The winners of the 2018 ILANZ In-house Lawyer Awards have been announced.

The awards were made at the 31st ILANZ Conference Gala Dinner on 18 May in Hamilton, following the national ILANZ conference.

“The awards reflect the outstanding and varied contribution that in-house lawyers make to their organisations and their community,” says ILANZ President Sian Wingate.

“In-house lawyers contribute to their organisations not just with excellent legal advice and support but also provide strategic input and innovation as demonstrated by this year’s award winners,” she says.

Winners in each of the ILANZ Awards categories receive scholarship packages that go towards personal training and development for themselves, their team or their community organisation.

Buddle Findlay Public Sector In-House Lawyer of the Year Award

Prize: Scholarship package of $5,000.

Patricia Windle has been with the Broadcasting Standards Authority for 10 years and her nomination featured resounding endorsements from the Chief Executive, Chair and her colleagues in the legal team.

“Patricia is a highly valued and trusted advisor to the Board and Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Standards Authority, a respected leader of her team,” says Ms Belinda Moffat, Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

“She is also respected and trusted by our various stakeholders, including the broadcasting sector, and also members of the public who refer their complaints to us.  

“She role models the BSA values of integrity, independence, collaboration and respect,” Ms Moffat says.

Greenwood Roche Private Sector In-House Lawyer of the Year Award

Marise Winthrop, Livestock Improvements Corporation (LIC)

Prize: Scholarship Package of $5,000.

Marise has been at LIC for over 5 years having joined from private practice. Marise manages all legal issues for LIC subsidiaries globally as well as managing all external legal providers. In the time that Marise has been at LIC, the legal team has grown from one lawyer (Marise) to a wider group, managed by Marise, covering both the legal and intellectual property teams.

Marise provides strategic thinking/advice to the business including strategic and tactical options on the creation and protection of LIC’s significant and growing portfolio of IP assets. Marise provides encouraging and mentoring support not just to her own team but also law students and high school students considering law.  

“Marise contributes to excellence through leadership by bringing high standards, professionalism and commercial acumen to the services she provides to LIC,” says Company Secretary, Ms Gillian Brennan.

MAS Young In-House Lawyer of the Year Award

Highly Commended: Monique Esplin, Senior Solicitor, Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Winner: Mark Boddington, Legal Counsel, Scientific Software and Systems Limited (SSS)

Prize: Scholarship package of $5,000.

Mark has been employed as legal counsel at SSS since 2014, his first role as an in-house lawyer. SSS has staff located in Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Italy and Scotland. Mark provides services in all areas needed by SSS’s multi-national group of companies involved in complex intellectual supply and services contracts in IT Security and Finance markets.  

Mark also continues to tutor at Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Accounting and Commercial Law and was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2016.  

“The services provided by Mark as SSS’s in-house legal counsel has significantly contributed to the company’s performance,” says Managing Director, William Tonkin.  

“Mark is highly regarded both professionally and personally at all levels throughout the organisation.”  

Artemis Executive Recruitment In-House Innovation Award

Mercury Legal Team, Mercury Limited

Prize: Scholarship package of $5,000.

The Mercury Legal Team have developed an innovation framework that is aligned with their company’s overall strategy. They have introduced and embedded drop-in clinics and legal labs to support the wider business and modernised legal operations introducing e-reviews of contracts, paperless invoices and online document management. The Head of Mass Market Segments at Mercury, Mohammed Abbas supported their nomination.

“One of our core values at Mercury is ‘Share and Connect’ and the legal team epitomises this attitude. They are drivers of change within Mercury and lead by example with their innovative approach to providing legal services,” says Mr Abbas.  

AUT Law School Community Contribution Award

Pakeeza Rasheed, engaged as Associate Counsel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Prize: Donation of $4,000 to a charity of Pakeeza’s choice. $1,000 scholarship to Pakeeza for training and development.

Pakeeza Rasheed was nominated for this award in recognition of her ongoing commitment and contribution to community organisations both in New Zealand and overseas.

Pakeeza is currently Chairperson of the Khadija Leadership Network and sits on the board of the Human Rights Lawyers Association as well as being an Associate of the Island Rights Initiative (a not-for-profit that works with small island nations on human rights issues).

Nominated by Tayyaba Khan, from the department of Internal Affairs and a founder of the Khadija Leadership Network, Pakeeza was commended for her longstanding commitment to community services.

“Pakeeza was born in Fiji and has spent significant portions of her life overseas so she takes a global view of ‘community’ that is not just limited to her city or the country in which she resides,” says Ms Khan.

“Those who know her are always surprised by her humility and how much of her time is spent helping others, almost exclusively on a voluntary basis with little fanfare or visibility.”  

Chapman Tripp In-House Team of the Year Award

Whitireia Community Law Centre Team

Prize: Scholarship package of $5,000.

This nomination was described as outstanding by the Award judges. Praised by their supporters for the guidance and professional support that they provide to the most vulnerable in their local community, their community outreach and education and the excellence of their legal support, the Law Centre team dynamic is described as fresh, enthusiastic and lively.

“This group of lawyers aren’t just professionals who know what they are doing, they are community minded and 100% in service to the people they meet daily – it is obvious that they enjoy where they work and the work they do,” Rachel Scott, Education Partnerships Facilitator at Partners Porirua says.