Corporate Counsel Awards 2026 officially launched in partnership with Principal Partner LOD

“Partnering with Lawyers Weekly on the Corporate Counsel Summit and Awards from the start has been a real privilege. These events continue to raise the bar, offering corporate counsel a forum to connect, be inspired and celebrate the important work they do. We’re delighted to host them again in 2026."
 — Paul Cowling, Managing Director Australia, Lawyers on Demand – A Consilio Company

The Corporate Counsel Awards will once again spotlight excellence across Australia’s top-performing in-house legal teams and professionals. As one of the profession’s benchmark recognition programs, the awards continue to honour those shaping the future of in-house practice and driving meaningful impact within their organisations and the wider legal community.

Submissions and nominations are now open, with all eligible professionals and businesses across Australia encouraged to take part before they close on Friday, 13 February 2026.

To place a nomination, click here.

To start a submission, click here.

This year’s program features 36 categories across both individual and group honours, including:

Individual categories

• Academia, Education and Training Lawyer of the Year
• Agribusiness Lawyer of the Year
• Construction and Real Estate Lawyer of the Year
• Consultancy Lawyer of the Year
• Cyber Security Lawyer of the Year
• Defence and Security Lawyer of the Year
• Energy and Resources Lawyer of the Year
• Financial Services Lawyer of the Year
• Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Lawyer of the Year
• Government Lawyer of the Year
• Healthcare Lawyer of the Year
• Industrial, Materials and Manufacturing Lawyer of the Year
• Infrastructure and Utilities Lawyer of the Year
• Insurance Lawyer of the Year
• Legal Operations Professional of the Year
• Media and Telecommunications Lawyer of the Year
• New General Counsel of the Year
• Not-For-Profit Lawyer of the Year
• Professional Services Lawyer of the Year
• Sole Legal Counsel of the Year
• Sports and Entertainment Lawyer of the Year
• Technology Lawyer of the Year
• Transport and Logistics Lawyer of the Year
• Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Lawyer of the Year
• Wellness Initiative of the Year

Group categories

• Best Performance by a Team in Cyber Security Management
• Best Performance by a Team in Dealmaking
• Best Performance by a Team in ESG
• Best Performance by a Team in Financial Services
• Best Performance by a Team in Government
• Best Performance by a Team in Litigation Management
• Best Performance by a Team in Operational Management
• Best Performance by a Team in Pro Bono and Community Initiatives
• Large Law Department of the Year
• Mid-sized Law Department of the Year
• Small Law Department of the Year

Backed by Lawyers Weekly, Momentum Media, and an expert panel of senior legal professionals and industry leaders, the Corporate Counsel Awards employ a rigorous, transparent awards methodology designed to benchmark outstanding performance across the profession. Click here to view the methodology.

Judging assesses both qualitative and quantitative criteria, including leadership, innovation, diversity, business growth, professional excellence, and contributions to Australia’s legal sector.

The program culminates in a black-tie gala ceremony on Thursday, 14 May 2026 at The Star, Sydney, where the nation’s leading corporate counsel will be celebrated.

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