The world’s most outstanding employment and labour law specialists are set to be celebrated as the shortlist for the IEL Awards 2023 is officially revealed.

The shortlist for the inaugural awards features a diverse array of law firms from around the world, representing both global powerhouses and boutique practices across a range of specialisms, from executive compensation and labour relations to disputes and investigations, as well as regional and global team awards.

Each firm and specialist practice has been carefully evaluated by IEL’s editorial team, who have scrutinised their achievements over the last 12 months along with client testimonials and market feedback.

The finalists for this year’s law firm awards are as follows:

 

Executive Compensation Team of the Year

CMS

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Linklaters

Mishcon de Reya

Orrick

Seyfarth Shaw

Slaughter and May

 

Labour Relations Management Team of the Year

Cuatrecasas

Lewis Silkin

Mattos Filho

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Rajah & Tann

Wolf Theiss

Zambelli & Partners

 

Disputes Team of the Year

Allen & Overy

Lewis Silkin

Linklaters

Littler

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Paul Hastings

Rajah & Tann

 

Investigations Team of the Year

Allen & Overy

DLA Piper

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Linklaters

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Pinsent Masons

Slaughter and May

Squire Patton Boggs

 

Transactional Team of the Year

Eversheds Sutherland

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Linklaters

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Paul Hastings

Slaughter and May

Wolf Theiss

 

North American Law Firm of the Year

Jackson Lewis

Littler

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Ogletree Deakins

Paul Hastings

Proskauer Rose

Seyfarth Shaw

 

Latin American Law Firm of the Year

Baker McKenzie

Basham, Ringe y Correa

Marval, O'Farrell & Mairal

Marvan González Graf y González Larrazolo

Mattos Filho

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría

Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown

 

European Law Firm of the Year

CMS

Cuatrecasas

Eversheds Sutherland

Garrigues

Gleiss Lutz

Littler

Wolf Theiss

 

Asia-Pacific Law Firm of the Year

AZB & Partners

Lewis Silkin

Rajah & Tann

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas

Tilleke & Gibbins

Trilegal

WongPartnership

Villaraza & Angangco

 

African Law Firm of the Year

Bloomfield Law

Bowmans

ENSafrica

Famsville

 

Middle Eastern Law Firm of the Year

Al Tamimi

Clyde & Co

Herzog Law

Pinsent Masons

Stephenson Harwood

 

Boutique Law Firm of the Year

Claeys & Engels

CM Murray

Flichy Grangé 

Kliemt.HR Lawyers

Sagardoy 

Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo

Vinatea & Toyama

Zambelli & Partners

 

International Employment Law Team of the Year

Bird & Bird

DLA Piper

Faegre Drinker

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Linklaters

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Paul Hastings

Seyfarth Shaw

Squire Patton Boggs

 

In addition to the practice and law firm of the year categories, IEL has also shortlisted the following individuals for recognition:

 

International Employment Lawyer of the Year - Private Practice

Darren Gardner, King & Spalding

Erika Collins, Faegre Drinker

Juan Bonilla, Cuatrecasas

Pattie Walsh, Bird & Bird

Ralf Peschek, Wolf Theiss

Sarah Henchoz, Allen & Overy

Suzanne Horne, Paul Hastings

Tarun Tawakley, Lewis Silkin

 

Private Practice Leader of Tomorrow

Anna Bond, Lewis Silkin

Brianna Pomatico, Orrick

Helena Rozman, Dentons

Lucy Carruthers, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Mathilde Pépin, Proskauer Rose

Matthew Wood, Mishcon de Reya

Patty Shapiro, Ogletree Deakins

Zhulieta Markova, Wolf Theiss

 

Morgan Lewis leads the way with shortlistings in six categories, followed by Freshfields, Linklaters, Lewis Silkin, Paul Hastings, and Wolf Theiss with five categories each.

The shortlist for in-house teams and barristers’ chambers awards will be announced later this week.

“We are excited to announce the first tranche of shortlisting for the 2023 IEL Awards. Shortlisted law firms and individual private practice lawyers have demonstrated exceptional skill and innovation in the practice of employment and labour law this year, both in the context of national and cross-border work,” said John van der Luit-Drummond, editor of IEL.

“Over the past year, these firms and individuals have set a benchmark for excellence other employment experts should aspire to. Picking the winners from this veritable who’s who list of market leaders will be no easy task, but we look forward to recognising all their achievements in London this November.”

The winners will be announced at a black-tie event on Wednesday 15 November at Plaisterers’ Hall in London. This gathering of legal luminaries promises to be a night of celebration, networking, and recognition of excellence within the legal profession.

For more information about the IEL Awards 2023, including awards categories and table booking information, visit internationalemploymentlawyer.com/awards.