A total of 30 winners took home trophies across the 26 individual and three group categories, selected from the 264 worthy finalists.
Winners were announced across categories spanning the breadth of the legal profession, including Barrister of the Year, General Counsel of the Year, Senior Associate of the Year, and Sole Practitioner of the Year.
Kayla Seton of Seton Family Lawyers was the worthy recipient of the coveted Excellence Award this evening, having secured the highest number of votes. Seton also took home the HR Professional of the Year award.
Other winners include Gilbert + Tobin as Innovator of the Year (Company), Elle Farris of Develop Global as General Counsel of the Year, Neane Carter of Terri Janke and Company as Indigenous Lawyer of the Year, and Keryn Patman of Lander & Rogers as Legal Support Professional of the Year.
Members of the legal profession attended the distinguished ceremony where attendees could network with industry leaders and peers while celebrating the achievements of women in law.
Australian comedian Nikki Britton assumed emcee duties and provided light and laughter throughout the evening.
For more than a decade, organisations have capitalised on the recognition from the Women in Law Awards to drive business growth, stand out from the competition, and strengthen the organisation’s prowess in attracting and retaining top talent, as well as winning and retaining business.
In a highly competitive legal profession, the awards program allows women in law to underpin career advancement both within an organisation and the wider professional services community – attracting top clients and propelling careers to new heights.
Speaking following the awards program, Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy said: “It is always such an honour for us to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of women across Australia’s legal profession.
“Now in its 13th year, the Women in Law Awards has become a staple of the calendar, and Lawyers Weekly will continue to do its part to drive equity and parity across the board.”
Academic/Researcher of the Year
Marilyn Bromberg, The University of Western Australia
MaryAnn de Mestre, Macquarie University
Jennifer McKay, University of South Australia
Kathy Reeves, University of Southern Queensland
Barrister of the Year
Tahlia Ferrari, Victorian Bar
Tyneil Flaherty, Murray Chambers Adelaide
Elarya George, Victorian Bar
Sharon Kermath, Victorian Bar
Rabea Khan, Crockett Chambers
Temple Saville, Victorian Bar
Regina Weiss, Derwent and Tamar Chambers, Svenson’s List
Dealmaker of the Year
Jane Garber-Rosenzweig, BDC Law
Jodie Harris, Arnold Thomas and Becker
Kate Koidl, MinterEllison
Sandy Mak, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Catherine Merity, Maddocks
Kristen Porter, O NO Legal
Executive of the Year
Hanaan Indari, Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers
Marianne Marchesi, Legalite
Kate Marr, Marr Family Lawyers
Naomi Pearce, Pearce IP
Cathy Russo, Macpherson Kelley
Danielle Snell, Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell
Amy Soong, Ashworth Lawyers
Deborah Tomkinson, Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration
Tessa van Duyn, Moores
Ashleigh Wisbey, Seacliff Family Law
General Counsel of the Year
Sneha Balakrishnan, Shippit
Katrina Brigham, Cprime | Elabor8
Angie Coleman, Minor Hotels
Bronagh Doherty, Southern Ports Authority
Elle Farris, Develop Global
Candice Gin, The Adecco Group
Ilona Meyer, Nuix
Marisa Muchow, Metricon Homes
Katrin O’Sullivan, The Fred Hollows Foundation
Kate Sherburn, Who Gives A Crap
HR Professional of the Year
Rachael Britton, McCabes Lawyers
Nitsa Brown, Holman Webb Lawyers
Rebekah Charif, Dentons
Olivia Holmes, Macpherson Kelley
Leah King, Pinsent Masons
Naomi Lim, Ligeti Partners
Kate Maloney, Dentons
Trisha Scott, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Kayla Seton, Seton Family Lawyers
Alys White, Aspen Legal
In-House Professional of the Year
Julie Abdalla, The Tax Institute
