The awards, which recognise the best and brightest in the legal profession, are now in their 15th year.

Carmel Mulhern, general counsel at Telstra Corporation Limited, was the star of the night, taking home both the Lawyers Weekly Excellence Award and the General Counsel of the Year Award. Telstra also won the In-House Team of the Year Award.

The judges commended Ms Mulhern for her exceptional legal and commercial skills as well as her genuine commitment to diversity.

“There is much talk about promotion of women within the corporate and legal spheres,” wrote one judge. “Carmel is spearheading her organisation to actually create the opportunities for women to succeed.”

The hotly contested Law Firm of the Year Award was awarded to Herbert Smith Freehills. The firm is a “success story with corporate clients”, according to the judges. The judges applauded the firm’s introduction of innovative client relationship initiatives.

Lawyers Weekly congratulates all the finalists and winners.  

The winners of the 2015 Australian Law Awards are:

Employee Program of the year
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

Law Student of the Year
Benjamin Tomasi, UWA/State Solicitor WA

Insurance Team of the Year
Hall & Wilcox

Workplace Relations & Employment Team of the Year
Norton Rose Fulbright

Intellectual Property Team of the Year
Gilbert & Tobin

Property Team of the Year
Clayton Utz

Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

Transaction Team of the Year
Arnold Bloch Leibler

Banking & Finance Team of the Year
King & Wood Mallesons

Government Team of the Year
Clayton Utz

Regional Law Firm of the Year
RMB Lawyers

Senior Associate of the Year
John Moran, Norton Rose Fulbright

Sole Practitioner of the Year
Rod Genders, Genders & Partners

Pro Bono Program of the Year
Salvos Legal & Salvos Legal Humanitarian

In-House Lawyer of the Year
Jane Elise Bates, Airservices Australia

In-House Team of the Year
Telstra Corporation Ltd

Partner of the Year
Berkeley Cox, King & Wood Mallesons

Young Gun of the Year
Samuel Kang, Gilbert + Tobin

Dealmaker of the Year
Philippa Stone, Herbert Smith Freehills

General Counsel of the Year
Carmel Mulhern, Telstra Corporation Limited

Managing Partner of the Year
Tony Macvean, Hall & Wilcox

Innovator of the Year
Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Nexus Law Group

Law Firm of the Year
Herbert Smith Freehills

Lawyers Weekly Excellence Award
Carmel Mulhern, Telstra Corporation Limited

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