CLANZ CORPORATE LAWYER OF THE YEAR
2007 WINNER: Graeme Buchanan - Department of Labour

To be considered for this award, candidates had to have made:
1. A valuable contribution to organisational goals as in-house counsel.
2. A contribution to the in-house counsel and/or legal profession in New Zealand. 
 
Graeme Buchanan has been the head of the legal group for the Department of Labour for over 25 years. Graeme is Deputy Secretary for the Department of Labour and has acted as Chief Executive. He is a member of the Legislation Advisory Committee and he manages the Government's relationship with the International Labour Organisation. Graeme has overseen the development of a large number of key legislative reforms and their passage through Parliament and has built an enviable legal team.  The judges were particularly impressed with Graeme’s leadership in encouraging other public sector lawyers in a “spirit of public service” including promoting better and more unified ways for public sector lawyers to work together in a collaborative manner.

Dr James Buwalda, Chief Executive, Department of Labour described Graeme as “an outstanding example of professional and practical leadership”. Rt Hon Margaret Wilson, Speaker of the House, had this to say concerning Graeme: “It was a real privilege to work with Graeme when I was Minister of Labour.  His experience, professionalism and integrity encapsulated the very best example of an in-house counsel … Graeme is a true legal professional with the utmost integrity. I cannot think of a better recipient of the award.”

Sir Ian Barker and Graeme Buchanan		Graeme Buchanan

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CLANZ/BELL GULLY YOUNG CORPORATE LAWYER OF THE YEAR
2007 WINNER: Rebecca Davidson - Beca Group

Rebecca Davidson (centre) pictured with Sir Ian Barker and Dean Oppenhuis of Bell Gully.		Rebecca Davidson

The winner is a person who has succeeded in a complex environment, working on large projects with complex technical and legal issues. This environment is the engineering industry.

Colleagues say: “To be a young woman, heading an in-house team of eight lawyers at New Zealand’s iconic international engineering consultancy, requires a truly unique set of leadership skills and personal attributes. She has demonstrated true leadership in being able to champion the importance of risk management and mitigation as well as providing ‘corporate decision support’ and she prevails with a persuasive and quiet manner.”

First runner-up 
Saar Cohen-Ronen, Department of Internal Affairs
Saar is very highly regarded by his colleagues at DIA in his role as a censorship and gambling compliance prosecutor. One of his colleagues described him as “the most enthusiastic and committed young lawyer” he has met with a “wonderful grasp of legal issues and remedies beyond his years of experience.”

Second runner-up 
Tim Mahood, NIWA
Tim started at NIWA two years ago as its first ever in-house lawyer, making for a very much sink or swim environment. NIWA is an organisation with 600 staff across six countries. Tim has spent the last two years shaping the way NIWA understands and uses its legal resources and, from all accounts, he’s done a fantastic job having to be a jack of all trades.

CLANZ/WIGLEY COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION AWARD

2007 JOINT WINNERS:
Rosemary Dixon - Contact Energy, and Javed Khan - NZ Post

Rosemary Dixon - Contact Energy
18 years service with school debating

Sir Ian Barker and Rosemary Dixon		Rosemary Dixon

Javed Khan - NZ Post
For his work in representing the Islamic community in New Zealand.

Sir Ian Barker and James Kilty of NZ Post accepting on behalf of Javed Khan.

Sir Ian Barker with Joint Award Winners Rosemary Dixon and James Kilty of NZ Post accepting on behalf of Javed Khan.

Highly commended: Karen Spackman, Gibson Group, Wellington, for her help in the theatre world (Bats) and Hiranthi Abeygoonesekera of Housing Corp for her help with tsunami victims.

2007 CLANZ Award Winners and Presenters (L-R) Michael Wigley, James Kilty, Rosemary Dixon, Rebecca Davidson, Dean Oppenhuis, Sir Ian Barker, Graeme Buchanan, Genevieve Hancock.