General Counsel of the Year

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

The judges will be considering:
• demonstration of leadership and team management;
• volume and complexity of work since January 2025;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• overall contribution to the success of the business.

Legal Counsel of the Year

Open to female legal counsel in the private sector or in a State-owned commercial entity resident in a GCC country.

Judges will be considering:
• volume and complexity of work since January 2025;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• contribution to the legal department’s delivery of an exceptional legal services.

Government Lawyer of the Year

Open to female lawyers working in a government ministry, agency, court or GCC State entity. Please note that lawyers working for State-owned commercial companies are not eligible in this category.

Judges will be considering:
• volume and complexity of work since January 2025;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• contribution to advancing the legislative, policy and compliance objectives 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 after 1 January 2025.

Judges will be considering:
• the complexity of the dispute;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• case strategy;
• advocacy work;
• the importance of the dispute
• added value brought to the client.

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 after 1 January 2025.

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

Competition 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 after 1 January 2025.

Judges will be considering:
• legal and technical expertise, innovation and strategy;
• advocacy work;
• the importance of the matter;
• added value brought to 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 2025.

The judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• project management skills taking into account the complexity of the project;
• the importance of the project;
• added value brought to 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 after 1 January 2025 other than a merger or acquisition (use the M&A Lawyer of the Year entry form for M&A deals).

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• the complexity of the transaction;
• the importance of the deal;
• added value brought to 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 after 1 January 2025.

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise, innovation and case strategy;
• advocacy work;
• the legal importance of the case;
• added value brought to the client.

Intellectual Property 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 IP case or other IP matter worked on after 1 January 2025.

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• case or transaction strategy;
• advocacy work;
• the importance of the case or matter;
• added value brought to 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 case that was in litigation after 1 January 2025.

Judges will be looking at:
• legal expertise, innovation and case strategy;
• advocacy work;
• the importance of the case;
• added value brought to the client.

M&A Lawyer of the Year

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

Entries for this award should focus on a Mergers & Acquisitions deal worked on after 1 January 2025.

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise, innovation and deal strategy;
• the complexity of the deal;
• the importance of the deal;
• added value brought to 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 after 1 January 2025.

Judges will be looking at:
• legal and technical expertise;
• innovation and case strategy;
• advocacy work;
• the importance of the case or other matter;
• added value brought to the client.

Rising Star of the Year

Open to female private practice and in-house junior lawyers resident in a GCC country and who started working as a lawyer or legal consultant anywhere in the world after 1 January 2022. Only one candidate per law firm in this category.

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

Senior Associate of the Year

Open to female private practice lawyers resident in a GCC country. Candidates must be an associate in a law firm (excluding “of counsel” and legal directors) and have been working as a lawyer or legal consultant anywhere in the world for more than seven years as of 1 January 2026. Only one candidate per law firm in this category.

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

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• the candidate’s role as the lead associate on important client matters;
• work ethic;
• contribution to the success of the associate’s practice area within the firm.

Private Practice Lawyer of the Year

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

Entries should focus on work and achievements since January 2025. Judges will disregard any reference to work or achievements that does not specify time periods.

Judges will be considering:
• legal expertise and innovation;
• practice development and expansion;
• business winnings;
• outcomes for clients;
• 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. This category is not open to Heads of a law firm Practice Area or executive officers of the Middle East or Gulf region.

Entries should focus on work and achievements since January 2025. Judges will disregard any reference to work or achievements that does not specify time periods.

Judges will be considering:
• leadership and management;
• legal expertise and innovation;
• business winnings;
• client service initiatives;
• firm or office expansion;
• overall contribution to the success of the law firm or law firm office since January 2025.

Legal Services Innovator of the Year

Open to:

i) female legal practitioners 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 innovation, client service and support initiatives, business winnings, and a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards.

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 in the GCC without interruption since 2015 or earlier.

The Professional Achievement Award honours a woman who has been working in the law in the GCC since 2015 or earlier, 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.