Jacqui Fetchet, Energy Corporation of NSW
Eimear Fitzmaurice, Stockland Development
Ann Lim, Indara
Christina Martin, BMD Group
Renee McArdle, Brighte Capital
Jazmine Miles, Carnival Australia
Chloe Min, Inland Rail
Subhashree Sundar, Smith & Nephew
Swee Yue Tan, AGL Energy
Indigenous Lawyer of the Year
Neane Carter, Terri Janke and Company
Danielle Davis, Barry Nilsson
Innovator of the Year (Individual)
Vira Alchin, Holman Webb Lawyers
Kathy Constan, LodgeX Legal
Regie Anne Gardoce, Sprintlaw
Yue (Lucy) Han, Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers
Angela Harbinson, The Separation Guide
Zinta Harris, Resolve Estate Law
Joni Pirovich, Blockchain & Digital Assets
Sara Rayment, Inkling Legal Design
Verity Smith, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Law Student of the Year
Claire Cottrell-Dormer, HFK Lawyers (Formaly Rostron Carlyle Rojas Lawyers)
Renee Glau, Grindal Legal
Muskan Khadka, Macquarie University (Formaly Cleveland & Co)
Sophie McCartney, XVII Degrees
Michelle Rademeyer, Baybridge Lawyers
Kyla Rivera, Allens, UNSW
Marli Simpson, Cooper Grace Ward
Jade Toomey, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Ariella Tracton, University of Technology Sydney
Lina Zaioor, UNSW, King & Wood Mallesons
Legal Operations Professional of the Year
Charlie Elliott, Pinsent Masons
Erin Kanygin, Gilbert + Tobin
Jade Kurzke, WLW Migration Lawyers
Katie McRae, Aintree Group Legal
Cherry Natale, Macpherson Kelley
Erin Newsham, Keylaw Conveyancing
Courtney O’Boyle, Sunstate Conveyancing
Bree Pearce, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Dayna Roberts, Botten Levinson Lawyers
Lisa Ziegert, Hall & Wilcox
Legal Support Professional of the Year
Ingrid Archer, Broadside Lawyers
Paige Bechaz, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Meg Farrell, Thomson Geer
Lisa Frazer, DWF (Australia)
Andrea Graham, Lander & Rogers
Morgan Harding, Harding Property Law
Sophie McCartney, XVII Degrees
Regan Mills, Citation Legal
Keryn Patman, Lander & Rogers
Lia Sharard, Angus Cameron Lawyers
Marketing Communications Professional of the Year
Claire Arnold, Keylaw Conveyancing
Bianca Buchhorn, Cowell Clarke Commercial Lawyers
Rachel Crook, Argon Law
Amal De Abreu, Holman Webb Lawyers
Sarah Duffy, Coulter Legal
Rumesha Kashif, O NO Legal
Melissa Keen, Coleman Greig Lawyers
Kristina Main, Gilbert + Tobin
Tiffany Mechkaroff, Kalus Kenny Intelex
Anneliese Zanchetta, XVII Degrees
Mentor of the Year
Joanna Abraham, Victorian Women Lawyers/College of Law
Jillian Barrett, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Leona Bennett, Southern Waters Legal
Carla Giles, The Family Law Co.
Alana Jacquet, Our Lawyers
Sophie Lefebvre, Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and Victorian Women Lawyers
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Briana Vines, Aussie Injury Lawyers
Deborah White, Department of Communities and Justice NSW
Ashleigh Wisbey, Seacliff Family Law
Not-for-Profit, Pro Bono or Community Legal Centre Lawyer of the Year
Shabnum Cassim, Gadens
Eloise (Ellie) Dalton, Basic Rights Queensland – Working Women Queensland
Kirsty Evans, Cheney Suthers Lawyers
Leah King, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service
Isobel McGarity, Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS)
Katrin O’Sullivan, The Fred Hollows Foundation
Claudia Robinson, Financial Rights Legal Centre
Ada Sculthorp, Caxton Community Legal Centre
Lauren Stubbs, Moray & Agnew
Michele Tucker, Deakin Law Clinic, Deakin Law School
Partner of the Year – BigLaw
Marissa Brock, DWF (Australia)
Joanne Draper, White & Case
Sarah Gilkes, Hamilton Locke
Tracey Greenaway, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Jenna Hutchinson, Turner Freeman Lawyers
Yvonne Lam, Gilchrist Connell
Sarah Manly, Russell Kennedy
Caroline Snow, Dentons
Melissa Tan, Lander & Rogers
Lisa To, Bartier Perry
Partner of the Year – SME Law
Lucy Adamson, Hazelbrook Legal
Sophie Cohen, Aintree Group Legal
Carla Giles, The Family Law Co.
