International law firm Gowling WLG has won Infrastructure Projects Team of the Year at the prestigious Lawyer Awards, following last night's ceremony at Grosvenor House, London.
Hosted by The Lawyer, Gowling WLG was also successful in the IP/IT Team of the Year and Energy Team categories, earning the Highly Commended accolade in both. More than 1,300 private practice lawyers and senior corporate counsel were brought together to celebrate the achievements of the industry. The award continues the firm's recent success, after it won in two categories at the Legal Business Awards as well as Global Strategic Initiative of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards.
Infrastructure Projects Team of the Year
The firm won the award for Infrastructure Projects Team of the Year after advising South London Waste Partnership on an ambitious programme of infrastructure works, which finally closed in March 2017. The programme will deliver investment in waste treatment infrastructure and improved waste collection and recycling services on one of the largest municipal waste services programmes in Europe. It was delivered smoothly in a sensitive political environment.
Partner Stephen Kenny, who worked alongside senior associate Alexandra Poynter on the matter at Gowling WLG, said: "The South London Waste Partnership programme has delivered savings and real environmental benefits to over one million residents in South London. It has been a great initiative to be part of and we are delighted that The Lawyer has recognised us as Infrastructure Projects Team of the Year."
Gowling WLG supported and worked alongside an in-house legal team led by Sean Murphy, Head of Commercial and Property Law at Croydon Council, the lead contracting authority for South London Waste Partnership.
Gowling WLG's global projects team advises on the most challenging and complex infrastructure and PPP projects being undertaken around the world. Its lawyers are established advisers to government bodies, contractors, sponsors and funders.
IP/IT Team of the Year
Gowling WLG was Highly Commended in the IP/IT Team of the Year, following the firm's success with Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics (FKB) in its litigation against AbbVie Biotechnology. For the first time, a UK court has granted declaratory relief to a company trying to launch a product in the face of a myriad of patent applications in order to protect it against later infringement claims.
Partner Paul Inman, who led on the matter alongside partner Luke Kempton and principal associate Jenny Davies, said: "Our work with FKB saw an exciting development for UK patent law, with implications far beyond the launch of biosimilar pharmaceuticals. This was truly ground-breaking in the UK courts as it gives a new remedy to companies at risk of potential infringement proceedings under as yet ungranted patent applications."
Energy Team of the Year
Gowling WLG's second Highly Commended award came in the Energy Team of the Year category, following its work on the UK government's ground-breaking smart metering programme. The team has advised the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy for six years on matters relating to the programme, including advising on the development of the regulatory framework necessary for its implementation and future operation.
Partner, John Cooper, who led on the matter alongside Gus Wood and director Ravi Randhawa, commented: "Being involved in this movement has been great for Gowling WLG. We have delivered a completely new and bespoke regulatory framework to underpin the programme through statutory changes and it's brilliant that we have been recognised for this hard work."