Showcasing the finest talent amongst Australia's increasingly global legal profession, the high-calibre individual and team finalists of the 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards have demonstrated passion, leadership, innovation and a true commitment to the legal profession.

As more global firms make their way to Australia, the competition is becoming tougher than ever. And with this background of change and growth, this year's awards are a celebration of those who have well and truly raised the bar amid uncertainties and new challenges.

Following the success of last year's Lawyers Weekly Awards program, we have once again sought to uncover the best the legal profession has to offer and recognise their hard work and dedication over the last 12 months.

With nine categories this year, including the Life Achievement Award, Young Gun Award, In-house Lawyers or Team Award, Dealmaker of the Year Award, Managing Partner of the Year Award, Practice Manager of the Year Award, Talent Manager of the Year Award, Law Student of the Year Award and the Box Breaker Award, the Lawyers Weekly team was inundated with impressive and inspiring submissions from young students and aspiring partners to the top managing partners across the country.

There are a few familiar names amongst the finalists this year, including those who made the finals cut last year and are back to take on the competition once again.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth chief executive officer John Denton is back as a finalist for the Managing Partner of the Year Award, last year receiving a highly commended award after being pipped at the post by Gilbert + Tobin managing partner Danny Gilbert.

The 2010 Dealmaker of the Year, Freehills partner Tony Damian, is also back again this year to reclaim the title, while Kraft Foods' in-house team is again a finalist following the success of its Cadbury in-house team, which took out the award in 2010.

Thankfully, the difficult task of picking the winners from this year's group of finalists will be left to a panel of independent judges selected from across the legal industry, who will search for the most outstanding examples of innovation and excellence in leadership and client service.

For full details of the finalists in each category, click on the links below.

• Hays Young Gun of the Year

• Dolman In-House Lawyer or Team Award

• Phoenix Managing Partner of the Year

• Project Futures Dealmaker of the Year

• The College of Law Law Student of the Year

• Toll Practice Manager of the Year

• Philips Box-Breaker of the Year

• LexisNexis Talent Manager of the Year

• The Life Achievement Award

Stay tuned to find out who the winners are - to be announced at a cocktail party held at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, August 4, 2011.