HWLE Lawyers Recognised in 2027 Best Lawyers Australia Awards with 146 Lawyers Honoured

HWLE Lawyers has achieved a significant milestone in the 2027 Best Lawyers Australia™ awards, with 146 of its lawyers recognised across 59 practice areas. The firm too celebrated nine Lawyer of the Year honourees and a record 32 lawyers named as ‘Ones to Watch’, underscoring its sustained excellence in the Australian legal landscape.

2027 Best Lawyers Australia™ Awards: Key Honourees

The 2027 Best Lawyers Australia™ awards highlighted outstanding individual achievements across multiple disciplines. HWLE Lawyers received special recognition for nine lawyers awarded the prestigious Lawyer of the Year title, determined by peer nominations as leaders in their respective specialties.

• Andrew Allan – Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Michael Anastas – Financial Institutions
• Michael Boughey – Information Technology Law
• Luke Dale – Privacy and Data Security Law
• Philip Hunter – Native Title Law
• Kate McKeough – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Sean O’Donnell – Franchise Law
• Jamie Restas – Corporate Law
• Paul Wilson – Leasing Law

the firm recognised 32 rising stars as ‘Ones to Watch’ for 2027, marking a new record for HWLE Lawyers in this category. These honourees span diverse fields including insurance law, construction and infrastructure, litigation, real property, and trusts and estates.

Firmwide Recognition and Practice Areas

HWLE Lawyers maintains a national presence with offices in Adelaide, Baulkham Hills, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The firm’s 146 recognised lawyers reflect expertise across 59 practice areas, including franchise law, insolvency and reorganization law, medical negligence, mergers and acquisitions law, and regulatory practice.

Beyond individual accolades, HWLE Lawyers has earned 195 rankings in the Best Law Firms® rankings, particularly in agriculture and rural affairs, insurance law, medical negligence, oil and gas law, and sports law. These rankings are based on a transparent research process conducted by Best Lawyers since 2010, reinforcing the firm’s reputation for legal excellence.

About Best Lawyers Australia™

Best Lawyers Australia™ determinations are made through exhaustive peer-review surveys, where leading attorneys evaluate their peers’ professional capabilities. Recognition in Best Lawyers signifies peer acknowledgment of a lawyer’s standing in their practice area and region. The Purely Peer Review® process ensures that honours reflect genuine professional validation from within the legal community.

HWLE Lawyers’ continued presence in the Best Lawyers Australia™ guide since 2008 demonstrates long-term consistency in delivering high-quality legal services across Australia.

Related Reading:

• Best Lawyers Awards – 2027 – HWLE Lawyers
• South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy (SACOME) – HWLE Lawyers Celebrates 2027 Best Lawyers Awards