Success for A&O at ALB Women in Law Awards 2021

A&O has won four awards at the 2021 ALB Women in Law Awards. The firm picked up the ‘Diversity and Inclusion Law Firm of the Year’ award, evidence of our ongoing commitment to a culture that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion.

Among the categories for individuals, which recognise the exceptional performance of women lawyers in law firms and in-house across Asia, Vicki Liu was awarded Managing Partner of the Year, Sheila Ahuja Arbitration Lawyer of the Year, SE Asia, and Holly Hart Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year.

In addition to her role as Co-Head, Global Banking, Vicki is Managing Partner of our Hong Kong office and member of the firm’s global executive committee, as well as being an active member of the Hong Kong pro bono committee. In these roles, she successfully led or was instrumental in a number of internal and external initiatives, for which she received the Managing Partner of the Year award for by the 2020 ALB Hong Kong Law Awards in recognition of her leadership in what was an unprecedented and challenging period for Hong Kong. 

Sheila Ahuja is a Partner in A&O’s Global Arbitration group based in Singapore, and has extensive experience in a wide range of arbitration matters, both commercial arbitrations and investor-State arbitrations, as well as arbitration related court matters. Her experience spans multiple jurisdictions in the APAC region as well as England and Wales, with particular expertise in energy and infrastructure disputes, disputes arising from joint ventures and distributorship arrangements, and disputes relating to complex financial products.

Holly Hart is a Senior Associate in the Corporate Trust & Agency team based in Singapore, and Head of Pro Bono and CSR for the Singapore office. She has been actively taking the lead on numerous pro bono projects that aim to create as big an impact as possible with funds put forward by Singapore partners. Holly and our Singapore partners are constantly looking for ways to maximise their contribution to opportunities that benefit the greater good.

Commenting on the success of the firm and relevant individuals, Pallavi Gopinath Aney, Partner in the International Capital Markets practice in our Singapore office and Diversity and Inclusion partner for the Asia Pacific region said, “We are extremely proud of our continued progress in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. These awards are a testament to our focus and pledge to create an environment where everyone feels safe to be their most authentic selves.”

Vicki Liu said, “We are honoured to be recognised as leaders in these categories, and winning these awards is a reflection of our commitment to paving the way for future women leaders.”

The individual awards acknowledge the outstanding accomplishment of women lawyers in law firms and in-house across Asia, who have become influential leaders in their field, while the firm-wide awards celebrate those setting the standard for work practices in support of diversity and inclusion.