Arts Law Pro Bono Awards 2017
Arts Law’s Pro Bono Awards recognise the enormous contribution that volunteers from across the country make to Arts Law and Australia’s artists. The 2017 awards were generously hosted by Dentons in their Sydney offices on Thursday May 11.
Arts Law awarded a limited edition print specifically commissioned for the event to the 35 lawyers and professionals who were exceptional in their support of Arts Law’s clients – the artists and arts organisations of Australia. In 2017 Arts Law commissioned Melbourne based artist Brett Mallon’s print Mademoiselle. Hosted by Arts Law’s Artists in the Black Coordinator, artist Bibi Barba, the night also featured a performance by four of Sydney’s finest singer-songwriters, the fantastic All Our Exes Live in Texas.
The winners have been involved with Arts Law in a range of ways, from providing legal advice to taking on ongoing case work to travelling on Artists in the Black outreach trips to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in remote communities around the country. As well as recognising individual lawyers, two law firms were awarded for their support of Arts Law in many varied ways over the past year.
The importance of pro bono support for artists is huge. The lawyers often go above and beyond when assisting clients and they are a crucial part of Arts Law’s mission to empower Australia’s artists and creative communities through the law.
Arts Law’s CEO Robyn Ayres said of the event: “The lawyers and other professionals who support Arts Law pro bono are a fantastic bunch. Arts Law estimates the value of this pro bono contribution at about $1.5 million per year. It is also worthwhile acknowledging that doing pro bono also makes people happier and that was reflected in the warmth in the room last night.”
Arts Law also takes the opportunity to award the Arts Community Pro Bono Award to a lawyer who provides outstanding assistance to an arts organisation. In 2017 it was awarded to Michael Frankel from Frankel Lawyers, who was nominated by the Australian Directors’ Guild for his assistance and pro bono work he has provided to the film community in Australia for over 20 years.
Congratulations to all the award winners:
Stephen Boyle
Stephen Boyle Media and Entertainment Law
Garey Campbell
Volunteer assistance
Mandy Chapman
Beyond International
Rachel Chua
Australian Government Solicitors
Rob Clark
Tenth Floor Chambers
Wayne Covell
Worthy of the Name
Stephen Digby
Digby von Muenster Law
Jamie Doran
Clayton Utz
Michael Easton
Michael Easton Legal
Dimitrios Eliades
Intellectual Property Barrister
Harriett England
Fundraising assistance
Tim Guy
Funtastic Limited
Matthew Hall
Artifex Advisors
Angela Hayward
Department of Community Services, WA
Andrew Komesaroff
Colin Biggers and Paisley
Joanne Lim
MFS Investment Management
Allens Linklaters
Lander & Rogers
Kim Leontiev
Thomson Geer
Tom Lynch
Kay & Hughes Arts & Entertainment Lawyers
Chloe Martin-Nicolle
Sony Music Australia
Grant McAvaney
ABC Legal Services
Sally McCausland
McCausland Media Law
Ian McDonald
Simpsons Solicitors
Moira McKenzie
Sanicki Lawyers
Jules Munro
Simpsons Solicitors
Yasmin Naghavi
Media Arts Lawyers
Kelvin O'Keefe
Kel O'Keefe Solicitors
Shariqa Shaheed
Simpsons Solicitors
Isabella Street
Sony Music Australia
Michael Tucak
Creative Legal
Mandy van den Elshout
ABC Legal Services
Robyn Weatherley
Consultant
Megan West
University of Wollongong
Arts Law Community Pro Bono Award Winner
Michael Frankel
Frankel Lawyers