Entry criteria

Eligibility

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

The time period covered by entries should be the past 12-18 months.

Law firms and in-house legal departments can only submit one entry for each category.

Covering statement - and evidence

Your 1,000 word statement is your entry. It must ‘tell the story' while also seeking to cover the specific criteria as set out in each category.

The weakest part of many entries is often 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.

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 covering statement.

Corporate Counsel Middle East Group Achievement Award
Entry criteria
The winner of this award is chosen by the Corporate Counsel Middle East Group.

In-house awards

General Counsel of the Year
Eligibility
Open to general counsel or heads of legal who are based in the Middle East.

Entry criteria
The judges will expect to see evidence of:
- Leadership
- Strategic vision
- Troubleshooting and legal skills

The entry submission should highlight concrete - and preferably measurable - ways in which the entrant 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.

Legal Department of the Year - Large Team
Eligibility
Open to in-house legal departments (of 6 or more) based in the Middle East.

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

The entry submission should highlight work and initiatives that best exemplify the team/individual'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.

Legal Counsel of the Year
Eligibility
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.

Entry criteria
Judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Leadership potential
- Legal skills
- Initiative
- Client relationship skills

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

In-house Innovation Award
Eligibility
Open to in-house teams or legal departments who are based in the Middle East.

Entry criteria
This award seeks to identify a project that genuinely breaks new ground in the delivery of legal services. This could be a supplier-focused project or one that transforms a key element of the department's culture or performance. It could be largely restricted to the legal department, or it could span several company departments. The entry should clearly set out the project's goals and provide hard evidence that these have been achieved.

CSR Initiative of the Year
Eligibility
Open to in-house teams or legal departments who are based in the Middle East.

Entry criteria
This is award seeks to identify a project that genuinely breaks new ground in the delivery of legal services. This could be a client-facing project or one that transforms a key element of the firm's culture or performance. It could involve individual teams - such as business development, finance or human resources - or it could span a number of departments. The entry should clearly set out the project's goals and provide hard evidence that these have been achieved.

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.

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 delivery)
- Employee development
- Sustainable improvements in financial performance

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

Middle East Law Firm of the Year
Eligibility
Open to 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 & cost effectiveness of delivery)
- Employee development
- Sustainable improvements in financial performance

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

Law Firm Innovation Award
Eligibility
Open to Middle East-based law firms and international firms with at least one office in the Middle East.

Entry criteria
This award seeks to identify a project that genuinely breaks new ground in the delivery of legal services. This could be a client-facing project or one that transforms a key element of the firm's culture or performance. It could involve individual teams - such as business development, finance or human resources - or it could span a number of departments. The entry should clearly set out the project's goals and provide hard evidence that these have been achieved.

CSR Initiative of the Year
Eligibility
Open to Middle East-based law firms and international firms with at least one office in the Middle East.

Entry criteria
The judges will be looking for a project that has effectively delivered its corporate and social responsibility objectives. This could be an international, national or local project and should demonstrate a coherent and integrated approach to the practical demonstration of CSR policies in action, and how the CSR project is aligned with the firm, company or chambers' strategic goals.

M&A Team of the Year
Eligibility
Open to Middle East-based M&A teams.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single case, deal or project that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services in this practice area and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position.Entries for this award should focus on a single deal that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services in this practice area and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position.

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

Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team of the Year
Eligibility
Open to Middle East-based teams working in the banking, finance and restructuring arena. Typical disciplines will include loans, acquisition finance and insolvency.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single case, deal or project that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services in this practice area and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction (including in relation to efficiency & cost effectiveness of delivery)

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
Eligibility
Open to specialist Middle East-based litigation, dispute resolution and regulatory teams. Typical disciplines will include commercial litigation, arbitration and regulatory law.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single case, deal or project that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services in this practice area and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Client satisfaction (including in relation to efficiency & cost effectiveness of delivery)

Property and Construction Team of the Year
Eligibility
Open to specialist Middle East-based property and construction teams. Typical disciplines will include property transactions, large-scale developments, property finance, funds and planning. Each submission should focus on a clearly-defined area of work.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single case, deal or project that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services in this practice area and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Team working
- Client satisfaction (including in relation to efficiency & cost effectiveness of delivery)

Transportation, Energy and Infrastructure Team of the Year
Eligibility
Open to specialist Middle East-based transportation, energy and infrastructure teams. Typical disciplines will include oil and gas, renewable energy, aviation, railways, road transportation.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single case, deal or project that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services in this practice area and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Team working
- Client satisfaction (including in relation to efficiency & cost effectiveness of delivery)

Commercial Team of the Year
Eligibility
Open to specialist Middle East-based commercial teams. Typical disciplines will include employment, pensions, TMT, outsourcing and tax.

Entry criteria
Entries for this award should focus on a single instruction, case, or deal or project that sets new standards in the delivery of legal services in this practice area and demonstrates the firm's market-leading position.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:
- Legal expertise and innovation
- Project management skills
- Team working
- Client satisfaction (including in relation to efficiency & cost effectiveness of delivery)