07 November 2007
Canberra, 7 November 2007: Clayton Utz partner Alfonso del Rio continues to cement his reputation as one of Canberra's leading property lawyers, being named Solicitor of the Year at the recent Real Estate Institute of the ACT Awards for Excellence.
The Awards for Excellence aim to encourage, recognise and promote excellence and best practice in the real estate profession. This is the fourth time that Mr del Rio, who heads the Canberra office of Clayton Utz, has won the Award.
In accepting the Award, Mr del Rio paid tribute to his colleagues and thanked them for their support.
"Awards are really a reflection of the quality of people that you have around you. I feel very privileged to work in an environment where there are so many enthusiastic and talented people dedicated to serving client needs and expectations," Mr del Rio said. "I don't see the award as belonging to me but to this office as a whole."
In addition, Mr del Rio was presented with the President's award for his outstanding leadership and contribution to the real estate industry. Alfonso was also honoured earlier this year by the Australian Property Institute (ACT Chapter) by becoming the first lawyer to be presented with an honorary fellowship.
The REIACT Awards cap off another busy year for Mr del Rio and Clayton Utz in Canberra, which has been involved in some of the ACT's biggest property deals. These include acting for the Land Development Agency and Walker Corporation on the QEII site which will become the new headquarters for the Department of Education, Science and Training; acting for the Department of Health and Ageing on a new 45,000 square metre office in the Woden Town Centre; acting for the Hindmarsh Group with respect to its joint ventures with the Land Development Agency in Woden East and ACT Housing on the old Burnie Court site and representing the GRT and Kounrdouris Groups with respect to the sale of the AusAID building and adjoining site.
Mr del Rio also continues to act for the Canberra Investment Corporation and Delfin on the development of Forde and the Monlonglo Group redevelopment of the Hotel Acton site.
