There are thirteen categories for the Luxury Law Awards 2023.

Luxury Law Awards 2023 Categories

Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by: Taylor Wessing

The judging panel will choose an individual who has, during the course of their career, made an outstanding contribution to the development of luxury law, to the protection of the luxury brands and to the growth of successful businesses in the luxury sector.

Brands

Business Leader of the Year
Sponsored by K&L Gates

Open to senior executives at luxury companies

The winner of this award will have delivered growth for their brands and/or implemented a business development strategy that is innovative and proving effective in the luxury sector. Alongside measurable evidence of success, the judges will also be looking to recognise someone who displays soft leadership skills, including mentoring, and a commitment to ESG values.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Open to the founders of luxury companies

The judges will be looking for someone who is combining creativity with business acumen to carve out a sustainable market for a product or service thereby helping to ensure the luxury sector maintains its vibrancy and competitiveness. Alongside measurable evidence of success, the winner of this category will display soft leadership skills, including mentoring, and a commitment to ESG values.

Sustainability Initiative of the Year
Sponsored by McCarthy Tétrault

Open to in-house legal teams at luxury companies.

This category seeks to reward an initiative that has made a significant contribution to sustainability. The submission should focus on a single project or initiative that exemplifies the team’s sustainability credentials. The entry should clearly set out the project’s goals and demonstrate how they have been met citing hard evidence of success.

The Marella Naj-Oleari Luxury General Counsel of the Year
Sponsored by DWT

Open to general counsel at luxury companies

The recipient of this award will be a general counsel who has had an exceptional year fulfilling the dual role of business facilitator and guardian of their company’s brand. Alongside measurable evidence of success in meeting their targets, the judges will also be looking to recognise someone who displays soft leadership skills, including mentoring, and a commitment to ESG values.

Legal Team of the Year
Sponsored by Graff Search

Open to in-house legal teams at luxury companies

The winner of this category will be an in-house legal team which has proved its value to the business in a demonstrable way. The entry should focus on a single initiative that exemplifies the team’s winning credentials. It should clearly set out the initiative’s objectives and provide hard evidence that they have been met.

IP Counsel of the Year
Sponsored by HGF

Open to IP counsel at luxury companies

This category sets out to identify an IP lawyer who can demonstrate having made an outstanding contribution to the management of their company’s IP assets and protection of the brand. The submission should focus on a single matter or project that exemplifies the individual’s contribution to the business. The judges will be looking for evidence of legal expertise, team working, initiative and leadership.

Fashion Counsel of the Year 

Open to Fashion Counsel at luxury companies.

This category sets out to identify an IP lawyer who can demonstrate having made an outstanding contribution to the management of their company’s IP assets and protection of the brand. The submission should focus on a single matter or project that exemplifies the individual’s contribution to the business. The judges will be looking for evidence of legal expertise, team working, initiative and leadership.

Private Practice

Luxury Law Firm of the Year – International Firm

Open to law firms with a substantial network of offices across the world.

The winning firm will demonstrate that it not only has a market leading position advising clients in the luxury sector but that it has had an outstanding year. The judges will be looking for evidence of significant progress made during the last 12 months, including clients wins, cutting edge matters and initiatives to improve the value delivered to clients. Entries must include hard evidence of achievement, including client satisfaction. Evidence of a commitment to ESG will also be essential.

Luxury Law Firm of the Year – Independent Law Firm 

Open to independent law firms.

The winning firm will demonstrate that it not only has a market leading position advising clients in the luxury sector but that it has had an outstanding year. The judges will be looking for evidence of significant progress made during the last 12 months, including clients wins, cutting edge matters and initiatives to improve the value delivered to clients. Entries must include hard evidence of achievement, including client satisfaction. Evidence of a commitment to ESG will also be essential.

Partner of the Year 

Open to law firm partners who specialise in advising luxury companies

The winner of this award will have had an exceptional year delivering value for their clients and playing a leadership role at their firm. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal skills, team working, client care, leadership and a commitment to ESG.

Rising Star  

Open to law firm associates who specialise in advising luxury companies and who have five years of less of post-qualification experience.

This category is looking to identify a rising legal talent who has demonstrated the ability to add real value to the luxury business sector. The judges will be looking for evidence of legal expertise, team working, initiative, leadership potential and a commitment to ESG. Nominees must have five years of post-qualification experience or less.

IP Team of the Year

Open to IP teams advising luxury companies.

This award seeks to single out a luxury corporate team which has advised on a cutting-edge IP matter for a luxury client. The entry should focus on a single matter that exemplifies this team’s prowess. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal skill, innovation, team working, client satisfaction and the value delivered to the client.

Service Providers

Technology Provider of the Year 

This category recognises the vital contribution technology providers make to luxury law. The judges will be looking to recognise a product or service that is helping brands deliver value to their clients. Entries must provide a description of the product or service’s unique capabilities and evidence of the value it delivers to its clients.

Timeline for the entered categories:

Open for entries: Thursday 2nd February
Deadline for entries: Friday 24 March
Shortlist announced: Tuesday 25 April
Awards: Tuesday 13 June