2012 Golden Gavel Competition
 | Take a few brave young lawyers, add humorous topics, an appreciative audience... and you have the annual Golden Gavel competition. Hosted by NSW Young Lawyers, and generously supported by Sparke Helmore Lawyers, Taylor Root, Sandersons Rushcutters Bay and Grant Thorton, 520 guests filled The Westin Sydney Grand Ballroom on Friday 18 May 2012 to watch competitors entertain guests with witty repartee at the 2012 Golden Gavel Competition.
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Our competitors
NSW Young Lawyers congratulates and thanks our ten competitors for their enthusiasm and courage to entertain us, making the 2012 Golden Gavel another fantastic event:
- Amy Fitzpatrick, Gild Insurance Litigation - Fitness First or Fitness Last? The billable hour versus bench press power.
- Michael Connor, DibbsBarker - "I'm a tax lawyer!" Pick up lines that are bound to work.
- Katrina Dunn, Sparke Helmore Lawyers - Every advocate has their own theme music.
- Joshua Knuckey, Clayton Utz - The Voice - meet the new judging panel for the Court of Appeal.
- Joel Cook, McCabe Terrill Lawyers - Small bars and fast cars - the cruisy road to partnership.
- Hamish White, Henry Davis York - UFC, litigation and other blood sports.
- Sarah Spear, CSIRO - Google, wikipedia and my boss: unreliable sources exposed.
- Candice Berger, Somerville Legal - Mad men and angry women - where have all the happy lawyers gone?
- Mark Dunstan, Turks Legal - It all depends on what the meaning of 'is' is. Why it is never simple talking to a lawyer.
- Edward Einfeld, Supreme Court of NSW - Paper, scissors, rock: a guide to alternative dispute resolution.
Congratulations
The winner of the 2012 Golden Gavel Competition was Joel Cook of McCabe Terrill Lawyers with his topic, Small bars and fast cars - the cruisy road to partnership. Joel will go on to represent NSW at the National Golden Gavel Competiton which will be held in Adelaide in September 2012.
The runner up was Candice Berger of Somerville Legal with her topic, Mad men and angry women - where have all the happy lawyers gone?
The People's Choice Award was presented by sponsor Sparke Helmore Lawyers and Michael Connor of DibbsBarker received this award with his topic, "I'm a tax lawyer!" Pick up lines that are bound to work.
Did you miss out on tickets to the event or want to revisit your favourite speech? Be ready for a laugh!
We thank our sponsors Sparke Helmore Lawyers, Taylor Root, Sandersons Rushcutters Bay and Grant Thorton for their generous support of the 2012 Golden Gavel Competition. Read more about our sponsors.
NSW Young Lawyers look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators to the 2013 Golden Gavel Competition. See you next year!
About the Golden Gavel
Established in 1993, this public speaking competition features legal topics and is open to all NSW Young Lawyer members (lawyers up to 36 years of age or five years post admission) and law students. An annual event in the Law Week program, it is an opportunity for young or aspiring lawyers to showcase their advocacy skills.
The Honourable Justice Anna Katzmann, NSW Young Lawyers Patron for 2012 will preside over the competition and Sparke Helmore Lawyers will present the People’s Choice Award.The judges will hear from ten competitors.
Each competitor is provided with a topic 24 hours before the event and is given five minutes to argue their case. The speeches are usually insightful, brilliant and always entertaining. A winner is awarded the 2012 Golden Gavel trophy and goes on to represent NSW in the National Competition.
For more information, download the information sheet.
About our sponsors
Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Sparke Helmore is an integrated national law firm providing specialist services to national and multinational corporations and Australian governments. The Firm’s core business is in commercial, Commonwealth government, insurance and workplace relations law, with a focus on the financial services, construction, health, manufacturing, mining and resources, property, retail and transport industries. The Firm has 54 partners, nearly 300 lawyers and around 600 staff.
Taylor Root
Taylor Root is the world’s leading legal recruitment firm, with offices throughout the UK, the Far East, the Middle East and Australia. Their reputation is built on the performance of specialist teams of recruiters who pride themselves on providing honest, professional and effective advice to clients and candidates alike.Taylor Root first opened in the 1990s in Sydney and now also has a thriving Melbourne office. They recruit in four principal markets namely private practice, in-house, compliance and international. Their client base includes all large, medium and boutique sized law firms, major local and international banking & financial services organisations and blue-chip multinational companies.
Sandersons Rushcutters Bay
“At Sandersons, outstanding service is the fuel that drives us”.
Sandersons Rushcutters Bay located minutes from the Sydney CBD, are your local Mercedes-Benz dealership. Committed to getting you behind the wheel of a new Mercedes-Benz, the team from Sandersons understand the thrill of a finely tuned engine and the passion behind owning something truly special. Sandersons specialises solely in Mercedes Benz vehicles which are renowned for quality, safety, luxury and performance. That's why cars with the famous Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star are the choice of those who demand the best.The choice is even easier if you qualify for their corporate programme where Sandersons can provide eligible customers with preferential corporate pricing and access to a range of exclusive benefits designed specifically for their corporate customers. Speak with Mark Creswick at Sandersons on (02) 8354 5200 or email him at markc@sandersons.net.au
Grant Thorton
Grant Thornton Australia is a member firm of Grant Thornton International - one of the world’s leading organisations of independently owned and managed accounting and consulting firms. Grant Thornton share a commitment to provide high quality services to all of our clients, and provide services which include assurance, taxation, reorganisation / reconstruction, corporate advisory, wealth investment management, risk management, and specialist business advice. In particular, they have deep specialisation focussed on specific sectors, one of which is the legal profession. There are numerous strategic, financial and taxation issues that are unique to the legal profession and one of their specialists would be pleased to discuss any issues with you.
Past Golden Gavel competitions
2011
The winner of the 2011 Golden Gavel Competition was Charles Ashton with his speech The Royal Wedding – from a divorce lawyer’s perspective. The runner up was Sam Sykes with his speech Snakes and Ladders- the path to partnership.
Click here to listen to their winning speeches.
2010
Gavin Hollamby from Landers & Rogers was the winner with his speech, Why my firm should/shouldn't conduct its own reality TV show. The runner-up was Jay Buckley from Goodman Fielder with his speech, Innocent till proven guilty: things you should never admit to.
CONTACT
- NSW Young Lawyers
- 170 Phillip Street
- Sydney NSW 2000
- T: (02) 9926 0270
- F: (02) 9926 0282
- DX 362 Sydney
- E: ylgeneral@lawsociety.com.au
- www.younglawyers.com.au
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