2008 Corporate Counsel Awards announced

The awards, which recognized the UAE's leading in-house counsel for significant achievements across the full spectrum of in-house responsibility, were presented during a Gala Dinner held at Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Beach Resort & Marina.

The 12 award categories were developed after detailed industry and market consultation and are as follows: Best Multinational Corporate In-House Legal Team, Best Local Corporate In-House Legal Team, Best In-House Counsel - Financial services sector, Best In-House Counsel - Real estate sector, Best Government In-House Counsel, Best In-House Counsel - Hospitality sector, Best In-House Counsel -Telecoms/media/IT sector, Best In-House Counsel - Private equity/investment sector, Best In-House Counsel - Energy & Infrastructure sector, Best In-House Counsel - Transportation & Retail sector, Champion of the In-House Profession and Best General Counsel of the Year.

"This year's winners exemplify the creativity, drive and determination of the UAE's in-house counsels, and their efforts to provide superb service to their clients. We applaud their leadership and are happy to celebrate their accomplishments tonight," Justin A. Connor, the acting Chairman of the DCCG. "We know that we cannot honor all the terrific people and departments, but I believe that by highlighting the remarkable accomplishments of a select few, we elevate the profile of all in-house counsel and promote the in-house practice of law."

The winners were selected from a large pool of nominations submitted by the legal community at large in response to an open call for nominations. The panel of judges for the 2008 Corporate Counsel Awards was comprised of Ewan Cameron, Managing Partner, Linklaters, Sadiq Jafar, Managing Partner, Hadef, Rindala Beydoun, Managing Partner, Latham & Watkins and Simon Crompton, Editor, International Financial Law Review.

The DCCG 2008 Corporate Counsels Awards were supported by Al Tamimi & Company, Ashurst, Eversheds, Fulbright and Jaworski, Hadef, Latham & Watkins, Laurence Simons, LexisNexis, Norton Rose, and Vinson and Elkins.