Hasti Kalarostaghi, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers
Andrea Olsson, MST Lawyers
Victoria-Jane Otavski, BlackBay Lawyers
Gabriella Pomare, The Norton Law Group
Sara Price, Our Lawyers
Simone Rees, Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers
Rebecca Wood, LegalVision
Rising Star of the Year – BigLaw
Victoria Athanasiou, Lander & Rogers (Formaly Kennedys)
Alexandra Begg, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Emma Boyce, Bartier Perry
Christine Eldridge, Shine Lawyers
Riley Huntley, Mills Oakley
Eveline Kuang, King & Wood Mallesons
Jessie Nygh, Thomson Geer
Regan Shires, Johnson Winter Slattery
Linda Zeng, Gilchrist Connell
Carmen Zhu, Barry Nilsson
Rising Star of the Year – SME Law
Sophia Anderssen, Terry Anderssen Lawyers
Isabella Campbell, Holman Webb Lawyers
Rachel Caruana, Belleli King & Associates
Celine Khoury, SLKQ Lawyers
Gillian Kirwan, Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers
Brinley Meagher, LUNA
Muska Namdar, William Roberts Lawyers
Isabella Orlic, BlackBay Lawyers
Sarvashree Singh, Mullins Lawyers
Jennie Siow, Baybridge Lawyers
Rising Star of the Year – In-House/Government
Erin Boyling, Viva Leisure
Priya Chand, Westpac Banking Corporation
Natalia D’Agostini, NSW Department of Customer Service
Erica Henson-Hatton, JustFund
Jazmine Miles, Carnival Australia
Courtney Spear, Charter Keck Cramer
Subhashree Sundar, Smith & Nephew
Shaniya Vilash, Treasury Wine Estates
Helen Wei, NSW Department of Customer Service
Senior Associate of the Year – BigLaw
Tegan Broadfoot, MinterEllison
Colette Downie, Baker Mckenzie
Sophie Evans, Mills Oakley
Meenakashi Jansen, DWF (Australia)
Magdalena Kucharska, Allens
Alexandra Lane, Hall & Wilcox
Sharon Liu, Ashurst
Katherine London, Herbert Smith Freehills
Jacqueline Picone, Maddocks
Verity Smith, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Senior Associate of the Year – SME Law
Chelsea Baker, Mullins Lawyers
Erin Freebairn, Commercial and Legal (Legal Services)
Lauren Gross, Velocity Legal
Caitlin Holloway, Aulich
Georgia Kaye-Helmot, Angus Cameron Lawyers
Dominique Markwort, Seton Family Lawyers
Michelle Mon, Massons
Muska Namdar, William Roberts Lawyers
Shayne Savage, LegalVision
Annie Taylor, Keylaw Conveyancing
Sole Practitioner of the Year
Melissa Barlas, Conveyed
Tegan Boorman, Social Law Co.
Sally Callander, Sally Callander Law
Marija Caruana-Smith, Altura Legal
Amanda Elias, Greenleaf Legal
Cally Hannah, CJH Legal
Stefani Janson, Hestia Law
Alana Kushnir, Guest Work Agency
Gemma Nugent, SoundLegal
Melanie Vairawanathan, Melmark Law
Special Counsel of the Year
Linda Huan, KHQ Lawyers
Rebekah Lovely, Revolution Law
Helen McHugh, Meridian Lawyers (Formally McCabes Lawyers)
Paula Nassif, Maddocks
Melissa Randall, Proximity Advisory Services
Briony Robertson, Umbrella Family Law
Hannah Syme, Pinsent Masons
Nicole Treacey, Macpherson Kelley
Emma Whitney, Mills Oakley
Georgina Willcock, Gilbert + Tobin
Thought Leader of the Year
Julie Abdalla, The Tax Institute
Lauren Cassimatis, Gallant Law and Connecting Lawyer Mums
Elizabeth Fairon, Life Law Solutions
Suzanne Howari, Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Alana Kushnir, Guest Work Agency
Sapphire Parsons, Macpherson Kelley
Joni Pirovich, Blockchain & Digital Assets
Sara Rayment, Inkling Legal Design
Lara Wentworth, Coaching Advocates
Danielle Zetzer, Respect Legal
Wellness Advocate of the Year
Stefanie Costi, The Rising Heard
Alison Cusack, Cusack & Co
Belinda Furse, Be Well Be You
Sandra Soden, Soden Legal
Emma Turnbull, Emma Turnbull Lawyers
Erin Vassallo, Law Team
Belinda Winter, Cooper Grace Ward
