Now in its 22nd year, the awards program is the pinnacle event for recognising talent in the Australian legal industry, whether they are managing partners, general counsel, barristers, legal scholars or rising stars.

This year, Lawyers Weekly received 848 submissions, out of which 370 finalists have been chosen to battle it out for awards across 41 individual and group categories.

One of those categories is Property Team of the Year, and Clayton Utz is no stranger to this award. Indeed, the law firm has qualified as a finalist this year, after winning the award in 2020 and 2021, and becoming a finalist in 2019.

The Clayton Utz national real estate team advises on a full spectrum of property law across Australia, including acquisitions and disposals, property developments, leasing services (retail, commercial, and industrial), financial services (covering project structuring, joint ventures, documenting transactions, capital markets products and equity arrangements, property and construction finance and loan and security documentation), and listed and unlisted trusts.

Its clients include foreign institutional investors, property fund managers, government authorities, real estate investment trusts, developers and other stakeholders who are developing projects in Australia.

As the real estate team looks to take home the prize for the third consecutive year at the 2022 Australian Law Awards, Mr Steele asserted that effective communication is fundamental to a successful property law team.

Moreover, while acknowledging that property lawyers could face several challenges, he assured them that they could overcome them through honest dialogue.

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Mr Steele also encouraged the legal profession to come along to the 2022 Australian Law Awards ceremony to celebrate the successes of their peers and the “pit crew” behind them who consistently provide the support required for the legal profession to thrive and progress.

How do you feel about being nominated in the Property Team of the Year category for the third year in a row?

It is always an honour, especially when you see the list of other talented finalists. We work alongside and opposite several of the other finalists, and they are an incredibly accomplished bunch. 

I’m also delighted for our team, who really deserve this nomination. Their intellect, hard work and good humour inspire me every day.

Why do you think gaining recognition at award programs such as these is important?

Let’s face it, the last couple of years have been a hard slog with many aspects of life being turned on their head. My observation is that most people have worked harder than ever before with fewer opportunities to connect and celebrate with colleagues, friends and loved ones. The Australian Law Awards presents an exciting opportunity to acknowledge that hard slog and to celebrate the many successes of our profession. The firm and team awards are especially significant as they recognise the importance of collaboration and common purpose from the most junior to the most senior team members.

What achievements are you and your team most proud of that you included in your submission?

I’m most proud of our commitments to excellence, thoughtfulness and equality. In terms of gender equality, six of the 11 real estate partners in our national team are women. Our newest real estate partner is Paula Noble in our Brisbane team. Paula is a very welcome addition to our partner cohort and is already highly successful. One of Paula’s and the team’s clients is QIC, and I’m delighted to see that the QIC real estate legal team (led by Chris Adamson), which is part of the broader QIC LRAC team (led by Michelle Thomsen, general counsel), is also a finalist in the Property Team of the Year category. They are a high-performing team and an absolute pleasure to work with.

We are naturally proud of all our clients’ achievements and the part we play in them. These include significant infrastructure projects and projects that make a difference, such as innovation precincts, renewable energy projects, and social and affordable housing developments.

We are a team dedicated to contributing to the community. Nearly every member of our team undertook pro bono work last year. Our team performed well in excess of 2,000 pro bono hours in the financial year 2022.

You’re involved in some complex areas of the law, including providing commercial solutions, understanding transaction objectives and collaborating on the formulation of, and executing transaction strategy. You’ve been involved in projects such as the protection of critical state infrastructure, including rail corridor protection matters, and development projects that generate employment and transform communities. Why do you think these areas of the law are important right now?

What I especially enjoy about what we typically work on is that the projects and developments create jobs and opportunities for people, including better and safer roads and rail, more interesting and innovative workplaces and healthier and hopefully more affordable homes.

The thing that is really uplifting me now is the way sustainable environmental performance is being integrated in the design, delivery and operation of the projects that we are involved with. I hope this promotes improved social, economic and health outcomes for the community for generations to come.

What do you think makes a successful property law team?

Effective communication is key, both with our clients and with each other. And effective communication most definitely includes active listening. All too often, we can assume too much. Understanding the objectives and aspirations of counterparties, clients, and colleagues is critical to achieving optimal outcomes.

What I’ve noticed in the last year is that a number of our team have been working what can only be described as “full on” hours. What makes me so proud of our team (and what certainly contributes to our success) is that I have seen other team members (no matter how busy they might themselves be) jump in to help shoulder the burden. That “we are all in this together” mentality really does impress me.

In addition, the commitment to learning and development at all levels contributes to our success. And that is not just the senior team members mentoring the more junior members of our team. In the last two years, I’ve been the mentee of two younger lawyers in the firm, one in Perth and the other in Sydney. I have learnt much from them both.

What challenges have you encountered in this field, and how have you overcome them?

What I have come to accept over the years is that the right commercial or political decision does not always align with the best legal decision. As lawyers (especially as external lawyers), we do not always have the benefit of the complete kaleidoscope. Sometimes the favoured legal position will not produce the ideal political or commercial outcome. That can take some getting used to.

Most challenges we encounter can be resolved through early, open and honest dialogue. Don’t avoid uncomfortable discussions. I have had to learn this one!

What’s your message for those in the legal profession thinking of coming to this year’s Australian Law Awards?

Take a moment to thank and celebrate the success of the individuals and teams nominated and the multitude of support people (the “pit crew”) behind them. Each of the finalists in every category has already achieved much and is worthy of praise.

We are extremely fortunate to be part of this meaningful and evolving profession. To the senior members of our profession, let’s commit to mentoring and guiding our newer colleagues, whether they are “WFO” or “WFH”, and be open to learning from them in our role as mentee.

To attend the 2022 Australian Law Awards, buy your tickets now by clicking here.

To view the full list of finalists, click here.

For more information about the awards ceremony, click here.