PLEASE NOTE: The Middle East Legal Awards 2020 provides a unique opportunity for lawyers to gather to network and celebrate the profession's achievements. In order to foster this sense of occasion, it is not possible to advise finalists whether they have won or not. We respectfully request that law firms and corporate counsel only submit an entry if they intend to be present at the Awards evening.

Eligibility

Anyone can submit an entry, as long as they or the firm/company/individual they are entering meet the criteria for the relevant category.

There is a strict limit of one entry per law firm or in-house legal department per category.

For team awards the entries are required to focus on work on a single deal or case. The period covered by these awards is from 1 January 2019. While initiatives, deals or cases may have commenced before that time, the focus of the entry must be within the stated period. It will sometimes be acceptable to enter incomplete deals or cases, however there must have been significant developments during the period under review.

For the purposes of these awards the Middle East is defined as including Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco but excluding Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Submission process

Entries must be submitted using the awards’ online portal. The online forms for each category are divided into sections with strict word limits and instructions outlining the information that is required. While we encourage you to use the online forms, you may upload your entry as an attachment. However, if you do upload your entry, be sure to follow the same instructions as the online form and meet the required word limit for each section; please also include the word count for each section on your document. Entries that exceed the word counts will be disqualified.

Advice on how to put together a submission

Your entry should seek to ‘tell the story' of your achievements while also demonstrating how you have excelled against all the criteria. The weakest part of many entries last year was the failure to include clear evidence of achievement or explanation of why the achievement was significant or innovative. The judges will be harsh on entries that do not include clear statements of objectives and targets supported by evidence that these targets were reached. For example, if business growth is the target, achievement of it should be demonstrated in measurable terms.

All the information contained in the entries that is marked confidential will remain so, and will not be released without the permission of the entrant. However, please do not submit entries that are entirely confidential. This is because winning entries are written up and published on legalweek.com and other ALM Media titles. This is one of the major benefits of winning an award.

Supporting material

There is a strict limit of one piece of supporting material per entry. It is not obligatory to include supporting material: indeed it could count against you if the material is not pertinent to the entry. If you do include such material (which must be in digital form) please refer to it in your main submission.

In-house Awards

Legal Department of the Year - Large Team

Eligibility
Open to in-house legal teams which are based in the Middle East and have a headcount of six or more lawyers.

Entry criteria
The judges will expect to see evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Strategic vision
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction
- Employee development
- Contribution to the success of the business
- Efficiency

The submission should highlight work and initiatives that best exemplify the team's performance across the full spectrum of in-house responsibility (i.e. financial/customer/operational/people), rather than simply evidence of acting on one or more high-profile transactions.

The online entry form contains the following sections and word limits. If submitting your entry as a document, you must use the same headings and comply with the word counts; please also record the word count for each section on your document.

1) Department profile - briefly describe your company and outline the areas of responsibility of the legal department (include business units and regions) 100 words
2) Department structure - how many lawyers does the department employ and how is the team structured? 100 words.
3) Achievements - How has your department excelled across the full spectrum of in-house responsibilities? You should provide evidence of: legal expertise and innovation; strategic vision; teamwork; client satisfaction; employee development; contribution to the success of the business; and efficiency. Be sure to give concrete examples of how you have helped your company achieve its strategic objectives. 500 words.
4) Feedback - provide one written reference from an executive from within your company. 100 words.

Legal Department of the Year - Small Team

Eligibility
Open to in-house legal teams which are based in the Middle East and have a headcount of five or less lawyers.

1) Department profile - briefly describe your company and outline the areas of responsibility of the legal department (include business units and regions) - 100 words.
2) Department structure - how many lawyers does the department employ and how is the team structured? 100 words.
3) Achievements - how has your department excelled across the full spectrum of in-house responsibilities? You should provide evidence of: legal expertise and innovation; strategic vision; teamwork; client satisfaction; employee development; contribution to the success of the business; and efficiency. Be sure to give concrete examples of how you have helped your company achieve its strategic objectives. 500 words.
4) Feedback - provide one written reference from an executive from within your company. 100 words.

General Counsel of the Year – Large Team

Eligibility
Open to general counsel or heads of legal who are based in the Middle East and who oversee a team of six or more lawyers.

Entry criteria
The judges will expect to see evidence of:
- Leadership
- Strategic vision
- Troubleshooting and legal skills
- A commitment to employee development
- Client satisfaction
- Contribution to the success of the business
- Contribution to the wider community

The submission should highlight concrete - and preferably measurable - ways in which the GC has contributed to the success of his or her company across the full spectrum of in-house responsibility (i.e. financial/customer/operational/people), rather than simply evidence of acting on one or more high-profile transactions.

