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CLANZ is pleased to announce the 2008 Awards Winners. Three awards were made on Thursday
16th May 2008 at the 21st Annual CLANZ Conference in Rotorua. Each award recognised a different aspect of the valuable contribution that corporate lawyers make both to the legal profession and to the wider community. Congratulations to all our winners!

2008 WINNER
Melissa Gill
Ministry of Social Development

RUNNER UP
David Shanks
tate Services Commission

HIGHLY COMMENDED
John Kennedy-Good
Landcorp Farming Ltd

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Melissa Cantell
Fonterra

Melissa Gill - Winner, Helen Mackay - CLANZ Immediate Past President
Sir Ian Barker - CLANZ Patron, Sharman Buckle - LexisNexis

BACKGROUND
The 2008 CLANZ - LEXISNEXIS Corporate Lawyer of the Year is awarded to an in-house lawyer who has made a valuable contribution to their employer and the profession. To be considered for the award, a candidate should be able to demonstrate:

1. valuable contribution to organisational goals as in-house counsel; and

2. contribution to the in-house counsel and/or legal profession in New Zealand.

The award-winner will receive a scholarship package to the value of NZ$5000 to be spent on development activities for them and/or their team.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Nominees should be in-house counsel members of CLANZ – i.e. lawyers with practicing certificates employed as lawyers by corporate, government or similar organisations, not in private practice. Members of the judging panel are not eligible.

JUDGING
Nominations will be considered by a panel comprising the President of CLANZ-Helen Mackay, the CLANZ Patron-Sir Ian Barker and Sharman Buckle of LexisNexis.

2008 WINNER
Catherine Miller - Counties Manukau District Health Board

RUNNER UP
Aisling Weir - Fisher and Paykel Healthcare

Picture:
Catherine Miller - Winner,
Dean Oppenhuis - Bell Gully,
Sir Ian Barker - CLANZ Patron

BACKGROUND
The 2008 CLANZ - Bell Gully Young Corporate Lawyer of the Year is awarded to an in-house lawyer who has made an outstanding contribution to their employer and who has clearly demonstrated their potential as a leading member of the in-house legal profession in New Zealand or has the potential to develop into a leading member of the in-house legal profession in New Zealand.

The award-winner will receive a scholarship package to the value of NZ$5,000 to be spent on development activities that will help them develop their career, such as attendance at an overseas or domestic conference or a contribution towards course fees. To be considered for the award, a candidate should be able to demonstrate:

    1. outstanding contribution in an in-house counsel role; and
    2. contribution as a leading member or the clear potential to develop into a
        leading member of the in-house legal profession.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Nominees should be in-house counsel members of CLANZ – i.e. employed as practising lawyers in New Zealand by corporate, government or similar organisations, and not in private practice. Members of the judging panel are not eligible. Nominees must have worked in an in-house counsel role for less than five years as at 15 May 2008 and it should be no more than 10 years
since their first date of admission as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand or their original country of admission.

JUDGING
Nominations will be considered by a panel comprising the President of CLANZ-Helen Mackay, the Patron of CLANZ-Sir Ian Barker and Dean Oppenhuis of Bell Gully.

2008 WINNER
Felicity Heffernan - Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Kirsten Todd - First Foundation

Picture:
Felicity Heffernan - Winner,
Sir Ian Barker - CLANZ Patron,
Michael Wigley - Wigley and Company

BACKGROUND
The 2008 CLANZ - Wigley & Company Community Contribution Award is awarded to an in-house lawyer who has made an outstanding contribution to the community. The award-winner will have NZ$7,000 paid to their chosen cause.

Many corporate lawyers contribute to the community beyond their “day jobs”. They voluntarily support many community activities, legal and otherwise, such as:
• assisting with Community Law Centres;
• lobbying on behalf of interest groups;
• helping not-for-profits with their legal work;
• volunteering for charities;
• supporting the arts;
• getting involved in cultural, sports and youth groups

These corporate lawyers are unsung heroes and their work often goes unrecognised. The CLANZ - Wigley & Company Award seeks out the best contribution to the community by a corporate lawyer. Suitable candidates are often reluctant to come forward so it would be very helpful if people could think about who might be suitable and put their names forward.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Nominees must be in-house counsel members of CLANZ – i.e. employed as practising lawyers in New Zealand by corporate, government or similar organisations, and not in private practice. Members of the judging panel are not eligible.

They should be corporate lawyers who have made a strong contribution in the community outside their normal work. All types of community work qualify for the award. These corporate lawyers contribute quietly and effectively in the community, so they may not be willing to put their own names forward. CLANZ encourages you to suggest names. We hope that the prospect that funds will go to the winner’s chosen cause will encourage nominees to come forward.

JUDGING
Nominations will be considered by a panel comprising the President of CLANZ-Helen Mackay, the Patron of CLANZ-Sir Ian Barker and Michael Wigley of Wigley & Company.

2007 WINNERS
CLANZ is pleased to announce its 2007 Awards. Three awards were made on 17 May 2007 at the 20^th Annual CLANZ Conference in Christchurch.

Each award recognises a different aspect of the valuable contribution that corporate lawyers make both to the legal profession and to the wider community.

Please click here to view the 2007 Award Winners