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Herbert Smith Freehills has taken home seven awards at the prestigious Australasian Law Awards, including the highly coveted International Firm of the Year Award. 

The firm was recognised for its ability to bring together expert teams from across its global network and advise clients on some of the largest and most complex cross-border deals and matters in 2015.

Regional Managing Partner, Asia and Australia, Sue Gilchrist said: “We are absolutely honoured and incredibly proud to receive the international firm of the year award. We have invested heavily in growing our international network to ensure that we have the best people working around the world to provide exceptional service to our clients wherever they may be. I would like to thank all Herbert Smith Freehills people for their exceptional efforts and contribution to our ongoing success.

“I would also like to offer my sincere thanks to our clients for entrusting us with their most important transactions and matters. It is a privilege for us to regularly work alongside some of the most talented in-house legal teams, both in Australia and around the world on their market-defining matters.”

In addition to the International Firm of the Year Award the firm’s depth of expertise was also recognised with six additional awards:

  • Australian Deal Team of the Year (M&A team)
  • Australian Dealmaker of the Year (partner Philippa Stone)
  • M&A Deal of the Year (NSW Electricity Networks acquisition of Transgrid)
  • Australian Deal of the Year (NSW Electricity Networks acquisition of Transgrid)
  • Debt Market Deal of the Year (Warehouse securitisation of GE assets)
  • Energy and Resources Deal of the Year (Transgrid privatisation)

Herbert Smith Freehills had an exceptional 2015 during which it significantly expanded its international offering. It opened offices in Düsseldorf and Johannesburg, launched a Formal Law Alliance with Singapore law firm Prolegis LLC, and launched a formal exclusive association with the Law Office of Nasser Al-Hamdan in Riyadh.

In the same year, the firm pioneered a global alternative legal services business, which brought together its Belfast office, Australian Information Logistics team and London Disputes Data Management to create global team of 240 lawyers, legal assistants and technologists providing document review, regulatory claims assessment, due diligence and technology services. The firm also created a unique Legal Project Management model and launched an alternative legal services ‘pop up’ in Perth offering clients cost-effective, 24-hour document review.

The Australasian Law Awards were held in Sydney on 19 May 2016.

Key contacts

Sue Gilchrist photo

Sue Gilchrist

Partner and Head of Intellectual Property, Australia, Sydney

Sue Gilchrist