A humble John Sharkey was awarded the 2010 Randstad Legal Life Achievement Award at the inaugural Lawyers Weekly Icon Awards, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney on Thursday.

The award was the pinnacle of the night, celebrating excellence, innovation and leadership in the legal profession.

The Norton Rose partner and Head of Construction and Engineering at the firm was recognised for his reputation as a leading authority in construction law, and upon addressing the audience, dedicated the award to his family.

“John is clearly an outstanding individual. His long history both in private practice and academia speaks for itself. His evident enthusiasm for mentoring of younger lawyers and his dedication to the Law and his teaching is also impressive,” said the category judges of his contribution to the profession.

A partner at the firm since 1972 (in its various formations), Sharkey’s work mentoring hundreds of young lawyers who have gone on to lead successful careers, his work as author and educator, and position as senior fellow and lecturer at the University of Melbourne, as well as an accomplished legal career, drew praise from the judges.

Finalists in this category also included Malleson Stephen Jaques’ partner Frank Zipfinger, Freehills partner Bob Baxt, and Gilbert + Tobin managing partner, Danny Gilbert, who also picked up the award for 2010 First Law International Managing Partner of the Year.

>> Click here to read the full report on all the 2010 Lawyers Weekly Icon Award winners, and don’t miss full coverage of the event in the special Lawyers Weekly 500th edition, on desks on 27 August, 2010.