Posted: Mar 25, 2010
London, United Kingdom – The (ILO) and the (ACC Europe) hosted the third European Counsel Awards at London’s sumptuous Dorchester Hotel on 17 March. The gala event celebrated the achievements of in-house counsel recognized by their peers as excelling in their chosen fields.
“The very best counsel add value by taking a pragmatic rather than a legalistic approach. Averting the risks is only half the job. Realizing opportunities and working alongside our business partners to achieve the business objectives is the other half,” explained Panagiotis Perysinakis, chapter treasurer of ACC Europe and group commercial counsel, The Body Shop International plc.
To identify the winners the ILO team conducted in-depth analysis of in-house lawyers and legal departments worldwide, receiving over 3,000 individual nominations. Respondents were asked to focus on criteria such as effective communication, legal understanding, commercial awareness, depth and strength of team, and management skills. Awards were presented to both individuals and legal teams working in the following areas: competition, employment, general commercial, M&A, intellectual property, litigation and regulatory (financial and non-financial).
Ivan Masliaev of OAO Lukoil was named General Counsel of the Year after receiving 54 individual nominations from partners at no fewer than 18 law firms.
“Mr Masliaev displays a unique combination of superior communication skills, managerial talent and outstanding legal knowledge. His sound judgement and extremely high levels of expertise in virtually every area of law make him a key factor in the company’s business achievements,” enthused one such respondent.
The event sponsors were Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Litigation award); Clifford Chance LLP (Competition and General Commercial awards); Hogan & Hartson LLP (M&A and Pro Bono awards); The IP Media Group (Intellectual Property award); as well as Baker & McKenzie; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Gianni, Origoni, Grippo & Partners; Herbert Smith LLP; Lovells LLP; Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, RL; Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP; Sagardoy Abogados; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
For more information and a complete list of winners, visit .
About ILO
Launched in 1998, ILO is a nexus where global corporate counsel engage with the world’s pre-eminent law firms, and each other. The ILO brand encompasses:
• A multifaceted online resource for senior international corporate counsel, which provides tailored, quality-assured updates on global legal developments, a database of the world’s major deals and the legal advisers involved, and a comprehensive directory of firms and partners.
• An awards programme recognizing and rewarding those law firms and partners that have been commended exclusively by corporate counsel for their client service.
• A European and global awards programme that identifies in-house corporate counsel, both teams and individuals, who excel in their specific roles. The awards culminate each year in two of the largest annual gatherings of senior corporate counsel, with prestigious ceremonies in London and New York.
In recognition of its unique relationship with global corporate counsel, ILO became an International Online Media Partner to the Association of Corporate Counsel in 2005. Many other leading legal associations around the world have also chosen to partner with ILO.
About ACC Europe
ACC Europe serves the needs of lawyers practising in corporations and other organizations throughout Europe. ACC Europe promotes the common interests of its members, contributes to their continuing legal education and seeks to improve the understanding of the role of in-house counsel. ACC Europe is a chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), which since its founding in 1982 has grown to over 25,000 members in nearly 70 countries, representing more than 10,000 corporations and organizations. Headquartered in Washington, DC, its members represent all of the Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 companies. Internationally, its members represent 42 of the Global 50 and 74 of the Global 100 companies. Membership in ACC Europe includes membership in the ACC. Additional information on ACC Europe can be found at .
About the European Counsel Awards
In January 2008 ILO, in association with ACC Europe, launched the European Counsel Awards to recognize the excellent work done by corporate in-house legal teams and individuals. The primary aim is to reward lawyers for demonstrable achievements across the full spectrum of in-house responsibility, and not simply those who have acted on high-profile transactions. Winners have performed above and beyond the usual requirements of their profession and position. The ILO research team focused on criteria such as effective communication, legal understanding, commercial awareness, depth and strength of team, and management skills, in addition to any significant projects or transactions. While based on thorough and coherent research, the results remain the subjective views of the ILO team.
Contact:
Tom Gillett on +44 20 7234 0606 or tgillett@internationallawoffice.com
