A Hunter-based law firm has been crowned the best regional practice in Australia.
Catherine Henry Lawyers was given the Regional-Suburban Law Firm of the Year accolade, which was recently announced during a gala ceremony, at the Australian Law Awards ahead of nine other finalists.
Principal Catherine Henry said the award was a credit to her passionate and experienced team of lawyers.
“To be considered the top regional law firm in all of Australia is very satisfying,” she admitted.
“Over many years we have strived to bring legal services usually only available in capital cities to people in regional areas, particularly in health law and elder law.”
The firm has recently expanded health law services to include contracts for assisted reproduction and medical device litigation.
Expanded elder law services include accommodation disputes and challenging and negotiating aged care contracts and financial elder abuse.
It’s also introduced criminal law, superannuation and insurance law dispute services, and institutional abuse litigation.
Ms Henry said the firm had maintained its 100% success rate in medical litigation cases this year.
The health law team has represented or is representing more than 180 women from across NSW who fell victim to disgraced cosmetic surgeon Dr Les Blackstock.
“We don’t shy away from complex or difficult cases,” she said.
“People in regional NSW deserve the best advice and representation from local people.”
Ms Henry and other lawyers in the firm are involved in local legal and community organisations, charity support and community campaigns including the Hunter Ageing Alliance and the National Justice Project.
“Businesses are an integral part of any community and, as a firm, we try to play our part in contributing to the social and economic fabric of the communities that we serve,” she stated.
“We advocate and use the law to gain justice and a better deal for people in regional NSW, particularly the vulnerable.”
The firm’s expertise as a leading provider of legal services has been recognised in a number of recent awards.
Ms Henry was named the Regional-Suburban Lawyer of the Year at the Australian Law Awards in 2020.
She and senior associate in elder law, Tanya Chapman, were finalists in this year’s national Women in Law Awards.
The firm was also a three-time finalist in the recent Hunter Business Awards.
The accolades come on top of Ms Henry and the firm’s ongoing recognition in the prestigious Doyles Guide lists of NSW’s top medical negligence compensation lawyers and law firms – alongside established Sydney law firms.
The firm has made the 2021 Leading Medical Negligence Compensation Law Firms (Plaintiff) – New South Wales list.
Ms Henry is recommended in the Leading Medical Negligence Compensation Lawyers (Plaintiff) – New South Wales list for a fifth year running, too.
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