Samantha O’Brien and Michael Gill
DLA Piper has been awarded Law Firm of the Year at the Australian Insurance Industry Awards. The firm was announced the winner of the category featuring finalists Barry.Nilsson. Lawyers and HWL Ebsworth Lawyers.
On the same night, Michael Gill, a DLA Piper consultant and former partner with 38 years at the firm, was awarded the ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award.
“DLA Piper has shown itself to provide exemplary legal support to Australia’s insurance industry and to be truly deserving of the prize of Law Firm of the Year. In such a regulated environment, having quality legal services is crucial to the governance and running of any insurance company,” said Prue Willsford, CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance.
The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and founding partner Asia Insurance Review said DLA Piper won the prize for the broad range of insurance-related legal services it provides and the ongoing commitment of the firm to its insurance practice.
Mr Gill was recognised for his commitment to the development of insurance law in Australia and abroad, his thought leadership and pro-bono work.
“These are fantastic and momentous wins for us as a firm, particularly given our long-held strength in insurance locally and as a global firm committed to this important sector. It is incredibly satisfying to be recognised as the leading law firm by those that matter most – fellow members of the insurance industry,” Samantha O’Brien, DLA Piper’s Joint Insurance Sector Leader – Australia, said of the win.
The Awards were announced at a ceremony in Sydney last Wednesday.
The full list of winners is:
| Large General Insurance Company of the Year | Allianz |
| Small-Medium General Insurance Company of the Year | National Transport Insurance |
| Life Insurance Company of the Year | CommInsure |
| Large Broker of the Year | Aon |
| Medium Broker of the Year | Planned Cover |
| Small Broker of the Year | Parmia Insurance |
| Claims Service Provider of the Year | National Transport Insurance |
| Underwriting Agency of the Year | Brooklyn Underwriting Pty Ltd |
| Service Provider to the Insurance Industry | Taylor Fry |
| Innovation of the Year (joint winners) | Gratex International and CelsiusPro |
| Law Firm of the Year | DLA Piper |
| Women’s Council Employer of the Year | Swiss Re |
| Youth Development and Employer of the Year | Sportscover |
| Insurance Leader of the Year | Phil Hay, BT Financial Group |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Michael Gill |