In the most prestigious event for the Australian and New Zealand legal industries, the 2008 Mettle ALB Australasian Law Awards recognised those who have excelled in their field over the past year. Held at the Westin Hotel in Sydney last night, the NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice, the Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, was joined by more than 600 lawyers, in-house counsels, bankers and corporate leaders for the biggest legal event of the year.

Over 30 awards were presented on the night, acknowledging Australasia's leading legal representatives. Among the winners was Sydney's Gilbert + Tobin, which was not only awarded the BHL Axiom Sydney Law Firm of the Year, but whose managing partner, Danny Gilbert, was honoured with the much-coveted Cicero Managing Partner of the Year title for his leadership through recent firm expansions.

Two new categories, reflecting the increasing interest and focus within the legal industry on issues of social responsibility, were LitSupport Corporate Citizen Law Firm of the Year and LitSupport CSR Law Firm of the Year, which were presented to Gilbert + Tobin and Baker & McKenzie respectively.

Wesfarmers's takeover of Coles was judged both as Grace Records Management M&A Deal of the Year and the Australian Deal of the Year due to its size, historic nature and complexity.

Qantas's in-house team, meanwhile, was recognised as Laurence Simons In-House Team of the Year, as a result of the effective strategy it implemented to fend off the buyout attempt by Airline Partners Australia.

"During 2007, we saw some of the biggest corporate activity and deals taking place that have lead to changes in the business landscape. Reputations were put on the line and battles were fought. The Mettle ALB Australasian Law Awards acknowledge the professionalism, dynamism and outstanding ability of this region's leading lawyers, bankers and dealmakers," said Mike Shipley, Managing Director of Key Media, organisers of the Awards.

The awards event raised funds for the Sydney Children's Hospital.

For a complete list of the winners and why they won, click here.