There will be a maximum of one team award and one individual award in the following categories.
Competition
Individuals and teams nominated in this category should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house competition (antitrust) work. This includes, but is not limited to, the competition aspects of mergers and acquisitions, takeovers and joint ventures, as well as assignments concerning cartels, monopolies, abuse of market power and unfair trade practices.
Corporate Tax
Individuals and teams nominated in this category should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house corporate tax work. This covers all tax assignments relevant to businesses or their members, including income tax, capital gains tax, value added tax, financial institutions duties etc.
Employment
Individuals and teams nominated in this category should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house employment and labour work. This covers a wide range of issues, including enterprise bargaining and trade union activity, industrial disputes, recruitment and termination, employee benefits, pensions, service agreements, unfair work arrangements, occupational health and safety, human rights and equal opportunities.
General Commercial
This unique category recognises individuals and teams with a broad range of responsibilities and those providing in-house advice across the spectrum. The team category features the full range of multi-disciplinary functions, from large international groups to small, leaner teams.
Eligible candidates for this category include, but are not limited to, those covering multiple areas (see other category descriptions), as well as those engaged in legal activities pertaining to general commercial endeavours such as corporate governance, general establishment of companies, branches and local offices, and the drafting of agreements such as distribution, promotion, management and licensing agreements.
Intellectual Property
Individuals and teams nominated in this category should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house IP work. This includes the protection of IP rights which can be registered (eg, patents, trademarks, service marks, designs and plant varieties) and the establishment of unregistered rights (eg, copyright, rights in circuit layouts, confidential information, trade secrets); and commercial aspects such as agreements to exploit IP rights (licence, manufacture, supply, maintenance, distribution, sponsorship, research and development and technology transfer).
Litigation
Individuals and teams nominated in this category should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house litigation work.
M&A
Individuals and teams nominated in this category should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house M&A work. This includes, but is not limited to, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, management buy-outs, takeovers, tender offers, privatisations and reorganisation (eg, spin-offs).
Please note that the awards committee is not primarily concerned with the size and profile of relevant transactions, but is instead focused on relative achievements and results (taking into account efficiency, communication and commercial awareness).
Regulatory (Financial Services)
Individuals and teams nominated in this category will work within the financial services industry and should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house regulatory work. This includes, but is not limited to, regulatory compliance, government relations and policy, and conducting or assisting with investigations.
Regulatory (Non-financial Services)
Individuals and teams nominated in this category will work for an organisation operating in any highly regulated market, including, but not limited to, telecommunications, energy and pharmaceuticals, but excluding financial services; and should have responsibility for, and regularly undertake, in-house regulatory work. This includes, but is not limited to, regulatory compliance, government relations and policy, and conducting or assisting with investigations.
General Counsel of the Year
Individuals nominated in this category should be the most senior lawyer in their organisation and manage a large multi-disciplinary in-house legal function. Those acting as general counsel for specific business units and operating under a chief legal officer should be nominated in the General Commercial: Individual category. Candidates can, however, be nominated for General Counsel of the Year and in another category.
Please note the winner of this award will be a widely respected individual who has received recognition from both his or her own staff and external counsel.
Compliance Innovator of the Year (NEW)
Individuals nominated in this category will have made an innovative contribution that has substantially influenced the reputation and results of a compliance programme, and/or improved the best practices and operating procedures of their business.
Thought Leader of the Year (NEW)
Individuals nominated in this category will have personally influenced the way in which their industry operates with their ideas or actions. This might include, but is not limited to, effecting legislative or regulatory change through lobbying, promoting diversity or implementing socially responsible initiatives.
Lifetime Achievement (NEW)
Individuals nominated in this category will have made outstanding achievements throughout their career and shown dedication and commitment to the advancement of both their industry and internal clients.
Rising Star (NEW)
Individuals nominated in this category will have made outstanding achievements in their career in a relatively short period of time and demonstrated commitment to their internal clients.