1) Name, title and company
2) Role - describe your role, including your areas of responsibility, reporting line and the size of your legal team. 200 words.
3) Achievements - how have you excelled in your role across the full spectrum of in-house responsibilities? You should provide evidence of your leadership skills, contribution to community and/or business life, strategic vision, troubleshooting and legal skills plus a commitment to employee development. Be sure to give concrete examples of how you have helped your company achieve its strategic objectives. 500 words
4) Feedback - provide one written reference from an executive from within your company. 100 words.

General Counsel of the Year – Small Team

Eligibility
Open to general counsel or heads of legal who are based in the Middle East and who oversee a team of less than six lawyers.

Rising Star Award

Eligibility
This award sets out to identify the GCs of tomorrow and is open to in-house lawyers who are based in the Middle East who do not hold the position of general counsel or head of legal and have between four and 10 years of experience. Only one entry is permitted for each Middle East legal team.

Entry criteria
The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Leadership
- Strategic vision
- Troubleshooting and legal skills
- Client satisfaction
- Contribution to the success of the business
- Contribution to the wider community

The submission should highlight concrete - and preferably measurable - ways in which the entrant has contributed to the success of his or her company.

1) Name, title and company
2) Role - describe your role, number of years of post-qualification experience and areas of responsibility. 100 words.
3) Achievements - how have you excelled in your role? You should provide evidence of your leadership ability, strategic vision, troubleshooting and legal skills, client satisfaction and contribution to the success of the business and the wider community. 600 words.
4) Feedback - provide one written reference from an executive from within your company. 100 words.

Deal Team of the Year

Open to legal departments or in-house legal teams that are based in the Middle East.

Entry Criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single corporate deal with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm’s market-leading position. They should summarise the deal’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Team working
- Client satisfaction and value for money

1) Deal outline - describe the deal and why it was important. 150 words.
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working. 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

Best Use of Technology by an In-House Team

Open to legal departments or in-house legal teams that are based in the Middle East.

Entry Criteria
The judges will be looking for a project that has played a critical role in the improvement of the entity’s performance. The judges will look favourably upon imaginative, well-executed projects that are delivered on time and within budget. The entry submission should include evidence of the benefits that the project has brought to the firm or legal department.

1) Name of organisation
2) Project/Initiative - define the project or initiative’s scope: include timelines, goals and team members. It is acceptable for the entry to focus on a particular stage of a long-term project. 250 words.
3) Implementation - how successful was the implementation of this project or initiative? Was it within budget and delivered in time? What have been its benefits? Please provide hard evidence that goals have – or are being – achieved. 450 words.
4) Feedback - please provide an appropriate written reference that illustrates the success of this project. 100 words.

Compliance Innovator of the Year

Eligibility
This award recognises the crucial importance of compliance in the Middle East and is open to legal departments or in-house legal teams that are based in the Middle East. We will welcome entries from individuals or teams.

Entry criteria
The judges will be looking for an ambitious project or initiative in the Middle East that has effectively delivered its objectives. The entry should describe the project, explain its significance, set out its goals and provide hard evidence that these goals have been achieved, or are being achieved.

CSR Initiative of the Year - In-House

Eligibility
Open to legal departments or in-house legal teams that are based in the Middle East.

Private Practice Awards

International Law Firm of the Year

Eligibility
Open to international law firms that have at least one office in the Middle East that carries the branding of that firm.

Entry criteria
Entries must convince the judges that they are not only leaders in their chosen markets, but that they have made significant progress over the past 12-18 months.

The judges will expect to see evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Strategic vision
- Business winning
- Client care (including measures relating to efficiency & cost effectiveness of service delivery)
- Employee development
- Sustainable improvements in financial performance
- A commitment to CSR

The submission should highlight deals, cases, client wins and initiatives that best exemplify the firm's performance. Objective data and research that support the entry will be looked on favourably by the judges.

1) Firm profile - provide a brief overview of your firm’s Middle East practice, including its size, history, number of offices and key practice areas. 150 words.
2) Strategy and milestones - outline your firm’s strategy for the Middle East: include goals and key milestones. With reference to your strategy, please provide evidence that it is succeeding, including financial data, flagship deals, client wins and other relevant developments eg. partner hires, investment in new technology, client feedback programmes etc. 500 words.
3) Employee development and CSR - how is your firm excelling in the fields of employee development and CSR? 150 words.

Regional Law Firm of the Year

Eligibility
Open to independent law firms that are headquartered in the Middle East.

Entry criteria
Entries must convince the judges that they are not only leaders in their chosen markets, but that they have made significant progress over the past 12-18 months.

