We are pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the prestigious IHC Counsel of the Year Awards 2025. As a cornerstone event in the legal community, we extend a formal invitation to all in-house counsel and compliance professionals to participate in this distinguished opportunity.
The Counsel of the Year Awards seek to recognise and celebrate legal teams and counsel who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to excellence in their roles. We are actively seeking nominations that embody key attributes such as dedication, innovation, efficiency, value, integration, encouragement, improvement, CSR initiatives, and a steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Industry Awards Categories: In-House Legal Team of the Year, 2025
- Aviation and Aerospace
- Banking & Finance
- Construction, Property & Infrastructure
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Financial Services (ex-Banking)
- FMCG
- Insurance
- Life Science, Pharma & Healthcare
- Manufacturing and Engineering
- Public Sector / Government
- Retail & Wholesale
- Transportation & Logistics
- Technology, Media & Telecom
- Travel, Hospitality & Leisure
Practice Management Awards: In-House Legal Team of the Year, 2025
- Change Management
Recognises a legal team that has successfully led or supported significant organisational or legal change with measurable impact. - Compliance
Honours excellence in building, strengthening, or managing compliance frameworks that protect and enhance the organisation. - Corporate Social Responsibility
Celebrates a legal team’s contribution to advancing the organisation’s CSR or sustainability objectives. - Diversity and Inclusion
Acknowledges a legal team that champions and drives meaningful progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion. - Innovation
Recognises creative and forward‑thinking approaches that have transformed the way the legal team or organisation works. - Best Cross-Department Collaboration
Rewards outstanding collaboration between the legal team and other departments to achieve shared business goals. - Small Team (four or less team members)
Honours the achievements of a small legal team punching above its weight to deliver exceptional results. - Technology Integration
Recognises a legal team that has effectively adopted or integrated technology to improve efficiency, quality, or outcomes. - Transactional
Celebrates excellence in managing or advising on complex, high‑value, or strategically important transactions.
Top-Tier In-House Counsel List, 2025
The “Top-Tier In-House Counsel” list represents a curated selection of exceptional in-house counsel and compliance professionals. Candidates for inclusion are identified through a rigorous process of submissions and nominations, followed by comprehensive research and evaluation. This process ensures that only those individuals who demonstrate exemplary qualities and achievements in their respective roles are considered for inclusion in the list. The final selection is made through a thorough judging process, where each nominee is carefully assessed based on criteria such as dedication, innovation, efficiency, value, integration, encouragement, improvement, CSR initiatives, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. The “Top-Tier In-House Counsel” list thus serves as a prestigious recognition of the outstanding contributions and leadership within the in-house legal community.
Commended External Counsel of the Year, 2025
In recognition of outstanding contributions and commendable service in external legal support, the Commended External Counsel of the Year 2025 awards serves as a testament to the invaluable partnership between private practice lawyers and in-house legal teams. Selected through recommendations, votes and testimonials from the in-house counsel and other buyers of legal services in Asia and Middle East, this accolade highlights the crucial role played by these legal professionals in extending and enhancing the capabilities of in-house legal departments.
In-House Legal Teams of the Year 2025
Top-Tier In-House Counsel 2025
To nominate yourself or a deserving colleague, please complete the nomination form and ensure its submission before the deadline on the 25th of September, 2025. Comprehensive instructions and criteria can be found within the provided form, which we strongly encourage all potential nominees to carefully review.
All submissions will undergo meticulous evaluation by our esteemed panel of judges and the In-House Community editorial team. Their impartial assessment will ensure a fair and thorough selection process. The winners of the Counsel of the Year Awards will be announced during our highly anticipated annual awards ceremony, scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.
We encourage you to share this invitation within your professional circles, facilitating broader participation and ensuring deserving candidates receive the recognition they deserve. The Counsel of the Year Awards serve as a platform to spotlight and commend the invaluable contributions of legal professionals, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation within our community.
This is an unparalleled opportunity to honor the exemplary individuals who are shaping the future of legal practices through their dedication and remarkable achievements.
Download the submission/nomination form for in-house legal teams here. And for submission/nomination of individual in-house counsel (Top-Tier In-House Counsel List) here.
Awards Ceremony
The IHC Counsel of the Year Awards ceremony will be held in Q4 2025. Venue and other details to follow.
For further information, feel free to contact us at events@inhousecommunity.com
