Moray & Agnew has been named as a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards for ‘Insurance Team of the Year,’ ‘Pro Bono Program of the Year,’ and ‘Managing Partner of the Year’ with Bill Papastergiadis OAM, Melbourne Managing Partner.
These results reflect the firm’s continued commitment to excellence in legal service delivery and leadership.
The Insurance Team’s recognition highlights its deep sector expertise and outstanding results for clients across Australia. The firm has sustained an unwavering commitment to the insurance sector for decades. Moray & Agnew remains the firm of choice for insurers seeking technical excellence, commercial pragmatism and enduring value; especially in matters where the legal, reputational, scheme, market, coverage or policy implications loom large.
The Pro Bono Program nomination celebrates the firm’s ongoing commitment to access to justice and meaningful community contribution. The firm’s Pro Bono Practice does a significant amount of pro bono legal work, predominantly in discrimination, sexual harassment, employment and housing. Members of the Pro Bono Practice coordinate and promote pro bono work across the firm, with all staff being encouraged to participate in pro bono and being provided opportunities to do so.
Moray & Agnew recognises the significant funding and resourcing constraints facing the community legal sector, which often results in vulnerable community members being unable to access legal assistance. For this reason, a core aspect of our firm’s Pro Bono Practice involves supporting the work of Community Legal Centres. We do this through a number of pro bono initiatives, most notably our secondment program which has five staff members from our Pro Bono Practice seconded full-time to the following to community legal centres around the country.
“Pro Bono work reflects our firm’s values. Our belief is that access to justice should not depend on financial means. We’re proud of the meaningful impact our people make in communities across Australia through our pro bono partnerships and secondments,” Geoff Connellan, National Managing Partner, said.
The nomination of Mr Papastergiadis as ‘Managing Partner of the Year’ acknowledges his strategic leadership and dedication to fostering a high-performing, client-focused culture in our Victorian office. Since his appointment as Managing Partner of Moray & Agnew Melbourne in 2007, he has led transformation through hands-on management and careful strategic development of our services, clients, people and culture.
Under Mr Papastergiadis’ leadership, the Melbourne office has grown from five to 32 partners and from 20 to over 220 staff with a greatly expanded service offering to our wonderful client base. He additionally believes it is important for him to maintain a strong client portfolio, advising major players and prominent families in the construction sector. This direct engagement and collaboration helps him understand what is really expected of legal advisors, which in turn informs his leadership and ensures our services align with client expectations.
“We’re honoured to be recognised among the best in the profession on a team and individual basis. These nominations are a testament to the exceptional work of our people and the trust our clients place in us,” Mr Papastergiadis said.
“Our firm’s commitment to social justice is a critical part of the firm’s fabric. Hence, being nominated by the Australian Legal Awards for our pro bono practice is important recognition to our lawyers who dedicate their career to supporting community work.
“Culture plays a critical role in the success and sustainability of law firms. We understand that at Moray & Agnew it influences everything from attracting top tier talent, retaining clients and internal morale. Culture has been a critical driver of Moray & Agnew’s strong success. It allows us the ability to compete in a crowded legal market whilst nurturing a healthy work environment.”
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Sydney on 14 August 2025.
