Leading in-house teams and members of the independent Bar are to be celebrated as the shortlist for the IEL Awards 2025 is officially revealed.

“In-house employment teams have navigated a storm of legal change and businesses pressures over the last 12 months,” says IEL Editor-in-Chief John van der Luit-Drummond. 

“Whether it is responding to a heightened scrutiny of diversity and inclusion goals, assisting with the integration of AI technologies, or undertaking complex restructuring exercises, their ability to steer organisations through regulatory complexity and safeguard employee rights while simultaneously balancing business needs deserves recognition,” he adds.

The finalists for this year’s in-house awards are as follows:

International Employment Law Team of the Year – In-house

Abdul Latif Jameel

American Express

Canva

DXC Technology

Marsh McLennan 

Novartis 

Standard Chartered Bank 

Uber

International Employment Lawyer of the Year – In-house

Nicola Doran, Standard Chartered Bank

Ming Evans, Smiths Group

Vanessa Hogan, Cisco

Helen Lloyd, Organon 

Vanessa Markham, Oracle

Mark Noblet, The Boots Group

Jonathan Ollivent, Uber

Grant Spooner, Accenture

Suzanne Staunton, Electronic Arts

Stacey Tring, Creative Artists Agency

Leader of Tomorrow – In-house

Sharmaine Chan, Airbus

Kirsty Darko, McDonald’s

Natalie Halverson, Booz Allen Hamilton

Elinor Hughes, Burberry 

Nikeeta Mahay, BBC

Juan Pablo Munoz, Uber

Allison Medjuck, lululemon

Tim Poole, TikTok

The following specialist barristers and their chambers are also recognised for their expertise in employment and labour disputes and sensitive advice and investigations over the last 12 months.

“Behind every landmark judgment and headline-making investigation there is the shrewd advice, expert inquiry, and fierce advocacy of the independent Bar who guide employees and employers alike through the disputes process,” says van der Luit-Drummond. 

“The chambers and individual barristers shortlisted in this year’s awards represent the leading advocates in their field and their work over the past year is undeniably worthy of celebration.”

Chambers of the Year

11KBW

Cloisters 

Devereux

Essex Court Chambers

Littleton Chambers

Old Square Chambers

Senior Counsel of the Year

Bruce Carr KC, Devereux 

James Laddie KC, Matrix Chambers

Gavin Mansfield KC, Littleton Chambers

Katharine Newton KC, Old Square Chambers

Sheryn Omeri KC, Cloisters

Daniel Oudkerk KC, Essex Court Chambers

Daniel Stilitz KC, 11KBW

Junior Counsel of the Year

James Bickford Smith, Littleton Chambers 

Louise Chudleigh, Old Square Chambers

Andrew Edge, 11KBW

Chris Milsom, Cloisters

Patrick Tomison, Outer Temple Chambers