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Finalists announced for QLS Excellence in Law Awards

Queensland Law Society has today announced the finalists in the 2023 QLS Excellence in Law Awards.

This year’s judging panels faced a difficult challenge with a high quality of submissions across the 12 categories.
 
The judges thanked the nominees saying “you have set a benchmark for excellence that has inspired your peers and colleagues, and made a positive impact on the clients, organisations and the communities you serve”.

The finalists are:

Access to Justice Award  

  • Ross Lee – My Community Legal 
  • Thelma Schwartz – Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service  

Agnes McWhinney Award 

  • Carolyn Devries – New Way Lawyers
  • Kathleen Simpson – DV Lawyer
  • Leah Robertson – Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service
  • Natalie Silvester – Legally Gifted 
  • Tricia Price – Legal Aid Queensland 

Emerging Leader Award 

  • Arabella Kullack – Maurice Blackburn 
  • Brittany Anderson – Barry Nilsson 
  • Ellie Prior – MacDonald Law
  • Jacob Corbett – Bradley & Bray
  • Tiffany Marsh – Slater + Gordon Lawyers

First Nations Solicitor of the Year Award 

  • Jahmillah Johnson – Rio Tinto 
  • Lorelei Billing – Legal Aid Queensland 

First Nations Student Award

  • Ceferina Villarin – Griffith 
  • Isabella Strauss – QUT 
  • Keeley Hughes – Griffith 
  • Kimberley Leeson – Griffith 
  • Nathan Clews – QUT 
  • Stephanie Luyt – James Cook University 

QLS In-House Counsel of the Year 

  • Emilie Franklin – Modaxo 
  • Melissa Scott – Megaport 
  • Nick Humzy-Hancock – Mutual Marketplace 
  • Philip Ware – Stanwell Corporation 
  • Wendy Barker – Jonas Software 
  • Yasmin Sckeyde – Rheinmetall 

Queensland Solicitor of the Year – Large Firm 20+ PCS 

  • Ashleigh Poole – Thynne + Macartney 
  • Crispian Carlowe – Stone Group Lawyers 
  • Giridharan Sivaraman – Maurice Blackburn 
  • Matthew Hunter – McInnes Wilson 
  • Michaela Bartonkova – Maurice Blackburn 
  • Tim Quirk – Thynne + Macartney 

Queensland Solicitor of the Year – Small Firm 2-19 PCS 

  • Adair Donaldson – Donaldson Law 
  • Aleisha MacKenzie – Construct Law Group 
  • Daniel Bottrell – BGM Family Lawyers 
  • Helen Kay – Rise Legal 
  • Jacob Corbett – Bradley & Bray 

Queensland Solicitor of the Year – Sole Practitioner 

  • Atul Bhardwaj – Bhardwaj and Associates 
  • Hazrabee Mustaffa – HM Lawyers 
  • Hiwa Zandi – Madina Lawyers
  • Kerry Gibb – Kerry Gibb 
  • Nikolina Tully – Tully Law 

Regional Practitioner of the Year Award 

  • Bianca Stafford – Maurice Blackburn
  • Joelene Nel – McLaughlins Lawyers 
  • Katherine Manby – VM Family Law
  • Kylie Anderson – Legal Aid Queensland 
  • Riki Millard – Boonah Law Practice

Workplace Culture and Health Award – Organisation

  • Keypoint Law 
  • McInnes Wilson Lawyers 
  • Thynne + Macartney

The winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner on Saturday 5 August at Brisbane City Hall.

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