Gilbert + Tobin partner Garry Besson has been named the Project Futures Dealmaker of the Year Award at the 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards, sponsored by Bentley Motors, at a gala ceremony held at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday night.

Besson overcame some impressive competition to take out the award, including last year's winner, Freehills partner Tony Damian, Mallesons Stephen Jaques' partner Jeff Clark, who was highly commended, as well as Clayton Utz's Stuart Byrne, Freehills partner Philippa Stone and another Mallesons partner Yuen-Yee Cho.

As a partner in Gilbert + Tobin's corporate advisory group, in the last 12 months Besson has advised on deals that represent some of the most significant transactions in the market, with a combined value of $10 billion. These included acting for Shell Energy Holdings Australia Limited on the $US3.3 billion partial sale to Woodside Petroleum Limited and for Riverside Mining in its recommended $4 billion bid by Rio Tinto.

Highly regarded by his peers, Besson is also a member of the Australian Takeovers Panel and a part-time lecturer in the Master of Laws course at the University of Sydney.

Also impressing the judges was Clark, who acted as the lead partner advising the financiers on the $2.3 billion sale of the Port of Brisbane, as well as for TRUenergy on its $1.6 billion acquisition of Energy Australia.

As last year's winner, Damian also had an impressive year in 2011, being at the centre of some of Australia's biggest deals over the last 12 months, including advising on Santos Limited's $1.3 billion sale to Total as well as Peabody's bid for Macarthur Coal.

Read more about the achievements of the 2011 Dealmaker finalists

>> Meet the 2011 Lawyers Weekly Awards Finalists: Dealmaker of the Year

Read the full details of each of the winners & finalists for each award:

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