In a clear endorsement of its strategy to grow with its clients in Asia, Mallesons Stephen Jaques has been named Regional Law Firm of the Year for the third consecutive year at the IFLR Asian Awards.
Of Mallesons and its recent work IFLR said: "In a highly competitive market, Mallesons Stephen Jaques managed to score high praise for its technical abilities and high level of service."
In the Regional Law Firm of the Year category this year, Mallesons was pitched against Allen & Gledhill, Jun He Law Offices and Kim & Chang.
The firm was also named National Law Firm of the Year for Australia for the fourth year running. Additionally, the Nam Theun 2 hydro power project in Laos was recognised as Asia's Project Finance Deal of the Year. A multi-disciplinary, multi-office team from Mallesons worked on this transaction over the past decade. The team acted as the primary adviser to the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and drafted the benchmark project concession agreement allowing a US$1.25 billion project financing.
Mallesons' Chief Executive Partner, Robert Milliner said: "We are pleased to be acknowledged as Australian Law Firm of the Year four years running. We are grateful for our clients' continuing support and the trust they place in us.
"Our hat trick of Regional Law Firm of the Year wins is an endorsement of our strategy to grow with our clients and combine our leading capabilities with a deep understanding of and commitment to them.
"The Nam Theun 2 deal award is recognition that Mallesons has now firmly established itself as one of a select group of law firms with the credibility to act on big ticket financings in Asia. Lead partner Paul Cargill and team should be applauded for their ten year commitment to getting the deal through."
Managing Partner, China, Larry Kwok said: "Our natural advantage in having the vast majority of our lawyers based in the Asia-Pacific, along with the necessary language skills and familiarity with a variety of business cultures has enabled us to advise on some of the region's most complex, broad and innovative transactions of recent times.
"We are confident that the recent enhancement to our China practice with the appointment of leading China lawyer Stuart Valentine will serve to further benefit our clients."
The International Financial Law Review (IFLR) Asian Awards reward innovation, quality and commitment to the development of legal services in Asia. Emphasis is placed on complexity and market impact of transactions rather than size and media profile. The Awards have a particular focus on cross-border banking, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance work across the region. The regional prize is given to the firm that was involved in many of the most significant deals in the Asia-Pacific last year. It is for the firm that has made the biggest commitment to developing its practice across Asia.