CATEGORIES

Award Categories and Criteria

DEAL AWARDS

Capital Markets Deal of the Year
- Reached completion between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
- Judged on its NZ aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in New Zealand Deal of the Year.
Consumer, Media and Tech Deal of the Year
- Reached completion between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
- Judged on its NZ aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in New Zealand Deal of the Year.
International Deal of the Year
- Reached completion between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
- Judged on the international work carried out by NZ firms, according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in New Zealand Deal of the Year.
NICHE Recruitment M&A Deal of the Year
- Reached completion between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
- Judged on its NZ aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in New Zealand Deal of the Year.
Mid-Market Deal of the Year
- Has a deal value not exceeding US$100m
- Reached completion between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
- Judged on its NZ aspects according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
Rembrandt New Zealand Deal of the Year

The winners of the Capital Markets, and Consumer, Media and Tech and International and M&A deal categories will automatically become finalists for New Zealand Deal of the Year.

Deals nominated for New Zealand Deal of the Year that do not also fall into any of these other categories will be assessed and may be added to this list of finalists, to be scored in the same way as other deals by the panel of judges.

IN-HOUSE AWARDS

Anthony Harper Young In-house Lawyer of the Year (35 or under)
- Is a qualified lawyer not exceeding 35 years of age as at 31 March 2018
- Is permanently employed within the in-house legal function of an organisation operating in New Zealand
- Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
MinterEllisonRuddWatts In-house Lawyer of the Year
- Is a qualified lawyer permanently employed within the in-house legal function of an organisation operating in New Zealand
- Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Financial Services In-house Team of the Year
- Is an in-house legal team in a banking, insurance or financial services organisation operating in New Zealand
- Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of its work between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Russell McVeagh In-house Team of the Year
- Is an in-house legal team in a non-financial-services organisation operating in New Zealand
- Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of its work between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
In-house teams that do not qualify for the Financial Services In House Team should be nominated in this category.

FIRM AWARDS

Employment Law Specialist Firm of the Year
- Derives at least 50% of its revenue from employment law matters
- Judged on expertise demonstrated between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Specialist Law Firm of the Year
- Derives at least 50% of its revenue from litigation and dispute resolution matters
- Judged on expertise demonstrated between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Intellectual Property Specialist Law Firm of the Year
- Derives at least 50% of its revenue from intellectual property law matters
- Judged on expertise demonstrated between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Property & Construction Specialist Law Firm of the Year
- Derives at least 50% of its revenue from property and construction law matters
- Judged on expertise demonstrated between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Insurance Specialist Law Firm of the Year
- Derives at least 50% of its revenue from insurance law matters
- Judged on expertise demonstrated between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
- Derives at least 50% of its revenue from a single practice area
- Judged on expertise demonstrated between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Firms that do not qualify for the specialist firm categories (Employment Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Property & Construction and Insurance) should be nominated in this category
Legal Personnel Employer of Choice (<50 Lawyers)
- Is a law firm employing no more than 50 lawyers on a full-time basis as at 31 March 2018
- Judged on performance between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018 across aspects such as employee engagement and retention, diversity and inclusion, remuneration and benefits, training and development, leadership, reward and recognition and work-life balance
Legal Personnel Employer of Choice (51-100 Lawyers)
- Is a law firm employing between 51 and 100 lawyers on a full-time basis as at 31 March 2018
- Judged on performance between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018 across aspects such as employee engagement and retention, diversity and inclusion, remuneration and benefits, training and development, leadership, reward and recognition and work-life balance
Legal Personnel Employer of Choice (>100 Lawyers)
- Is a law firm employing more than 100 lawyers on a full-time basis as at 31 March 2018
- Judged on performance between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018 across aspects such as employee engagement and retention, diversity and inclusion, remuneration and benefits, training and development, leadership, reward and recognition and work-life balance
Resolution Institute Mediator of the Year
- Is a member of Resolution Institute (formerly LEADR) or AMINZ, or both
- Judged on his/her achievements and performance between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Artemis Executive Recruitment Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (35 or under)
- Is a qualified lawyer not exceeding 35 years of age as at 31 March 2018
- Is permanently employed within a law firm in NZ
- Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Managing Partner of the Year (≤100 Lawyers)
- Is a managing partner, CEO or similar of a NZ law firm with no more than 100 lawyers employed on a full-time basis as at 31 March 2018
- Judged on his/her achievements and performance during the period 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Managing Partner of the Year (>100 Lawyers)
- Is a managing partner, CEO or similar of a NZ law firm with more than 100 lawyers employed on a full-time basis as at 31 March 2018
- Judged on his/her achievements and performance between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Deal Team of the Year (> 100 Lawyers)
- Is a practice group or team, within a law firm that employs more than 100 lawyers on a full-time basis
- Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of its deal involvement between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Deal Team of the Year (≤ 100 Lawyers)
- Is a practice group or team, within a law firm that employs no more than 100 lawyers on a full-time basis
- Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of its deal involvement between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Regional/Suburban Law Firm of the Year
- Is a law firm headquartered outside the central business districts of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch
- Judged on expertise across a range of practice areas between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Mid-size Law Firm of the Year
- Is a law firm of 6-24 partners
- Judged on expertise across a range of practice areas between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Large Law Firm of the Year
- Is a law firm of 25+ partners
- Judged on expertise across a range of practice areas between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018