Hong Kong's finest legal minds converged at the JW Marriott on Sept. 13 for the 23rd Annual ALB Hong Kong Law Awards. This glittering gala, a highlight of the city's legal calendar, transformed into a powerhouse of networking as over 350 elite professionals from more than 100 law firms and 60 in-house legal teams gathered to celebrate excellence and innovation in the field.
This year's ceremony featured a record-breaking 650-plus submissions across 56 award categories, underscoring the event's significance in recognizing excellence in the legal profession. The most competitive categories included Young Lawyer of the Year and M&A Deal of the Year, each with over 40 entries, while Woman Lawyer of the Year and Debt Market Deal of the Year followed close behind with over 30 contenders.
The event was graced by guest of honour Grenville Cross, a British barrister who served as Hong Kong’s Director of Public Prosecutions between 1997 and 2009.
“The awards being made tonight will undoubtedly spur the recipients to greater heights, while also inspiring their peers to seek to emulate their example,” he said in his address. “Those who have missed out this year will only have done so very narrowly and must not be discouraged, for they will live to fight another day. Everybody who serves the law in Hong Kong seeks excellence, and tonight’s awards are a vivid demonstration that its legal system is in good hands.”
The prestigious prize of Hong Kong Law Firm of the Year was won by local heavyweight Deacons, while Keith Brandt of Dentons Hong Kong was named as the Managing Partner of the Year. Mayer Brown’s Asia chair Hannah Ha was adjudged the Woman Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm), while Clifford Chance’s Hong Kong practice was feted with the Corporate Citizenship Law Firm of the Year award.
In-house legal teams also received recognition, with Tencent Holdings winning the Hong Kong In-House Team of the Year award, China International Capital Corporation (International) being named as the Investment Banking In-House Team of the Year, FWD Group taking the top prize in the Insurance In-House Team of the Year category while The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was named the GBA In-House Team of the Year.
This year's awards reflect the dynamic nature of Hong Kong's legal landscape, showcasing the industry's resilience and adaptability in a rapidly evolving business environment. The high number of submissions across various categories demonstrates the sector's robust competition and commitment to excellence.
The full list of winners can be viewed here.
