AWARD CATEGORIES AND eNTRY fORMS
ENTRY DEADLINE: 15 April 2024 Extended Deadline: 19 April 2024 - 11:59 PM Gulf Standard Time
Note:
- Use a separate entry form for each category.
- There is no limit to the number of categories in which a candidate may submit an entry.
- Email entry forms in pdf format to MElegalawards@lexisnexis.com.
Law Firm of the Year
This award will be presented to a law firm demonstrating outstanding performance in a particular area of its practice or business in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon. Candidates, who should have a significant presence in the region, will need to show how this achievement marks them out from the competition and has ensured that they are truly regarded as a trailblazer and market leader in today’s highly competitive and challenging legal market.
The Advocate's Award*
*Open to local and regional law firms only
The Advocate’s Award will be presented to a law firm headquartered in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon demonstrating outstanding performance and ingenuity in a particular litigation practice area. Entries should provide the following information:
- where you are headquartered (which must be in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon);
- one or more cases in a particular practice area (e.g., commercial, civil, criminal), worked on in 2023-24 (please provide dates) and demonstrating great skill as trial lawyers and litigators;
- include case citation(s).
Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
This award will go to a law firm dispute resolution team in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon which has shown excellence in its practice in 2023-24 based on:
- official external testimonials from 2023 or 2024 (in the supporting material of the entry);
- quality of legal services; and
- cases won (please provide case citation(s) or date of arbitration award) or favourably settled (please provide date of settlement agreement).
Arbitrator of the Year
This award recognises superior performance by an arbitrator in domestic or international disputes. Submissions will be judged on the responses to the following questions:
- Without divulging confidential case information, outline the work you have undertaken in 2023-24 that demonstrates excellence in the area of domestic or international arbitration.
- What procedures have you implemented to ensure fair and efficient proceedings without significantly elevating costs?
- How has your work benefited the parties and your business?
Expert of the Year
This award recognises superior performance by an expert in domestic or international disputes. Submissions will be judged on the responses to the following questions:
- Without divulging confidential case information, outline the work you have undertaken in 2023-24 that demonstrates excellence in providing expert evidence and /or expert determinations in domestic or international dispute resolution.
- What procedures have you implemented to ensure high-quality independent expert testimony or determinations without significantly elevating costs?
- How has your work benefited your clients, the administration of justice, and your business?
In-House Team of the Year
This award acknowledges the tremendous importance of work done by the legal teams of companies and entities other than law firms, including those in the public sector. The award will go to an in-house legal department in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon that has delivered an exceptional level of legal services to its organisation, such as support for the business’s commercial goals, success in negotiation, or a material contribution to the organisation’s operational efficiency, profitability, or risk management and avoidance.
International Team of the Year*
*Open to local and regional law firms only
This award will be presented to a law firm headquartered in the GCC,, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon demonstrating outstanding performance in the delivery of legal services to the international market in 2023-24.
Lexis® Middle East Knowledge Management Award
This award is open to law firms and in-house teams and individuals in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon responsible for the delivery of exceptional legal support services and the promotion of best practices in knowledge dissemination within their law firm or legal department. Entrants should be able to demonstrate innovation in the sourcing and dissemination of knowledge and examples of how they have created and implemented initiatives in 2023-24 which have added value to the business.
Award for Employee Well-Being
This award recognises the law firm or in-house team in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon demonstrating the strongest commitment to a work environment that supports the mental and physical health of its members and employees and enables them to maintain a healthy balance between their work pressures and home life.
Award for Business Development and Client Focus
This award is open to teams or individuals within law firms in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon who are responsible for pioneering and implementing exceptional business development and marketing programmes. The judges will be looking for (among other things) examples from 2023-24 of how candidates have built up sustainable client relationships, coordinated successful pitches, enhanced the firm’s profile, and strengthened the firm brand.
AI Legal Innovator of the Year
This award recognises a law firm or in-house team in the GCC,, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon which has, through innovation and AI, introduced new and improved ways of providing legal services or new working practices that are influencing the future of law and practice. The judges will be looking for evidence of original concepts that improve the speed and quality of legal services.
Case of the Year
This award will be presented to a law firm in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon involved in a significant case concluded in 2023 or 2024 (please provide case citation). The case may be significant in that it has established a precedent, determined a new legal principle, or otherwise substantially affected the interpretation of existing law. For cases where more than one law firm represented a party, we recommend that you put forward a joint entry. Only firms that put forward an entry will be shortlisted.
Deal of the Year
This award will be presented to a law firm in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon involved with a major transaction concluded in 2023 or 2024 (please provide signature or closing date). The deal may be significant in its unusual level of complexity, significantly high value, an innovation in legal practice, or political or social implications.
Employment Law Team of the Year
This award will be presented to a law firm in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon demonstrating outstanding performance in the field of employment law in 2023/24. Entries for this award should focus on a single employment case or matter worked on in 2023 or 2024. Your entry should specify:
- the period during which your team worked on the case or matter;
- the facts and legal issues raised;
- resolution of the case or matter;
- why this case or matter was important;
- your team’s role.
Judges will consider the quality of legal services offered, the outcome achieved for the client, and the case or matter’s significance for employment law.
LexisNexis® Rule of Law Award
This award will be presented to an individual or organisation who has demonstrated a sustained and recognised contribution to promoting the Rule of Law in one or more countries in the GCC and/or Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon. The award is designed to recognise and celebrate commitment to the spread of fair and ordered government, law and justice.
Legal Personality of the Year
This award honours an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the legal sector in one or more countries in the GCC and/or Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon in 2023-24. The judges will select a shortlist from the entries based primarily on their achievements since January 2023, with the winner being decided by an online vote of the readers of the Lexis® Middle East Law Alert.
Lifetime Contribution Award
This award recognises a lawyer who has made a sustained and significant impact in one or more countries in the GCC and/or Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon over a significant part of his or her career. The judges will consider the unique qualities and achievements which have earned this person the respect of their colleagues and peers.
General Counsel of the Year
This award will be presented to a General Counsel in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon whose leadership has allowed his or her legal department to deliver an exceptional level of legal services to the company in 2023-24. Be sure to give concrete examples of how you have helped your organisation achieve its strategic objectives in 2023-24.
Legal Counsel of the Year
This award will be presented to a Legal Counsel in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon whose contribution to his or her legal department in 2023-24 has excelled across the spectrum of in-house responsibilities. Be sure to give concrete examples of how you have helped your organisation achieve its strategic objectives in 2023-24.
Local Talent Champion of the Year
This award will be presented to a law firm with an office in the GCC for developing and driving opportunities for entry to (and advancement in) the legal profession by GCC nationals. Entries should specify (i) the size of the law firm; (ii) the number of legal professionals who are citizens of the country where the firm’s office is located (or citizens of another GCC country); and (ii) efforts the firms has undertaken to promote hiring and advancement of local and GCC nationals.
Tax Team of the Year
This award will be presented to a law firm in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon demonstrating outstanding performance in the field of tax law in 2023/24. Entries for this award should focus on a single tax dispute or other tax matter worked on in 2023 or 2024. The entry should specify:
- the period during which the team worked on the dispute or other tax matter;
- the facts and legal issues raised;
- how the dispute or other tax matter was resolved;
- why this dispute or other tax matter was important;
- the team’s role.
Judges will consider the complexity of the tax issue(s) at stake, the quality of legal services offered, the outcome achieved for the client, and the significance for tax law in the GCC.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact:
Malini Dean
Events Manager
Email ID: malini.dean@lexisnexis.com
Contact No.: +971 58 8249821