WA In-House Counsel of the Year Award
Awarded to a legal professional who made a significant contribution during 2024/25 to the success of their organisation or in-house team.
Nominees are not required to be members of the Law Society, but they must give their consent to being nominated and must be practising in Western Australia.
The WA In-House Counsel of the Year Award is now open for nominations and closes at 5pm on Monday, 18 August 2025.
Award criteria
The award will be judged on three criteria as follows:
- Impact: Demonstrated, measurable contribution that strengthened or advanced their organisation or team (for example, improving systems, processes, legal operations, relationships, governance, risk management, or service delivery).
- Strategy: Demonstrated ability to provide practical legal solutions that enabled their organisation to achieve its goals, while balancing legal risk and organisational strategies and objectives (for example by closing deals, overcoming challenges, solving complex problems, or unlocking opportunities).
- Courage: Unwavering commitment to ethical, professional, and legal standards, including acting with integrity and demonstrating leadership in complex or high-stakes situations.
Judging panel
Cav. Maria Saraceni: Honours Committee member, The Law Society of Western Australia
Paula Wilkinson: Immediate Past President, The Law Society of Western Australia
Irene Kuo GAICD: State President, Australian Corporate Counsel, Australia WA Division
Toby Browne-Cooper: Managing Director, Oryx Communities
Important dates
- Nominations open on Friday, 11 July 2025.
- Nominations close at COB on Monday, 18 August 2025.
- Unfortunately, late submissions will not be accepted.
- Award winners will be announced at the Law Society’s 2025 Gala Awards Evening on Friday, 7 November 2025. Click here for more information.
Further information
Contact Member Services on (08) 9324 8692 or email membership@lawsocietywa.asn.au.
Previous Award recipients
Emerging Lawyer of the Year - Practitioner with less than five years experience
- 2024 – Sophie Coffin
- 2023 – Felicia Chan
- 2022 – Monica Vu
- 2021 – Kendra Turner
- 2020 – Heidi Gan and Hamish Glenister
- 2019 – Kelsi Forrest
- 2018 – Tegan Harrington
- 2017 – Krista McMeeken
- 2016 – Michael Geelhoed
- 2015 – Callum Hair
- 2014 – Jessica Bowman and Stephanie Puris
- 2013 – Gary Mack
- 2012 – Tammy Solonec
- 2011 – Breony Allen
- 2009 – Toni Emmanuel
- 2008 – Anna Rakoczy
