General Counsel of the Year

Open to Female General Counsel / Heads of Legal resident in a GCC country.

The judges will be considering:
• leadership and management skills;
• volume and complexity of matters handled in 2024;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• employee development;
• initiatives for a more efficient legal department;
• overall contribution to the success of the organisation.

Legal Counsel of the Year

Open to female legal counsel resident in a GCC country.

The judges will be considering:
• the volume and complexity of work in 2024;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• career development;
• overall contribution to the success of the organisation.

Arbitration Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on a single dispute that went to arbitration (even if ultimately settled) worked on in 2024.

The judges will be considering:
• the complexity of the dispute;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• case management skills;
• advocacy skills;
• outcome for the client;
• the amount at stake
• the importance of the dispute.

Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on work on a single banking & finance deal worked on in 2024.

The judges will be considering:
• the complexity of the deal
• legal expertise and innovation;
• transaction management skills;
• the value and importance of the deal;
• the result for the client.

Competition & Regulatory Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on work on a single competition law or regulatory matter worked on in 2024.

The judges will be considering:
• legal and technical expertise;
• legal strategy;
• advocacy skills;
• the importance of the matter;
• outcome for the client.

Construction Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on work on a single property or construction project worked on in 2024.

The judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• project management skills;
• the value and importance of the project;
• result for the client.

Corporate-Commercial Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on a single corporate, joint venture, capital markets, or restructuring deal worked on in 2024 other than a merger or acquisition (use the M&A Lawyer of the Year entry form for M&A deals).

The judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• the complexity and value of the transaction;
• transaction management skills;
• the value and importance of the deal;
• outcome for the client.

Employment Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on work on a single employment case or other employment matter worked on in 2024.

The judges will be considering:
• legal expertise, taking into account the complexity of the matter;
• innovation, strategy, and advocacy skills;
• the legal importance of the matter;
• result for the client.

Litigator of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on work on a single employment case or other matter worked on in 2024.

Judges will be looking at:
• legal expertise, taking into account the complexity of the case;
• innovation, strategy, and advocacy skills;
• the legal importance of the case;
• outcome for the client.

M&A Lawyer of the Year (NEW)

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on a Mergers & Acquisitions deal worked on in 2024.

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• transaction management skills;
• the complexity and value of the transaction;
• the value and importance of the deal;
• outcome for the client.

Tax Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Entries for this award should focus on work on a single tax case or other matter worked on in 2024.

Judges will be looking at:
• legal and technical expertise;
• innovative thinking;
• case strategy and advocacy skills;
• the legal importance of the case or other matter;
• outcome for the client.

Private Practice Lawyer of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country.

Judges will be looking at:
• legal expertise;
• practice development and business winnings;
• outcomes for clients;
• contribution to the success of the firm.

Rising Star of the Year

Open to female private practice and in-house lawyers resident in a GCC country. Candidates must have worked as a lawyer or legal consultant for less than four years as of 1 January 2025.

Candidates in this category have made a strong impact in a short space or time and are set to become the stars of the future.

Judges will be considering:
• technical expertise;
• initiative;
• work ethic;
• leadership potential;
• contribution to the success of the firm.

Senior Associate of the Year (NEW)

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country. Candidates must be an associate in a law firm and have worked as a lawyer or legal consultant for more than four years as of 1 January 2025.

Candidates in this category show potential to be leaders in their practice area.

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise;
• innovative thinking;
• ability to lead a matter;
• work ethic;
• leadership potential;
• contribution to the success of the firm.

Law Firm Leader of the Year 

Open to female managing partners, founding partners and sole proprietors of a law firm or law firm office in the GCC.

Judges will be looking at:
• leadership and management skills
• legal expertise;
• business winnings;
• client service initiatives;
• firm/office expansion.

Legal Services Innovator of the Year

Open to:

i) female legal practitioners resident in a GCC country;

ii) female judges and court registrars in a GCC country;

iii) female professionals working in policy, finance, operations, human resources, IT, sales, or marketing & business development in the legal services sector in a GCC country.

The winner of this award will have achieved exceptional results for her employer or its clients, thereby inspiring the next generation of women in similar roles to reach their full potential. Judges will be looking for evidence of technological innovation, client service and support initiatives, business winnings, and a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards.

The Professional Achievement Award

Open to female private practice lawyers, in-house lawyers, judges, and court or tribunal administrators who have been working as a lawyer, judge or court administrator for at least 10 years in the GCC.

The Professional Achievement Award honours a woman who has been working in the law in the GCC for at least 10 years, who has made a sustained and lasting contribution to her field of practice, to the legal profession, and/or to advancing the Rule of Law, and whose accomplishments have made her an outstanding role model for young women entering the field of law.