role for less than 5 years as at 30 April 2020, and it should be no more than 10 years since their first date of admission as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand or their original country of admission.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
Charlotte Moll, Senior Legal Counsel, Warren and Mahoney
Emma Biggs, Legal Business Partner, Spark New Zealand
George Grainger, Legal Counsel, Wellington City Counsel
Jeremy Smith, Legal Counsel, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Nathan Watt, Senior Lawyer, OceanaGold
Nicolette Luke, Senior Legal Counsel, Cigna Life Insurance
Winners: Charlotte Moll, Senior Legal Counsel, Warren and Mahoney and Nathan Watt, Senior Lawyer, OceanaGold
There were also four highly commended certificates handed out to the below recipients:
Emma Biggs, Legal Business Partner, Spark New Zealand
George Grainger, Legal Counsel, Wellington City Counsel
Jeremy Smith, Legal Counsel, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Nicolette Luke, Senior Legal Counsel, Cigna Life Insurance
ILANZ Public Sector In-House Lawyer of the Year Award
The 2021 ILANZ Public Sector In-house Lawyer of the Year may be awarded to a lawyer who has made a valuable contribution to their public-sector organisation and the legal profession through:
- Leadership and excellence in the provision of legal services aligned to the organisation’s strategic goals.
- Effective team management (where appropriate) or management of external advisers.
- Innovation and best practice.
The winner will receive a scholarship package from ILANZ with a value of $5,000 to be spent on development activities for them and/or their team.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
Beth Keightley, General Counsel, Wellington City Counsel
Simon Johnson, General Counsel, Te Herenga Waka University of Wellington
Winner: Simon Johnson, General Counsel, Te Herenga Waka University of Wellington
Greenwood Roche Private Sector In-house Lawyer of the Year Award
The 2021 Greenwood Roche Private Sector In-house Lawyer of the Year (includes state owned enterprises and mixed ownership models) may be awarded to a lawyer who has made a valuable contribution to their private sector organisation and the legal profession through:
- Leadership and excellence in the provision of legal services aligned to the organisation’s strategic goals.
- Effective team management (where appropriate) or management of external advisers.
- Innovation and best practice.
The winner will receive a scholarship package from Greenwood Roche with a value of $5,000 to be spent on development activities for them and/or their team.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
David Milton Browne, Senior Solicitor & Legal Team Manager, Otago Southland Employers’ Association
Hayley Cassidy, Executive Chief General Counsel, Bank of New Zealand
Melissa Anastasiou, General Counsel, Spark New Zealand
Winner: David Milton Browne, Senior Solicitor & Legal Team Manager, Otago Southland Employers’ Association
Chapman Tripp In-house Legal Team (private or public, large or small) of the Year Award
The 2021 Chapman Tripp In-house Legal Team of the Year Award may be awarded to an In-house legal team that has made a valuable contribution to their organisation and the legal profession through:
- Leadership and excellence in the provision of legal services aligned to the organisation’s strategic goals.
- Effective team management (where appropriate) or management of external advisers.
- Innovation and best practice.
- The winning team will receive a scholarship package from Chapman Tripp with a value of $5,000 to be spent on development activities.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
2degrees Legal Team, Two Degrees Mobile
Air New Zealand Legal Team, Air New Zealand
Airways Legal Team, Airways Corporation of New Zealand
Customs Legal, New Zealand Customs Service
Spark Legal Team, Spark New Zealand
Winner: Air New Zealand Legal Team, Air New Zealand
AUT Law School Community Contribution Award
The 2021 Community Contribution Award may be awarded to an In-house lawyer or legal team who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession or to the community beyond their “day job” or to an in-house team. Many lawyers voluntarily support community activities, legal and otherwise, such as:
- Assisting with Community Law Centres.
- Lobbying on behalf of interest groups.
- Helping not-for-profits with their legal work.
- Volunteering for charities.
- Supporting the arts.
- Involvement with cultural, sports and youth groups
The winner will have NZ$4,000 paid to their chosen cause and will receive NZ$1,000 to be spent on development activities or initiatives that will help them develop their career.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
Maria Sopoaga, Solicitor, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Auckland Council
Vicky Lee, Senior Corporate Counsel, Two Degrees Mobile
Winners: Maria Sopoaga, Solicitor, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Auckland Council and Vicky Lee, Senior Corporate Counsel, Two Degrees Mobile