The awards, conducted by the UK-based ACQ Magazine, were voted for by the magazine's 28,000 subscribers across the UK, Europe and the USA.

"This high recognition reflects the hard work of Middletons' national team and all our dedicated lawyers and support staff," said Middletons' head of transport, logistics and defence, Stephen Thompson.

"It is particularly pleasing as we neither nominated ourselves nor lodged a submission. The award is entirely client and peer driven.

"This award vindicates Middletons' longstanding 'one-stop-shop' service model for the transport sector."

Twelve other Australian firms also received an ACQ award for 2010, including FCB Group as Employment Law Firm of the Year; Freehills as Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year; and Mallesons as Cross-Border Law Firm of the Year.