Congratulations to the following 2017 Australian In-house Lawyer Awards Winners...
ACC Australia is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Australian In-house Lawyer Awards. The winners and finalists were recognised at a formal awards ceremony in Alice Springs last night, Thursday 16th November, as the heart of Australia played host to the Australian in-house legal community.
The ACC Australia in-house lawyer awards represent the most prestigious recognition of excellence within the in-house sector and are the only awards judged exclusively by the in-house legal community. All winners were deservedly recognised for their excellence and demonstrated agility in meeting the demands of an increasingly complex commercial environment.
Congratulations to the following 2017 Australian In-house Lawyer Award Winners:
Corporate Lawyer of the Year
Rachel Launders, General Counsel and Company Secretary, Nine Entertainment Co
Government Lawyer of the Year
Annette Musolino, Chief Counsel, Department of Human Services
Legal Team of the Year – Small (1 – 9 lawyers)
Salmat Limited
Legal Team of the Year – Large (10+ lawyers)
WA Government, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, Legal Services
Young Lawyer Achiever of the Year
Michael Hogan, Wormald Australia Pty Limited
Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility
National Australia Bank
The 2017 Australian In-house Lawyer Awards continue to reflect the influence of the digital age on the profession. They also confirm that in-house lawyers are rapidly being integrated into the senior management team as organisations, large and small, gear up to manage 21st-century risks including crisis management, cyber security and corporate social responsibility.
2017 Corporate Lawyer of the Year winner, Rachel Launders, General Counsel and Company Secretary at Nine Entertainment Co, took on very real significance in April 2016 when four staff members from 60 Minutes were arrested in Beirut and Rachel was pivotal in leading Nine’s response to those events. Similarly, winner of the 2017 Small Legal Team, Salmat, developed a security incident response plan, that sought to prepare the company for a potential cyber breach. As a result, Salmat now boasts a comprehensive response plan that includes checklists, escalation procedures, notification templates and practical guidelines for dealing with a security incident.
Many legal departments operating in Australia are embracing automation, with some award winners (in both the categories for individual and team awards) having introduced self-serve contract systems and automated procurement processes, which have empowered the legal team to be able to move to the next level of support; as shapers of culture and strategy for their business.
ACC Australia President Gillian Wong noted that, “It’s an exciting time for the Australian in-house legal profession, with many responding to the opportunities and challenges presented by the challenges of 21st-century risks, digital disruption and environmental, social and governance issues."
"It’s fantastic to see so many of the winners, recognised for their excellence in the provision of legal services, supporting innovation in response to a highly dynamic and increasingly complex environment”, said Ms Wong.
“Whether in government or corporate legal departments, each winner has made a significant contribution to the profession and demonstrated excellence in an area of the legal profession that is constantly evolving and swelling the ranks of the c-Suite.”
Posted: 17/11/2017
