Australians of Greek heritage have been recognised in the list of finalists for the Women in Law Awards 2024.
This prestigious national awards program presents an exceptional opportunity for leading women to showcase their achievements, attract more clients and propel their careers, on top of giving them the recognition they deserve.
The winners will be announced in Melbourne on Thursday, November 14.
Rising Star of the Year – BigLaw: Victoria Athanasiou, Lander & Rogers (Formaly Kennedys)
Victoria Athanasiou is a Senior Associate in the Employment team at Kennedys, where she specialises in employment and industrial relations issues. She represents a diverse clientele, including employers, employees, and insurers, in various employment disputes such as adverse action claims, discrimination cases, unfair dismissals, underpayment claims, workplace investigations, and interpretation of awards and enterprise agreements.
In addition to her employment law practice, Victoria advises clients on health and safety issues, handles Worksafe prosecutions, and addresses general commercial law matters. She also supports both private and public sector health professionals in employment-related disputes.
Her extensive experience spans multiple jurisdictions, including the Fair Work Commission, Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, County Court, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
Victoria is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) and serves as a committee member on the LIV Workplace Relations Committee.
Sole Practitioner of the Year: Melissa Barlas, Conveyed
Melissa Barlas is passionate about helping and educating clients through their property journey to help them feel less vulnerable and more confident and supported in the property market.
She founded Conveyed to make the legal process of transferring property “easier, quicker and less boring.”
Thought Leader of the Year: Lauren Cassimatis, Gallant Law and Connecting Lawyer Mums
Lauren Cassimatis is a prominent criminal lawyer in Victoria and an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law with the Law Institute of Victoria. With over 20 years of experience in the legal field, she is recognised for her exceptional legal expertise as well as her compassion, warmth, and dedication to her clients.
Understanding the stress that legal proceedings can bring to individuals and their families, Lauren strives to make the process as smooth and reassuring as possible, prioritising her clients’ cases, well-being, and future. She founded Gallant Law with the mission of delivering high-quality, client-focused legal services and breaking down barriers to access justice.
In addition to her legal practice, Lauren serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Law, where she teaches aspiring lawyers about advocacy, substantive law, and practical skills. She is also the proud founder of Connecting Lawyer Mums, a nationwide professional development and networking group for lawyer mothers.
Lauren is deeply committed to supporting her clients, colleagues, and the community in overcoming challenges and achieving their goals. She actively participates in various charitable organisations and philanthropic events, including Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation, St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums, Success Works, Pride in Law, and Geelong Women in Business.
Wellness Advocate of the Year: Stefanie Costi, The Rising Heard
A lawyer, speaker, and writer, Stefanie Costi is passionate about advocating for a safer and more inclusive future in the workplace. Her journey began after experiencing workplace bullying and harassment in the professional services sector. Instead of remaining silent, she chose to share her story on LinkedIn, using her experiences to drive meaningful change.
Since then, she has had the opportunity to speak at various prestigious events, including TEDx Cooks Hill, the Legal Up (InfoTrack) International Conference, the Managing Partners Forum for Boutique Firms, the Law Ninjas NextGen GC Summit, the National Press Club of Australia, and the University of Technology Sydney. She has also collaborated with Baker McKenzie and Canva to further her mission.
Her activism has led to working with Members of Parliament to promote change in work health and safety regulations in New South Wales. Notably, Stefanie’s efforts were acknowledged in a speech by the Honourable Mark Buttigieg, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Work Health and Safety, and Multiculturalism, during the Legislative Council of NSW in March 2024.
*NOTE: If you have Greek heritage and believe you should be on this list, please email us at editor@foreignlanguage.com.au.