The judges will expect to see evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Strategic vision
- Business winning
- Client care (including measures relating to efficiency and cost effectiveness of service delivery)
- Employee development
- Sustainable improvements in financial performance
- A commitment to CSR

The online entry form contains the following sections and word limits. If submitting your entry as a document, you must use the same headings and comply with the word limits; please also record the word count for each section on your document.

1) Firm profile - provide a brief overview of your firm, including its size, history, number of offices and key practice areas. 150 words.
2) Strategy and milestones - outline your firm’s strategy: include goals and key milestones. With reference to this strategy, please provide evidence that it is succeeding, including financial data, flagship deals, client wins and other relevant developments eg. partner hires, investment in new technology, client feedback programmes etc. 500 words
3) Employee development and CSR - how is your firm excelling in the fields of employee development and CSR? 150 words

Rising Star Award

Eligibility
This award sets out to identify the partners of tomorrow and is open assistant/associate solicitors who are based in the Middle East who have between four and 10 years of experience. Only one entry is permitted for each Middle East law firm.

Entry criteria
The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Leadership potential
- Legal skills
- Initiative
- Client relationship skills
- Contribution to the wider community

The submission should highlight concrete - and preferably measurable - ways in which the entrant has contributed to the success of his or her firm.

1) Name, title and firm
2) Role - describe your role, number of years of post-qualification experience and areas of responsibility. 100 words.
3) Achievements - how have you excelled in your role? You should provide evidence of your leadership potential, legal skills, initiative, client relationship skills and contribution to the wider community. 600 words.
4) Feedback -provide one written reference from someone within your firm. 100 words

Most Promising Newcomer Award

Eligibility
This award sets out to recognise newly qualified lawyers who have made a major impact on their businesses, demonstrating the qualities necessary for them to quickly climb the career ladder. It is open to assistant or associate solicitors with three or less years of post qualification experience (and can include trainees).

Entry criteria
Judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Leadership potential
- Legal skills
- Initiative
- Client relationship skills
- Contribution to the wider community

The submission should highlight concrete - and preferably measurable - ways in which the entrant has contributed to the success of his or her company.

1) Name, title and company
2) Role - describe your role, number of years of post-qualification experience and areas of responsibility. 100 words.
3) Achievements - how have you excelled in your role? You should provide evidence of your leadership potential, legal skills, initiative, client relationship skills and contribution to the wider community. 600 words.
4) Feedback - provide one written reference from an executive from within your company. 100 words.

Best Use of Technology

Open to law firms that have at least one office in the Middle East

CSR Initiative of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firms that have at least one office in the Middle East

Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single banking, finance or restructuring deal or case with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position. They should summarise the deal or case’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction and value for money

1) Deal outline - describe the deal or case and why it was important. 150 words
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal or case, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working. 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

Infrastructure and Energy Projects Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single deal with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position. They should summarise the deal’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction and value for money

1) Deal outline - describe the deal and why it was important. 150 words.
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

Construction Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single deal or case with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position. They should summarise the deal’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction and value for money

1) Deal outline - describe the deal and why it was important. 150 words.
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

Real Estate Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in The Middle East. Teams may be based in one firm; or working across several firms. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single deal with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position. They should summarise the deal or case’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction

1) Deal outline - describe the deal or case and why it was important. 150 words.
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal or case, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working. 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

Corporate Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single corporate deal with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm’s market-leading position. They should summarise the deal’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Team working
- Client satisfaction and value for money

Arbitration Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single case with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position. They should summarise the case’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction and value for money

The online entry form contains the following sections and word limits. If submitting your entry as a document, you must use the same headings and comply with the word counts; please also record the word count for each section on your document.

1) Deal outline - describe the case and why it was important. 150 words.
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal or case, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working. 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

Litigation Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single Middle East court case that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position. They should summarise the case’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction and value for money

1) Deal outline - describe the case and why it was important. 150 words.
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal or case, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working. 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

Regulatory and Investigations Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction and value for money

1) Deal outline - describe the deal and why it was important. 150 words.
2) Team's role - what was your team’s role on the deal, include details of team members and lead lawyer and explain why your team excelled against the following criteria: legal expertise and innovation, project management skills and team working 400 words.
3) Outcomes - provide evidence of client satisfaction and the ‘value’ your team brought to the table. What difference did the team make? 250 words.

TMT Team of the Year

Eligibility
Open to law firm teams, at least some of whose members are based in the Middle East. Law firms are restricted to one entry.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single technology, media & telecommunications (TMT) case or deal with a significant Middle East element to it that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position. They should summarise the deal or case’s key features, explain its significance and outline the team’s role.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction