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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