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Young lawyer dealing with complex human issues wins CLANZ-Bell Gully award
A talented young lawyer dealing daily with difficult legal and human issues is the winner of the 2008 CLANZ-Bell Gully Young Corporate Lawyer of the Year Award.
Award winner Catherine Miller is legal adviser for the Counties Manukau District Health Board, a public health sector role presenting a multitude of challenges. All of which, the award judges note, Catherine handles with the highest degree of empathy and professionalism.
The award was announced last night at the Corporate Lawyers Association of New Zealand (CLANZ) annual conference being held in Rotorua.
Aisling Weir, legal counsel for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, was named as runner-up.
The CLANZ-Bell Gully Young Corporate Lawyer Award recognises an in-house lawyer in the early years of their career who has made an outstanding contribution in their role and demonstrated potential as a leading member of the in-house legal profession in New Zealand. Catherine wins $5000 to be put towards career development such as attending an overseas conference.
Catherine and Aisling were selected as winner and runner-up from a group of talented in-house lawyers by the judging panel of CLANZ patron Sir Ian Barker, QC, CLANZ president Helen Mackay and Bell Gully corporate partner Dean Oppenhuis.
Catherine was admitted to the bar in 2006 and has since worked at the Counties Manukau District Health Board, based at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland.
The nomination in support of Catherine's award describes her as an "exceptional young lawyer who provides high quality legal advice in a friendly and accessible manner".
"She relates well to everyone, from senior executives and doctors through to hospital orderlies and support staff. Catherine can explain very complex concepts to people who are not generally accustomed to dealing with legal matters on a daily basis. Her advice is always practical and reflects her 'common sense' approach."
In any day she can be required to advise on clinical matters such as withdrawal of life support, Mental Health Act proceedings, complex Privacy Act requests and HR problems, as well as assist with major commercial contract negotiations.
"Because of the nature of medico-legal work, and being part of a small two person team, she is effectively 'on call' 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. However, Catherine never complains and always provides sound and sensible legal advice, even if contacted in the middle of the night." says her nomination.
Runner-up Aisling Weir has been legal counsel at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare for the last two years, where her nomination notes, "she has demonstrated skills and expertise beyond her years of experience".
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare designs, manufactures and distributes medical devices to 110 countries and has subsidiaries and branches in over 15 jurisdictions. As part of a legal team of two, she provides legal support locally and globally to engineers, clinical specialists and sales and marketing teams.
The CLANZ conference wraps up today with Bell Gully-sponsored keynote speaker Hamish Carter sharing insights into how he turned the disappointment of the Sydney Olympics into gold medal triathlon success in Athens – and the lessons he now takes into business.
This is followed by a gala dinner to mark 21 years of CLANZ's work for the in-house legal profession in New Zealand.
For further information, please contact:
Josephine Gallagher
Senior Marketing and Communications Manager
