The 14th annual New Zealand Law Awards were held in Auckland on 15 November 2018. The awards are presented and managed by Australian-owned niche publishing company Key Media.
The criteria for judging is work completed and services provided between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018. After nominations are made, a research process selects the finalists in each category. Finalists are asked to provide a detailed finalist submission to an independent panel of judges, which selects the winner.
The winners were:
Deal Awards
Niche Recruiting Specialists M&A Deal of the Year: Shell New Zealand Divestment programme (Ashurst, Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp, Simpson Grierson).
Capital Markets Deal of the Year: IFC green bond issuance (Chapman Tripp).
Mid-Market Deal of the Year: Sale of AJ Park (Chapman Tripp, Watson Manioni, Webb Henderson).
Consumer, Media and Tech Deal of the Year: New Zealand's first telecommunications network sharing arrangement (Bell Gully, MinterEllisonRuddWatts).
International Deal of the Year: Lattice Energy acquisition by Beach Energy (Chapman Tripp; Gilbert + Tobin, Herbert Smith Freehills, Russell McVeagh).
Rembrandt New Zealand Deal of the Year: Lattice Energy acquisition by Beach Energy (Chapman Tripp, Gilbert + Tobin, Herbert Smith Freehills, Russell McVeagh).
In-House Awards
Anthony Harper Young In-House Lawyer of the Year (35 or under): Emily Acland, Vocus Group.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts In-House Lawyer of the Year: Andrew Cordner, Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd.
Simpson Grierson Financial Services In-House Team of the Year: ANZ New Zealand.
Russell McVeagh In-house Team of the Year: Wellington City Council Legal Team.
Firm Awards
Employment Law Specialist Law Firm of the Year: SBM Legal.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Specialist Law Firm of the Year: Wilson Harle.
Intellectual Property Specialist Law Firm of the Year: James & Wells.
Property & Construction Specialist Law Firm of the Year: Thompson Blackie Biddles Ltd.
Insurance Specialist Law Firm of the Year: McElroys.
Boutique Law Firm of the Year: Webb Henderson.
Legal Personnel Employer of Choice (<50 Lawyers): Juno Legal Ltd.
Legal Personnel Employer of Choice (51-100 Lawyers): Anderson Lloyd.
Legal Personnel Employer of Choice (>100 Lawyers): Simpson Grierson.
Resolution Institute Mediator of the Year: Grant Allan.
Artemis Executive Recruitment Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (35 or under): Rebecca Rose, Bell Gully.
Managing Partner of the Year (<100 Lawyers): Anne Callinan, Simpson Grierson.
Deal Team of the Year (<100 Lawyers): Webb Henderson.
Deal Team of the Year (>100 Lawyers): Chapman Tripp Corporate & Commercial Team.
Regional/Suburban Law Firm of the Year: BlackmanSpargo Rural Law Ltd.
Mid-size Law Firm of the Year: Anderson Lloyd.
Large Law Firm of the Year: Chapman Tripp.