Gowling WLG took home top honours at last night's FT Innovative Lawyers Awards North America ceremony, earning the award for "Innovation in the Business of Law" in recognition of its unique approach to the automation and management of commercial lending portfolios.

Developed by an in-house team at Gowling WLG, the LendR portfolio management system is a proprietary software that delivers a range of streamlined lending services to the firm's financial services clients. The system facilitates the generation of all security and transactional documentation, and offers clients online access to essential file and workflow information, automated reports and customized portfolio reporting.

"Since its inception, our LendR system has been transforming the lending management experience for our legal teams and clients," said Mark Tamminga, Gowling WLG partner and leader of the firm's innovation initiatives in Canada. "It enables us to deliver commercial lending services that are wholly efficient, affordable and transparent — qualities at the core of our commitment to continuous innovation and improvement."

Tamminga, along with Matthijs van Gaalen, attended the ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the firm.

Presented annually by the Financial Times, the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards distinguish standout innovations in the global legal industry. This year marks the third time that Gowling WLG has been recognized in North America: SmartRaise, the firm's streamlined private placements tool, was shortlisted in 2017; and Practical LPM, the firm's novel approach to legal project management, was recognized in 2016.

Gowling WLG has also enjoyed a strong showing at the FT Innovative Lawyer Awards Europe. In 2018, the firm was named a "Standout" innovator for managing and developing talent and was "Highly Commended" for innovation in data, knowledge and intelligence. In 2016, the firm won in the "Innovation in driving value for clients" category for its work with Dyson.

Consistently ranked as one of the most innovative legal businesses worldwide, Gowling WLG is a firm at the cutting edge of the legal sector, with innovation at its heart. Whether adopting AI-led solutions, utilizing blockchain and smart contracts or revolutionizing recruitment strategies, the firm challenges the status quo of an industry in transition.