A boutique Dunedin law firm has beaten large corporate counterparts from around the country to win the Fujitsu Infinitylaw Corporate and Commercial Law Award at the annual 2011 New Zealand Law Awards.
Dunedin firm Van Aart Sycamore Lawyers, with partners Tony Sycamore and Michael Van Aart and five lawyers, beat giant commercial law firms Bell Gully and Simpson Grierson, longstanding Christchurch firms Cavell Leitch Law and Lane Neave, and specialist Auckland firm Lowndes Associates, in its specialist category.
"This is a major achievement as corporate and commercial law is an area many lawyers and law firms around the country practice," organisers said.
More than 300 lawyers attended the seventh annual awards ceremony on Thursday at the Viaduct in Auckland. Awards were made based on more than 2000 clients nominating, rating and voting on their lawyers' service.
"The focus is on excellent client service, rather than which firms or lawyers advised on the biggest deals or the most notorious trials," organisers said.
• Other premium winners were: Large law firm of the year, Kensington Swan; ASB mid-size law firm of the year, Cooney Lees Morgan, Tauranga; Team Factors boutique law firm of the year, Niemand Peebles Hoult, of Hamilton; Blue Star Group barrister of the year, Vivienne Crawshaw, of Auckland; Legal Personnel employer of choice, RSM Law, of Timaru (up to 50 employees), Lane Neave Lawyers, of Christchurch (51-100 employees), and Meredith Connell, of Auckland (more than 101 employees). Lane Neave Lawyers and Meredith Connell were joint overall winners.
