Roger Partridge - Bell Gully , Neil Russ - Buddle Findlay , Fred Ward - Russell McVeagh and Mike Russell - LexisNexis

And the LexisNexis Commercial Property & Construction Deal of the Year Award goes to... Auckland Waterfront Redevelopment

The 2008 Mettle ALB Australasian Law Awards recognised those who have excelled in their field over the past year. Held at the Westin Hotel in Sydney on 22 May, the NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice, the Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, was joined by more than 600 lawyers, in-house counsels, bankers and corporate leaders.

Over 30 awards were presented on the night, acknowledging Australasia's leading legal representatives. Our very own Mike Russell, General Manager - Legal Markets, presented the LexisNexis Commercial Property and Construction Deal of the Year Award. This went to Auckland Waterfront Redevelopment, who won because of their multibillion-dollar project that involves a redevelopment of over 18 hectares of Auckland prime waterfront land – an area greater in size than the current Auckland CBD. It stands apart from most other significant-scale waterfront projects around the world because it has been achieved by way of contract, as opposed to the need for special purpose legislation.

Among the other winners was Sydney's Gilbert + Tobin, which was not only awarded the BHL Axiom Sydney Law Firm of the Year, but whose managing partner, Danny Gilbert, was honoured with the much-coveted
Cicero Managing Partner of the Year title for his leadership through recent firm expansions.

Two new categories, reflecting the increasing interest and focus within the legal industry on issues of social responsibility, were LitSupport Corporate Citizen Law Firm of the Year and LitSupport CSR Law Firm of the Year, which were presented to Gilbert + Tobin and Baker & McKenzie respectively.

Wesfarmers's takeover of Coles was judged both as Grace Records Management M&A Deal of the Year and the Australian Deal of the Year due to its size, historic nature and complexity.

"During 2007, we saw some of the biggest corporate activity and deals taking place that have lead to changes in the business landscape. Reputations were put on the line and battles were fought. The Mettle ALB Australasian Law Awards acknowledge the professionalism, dynamism and outstanding ability of this region's leading lawyers, bankers and dealmakers," said Mike Shipley, Managing Director of Key Media, organisers of the Awards.