Independent national law firm Hall & Wilcox has been named Law Firm of the Year at the 2026 Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards. The national industry accolade evaluates law firms across Australia on practice growth, executive leadership, service delivery innovation, and commercial performance across public and private sector markets.

Hall & Wilcox operates a national practice comprising more than 157 partners across eight Australian offices, including its established Newcastle practice. The firm’s Newcastle office also recently won the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion category at the annual Hunter Business Awards, reflecting regional workplace initiatives alongside its national growth strategy.

Over the past 12 months, the firm expanded its commercial practice areas through lateral partner appointments, internal equity promotions, and legal technology investments, deploying artificial intelligence frameworks under its proprietary Smarter Law service delivery model.

Chief Executive Partner at Hall & Wilcox, Graydon Dowd stated that the national award validates the firm’s independent commercial strategy.

‘We never believed there’s only one way to build a leading law firm. We’ve chosen to invest in the areas where we see long-term opportunities to create value for our clients and the freedom to shape our own future as an independent firm,’ Graydon said.

‘Our people are at the heart of that strategy. Their expertise, collaboration and willingness to embrace new ways of working are what bring our Smarter Law approach to life every day, and this recognition belongs to them.’

Partner in Charge of the Newcastle Office at Hall & Wilcox, Suzie Leask added that national resources integrated with local market knowledge support regional enterprise growth.

‘Having grown up in Newcastle, I’ve had a front row seat to the transformation of the Hunter over the years. It’s a region that is ambitious, innovative and continuing to attract significant investment and opportunity,’ Suzie said.

‘Our clients here get the best of both worlds: people on the ground who know the region and understand the environment they operate in, backed by specialist expertise from across a leading national firm. As the Hunter continues to grow and diversify, we want to be part of that story and support the people and organisations shaping what comes next.’

IMAGE | Hall & Wilcox named Law Firm of the Year at 2026 Australian Law Awards