Melbourne, 22 October 2014: Accomplished Clayton Utz Melbourne lawyer Stefanie Faubel was named a future star of the profession at the 2014 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards held in Melbourne last Friday evening.
Stefanie was one of six finalists for the Leo Cussen Future Star Award, which Lawyers Weekly deputy editor Leanne Mezrani described as a "very competitive category".
A second year lawyer in the Clayton Utz Major Projects and Construction practice, Stefanie joined the firm as a graduate in 2012, having completed her law degree at the University of Melbourne in 2011.
As part of the Major Projects team, Stefanie has been involved in the front-end of a number of Australia's most significant infrastructure projects for clients including the Commonwealth Department of Defence and NBN Co Limited. Stefanie has received extremely positive feedback from clients for her ability to understand and meet their commercial objectives, produce consistently high-quality work under pressure, her responsiveness to clients' needs, and her ability to build strong relationships.
Stefanie is also a leader in her contribution to the Clayton Utz Pro Bono practice and Community Connect program. As well as representing pro bono clients in a range of matters, Stefanie is a member of specialist legal service Justice Connect Homeless Law, and plays a significant role in the Salvation Army's Project New Dawn, which provides employment and housing assistance to the homeless.
Clayton Utz Major Projects and Construction partner Marko Misko, who supported Stefanie's nomination, said she was an outstanding lawyer and team member. As a member of the core team advising a client on a major infrastructure project, "Stefanie's immaculate drafting, ownership of the matter, understanding of complex legal and commercial concepts, hard work and good humour have been crucial to the success of the project to date," said Marko. "I regard myself as lucky to work as part of a team with a lawyer of Stefanie's calibre."
NBN Co Limited (Construction) senior legal counsel Edward Gomes, who also supported Stefanie's award nomination, described her as an "exceptional lawyer, and an exceptional person". "If part of the measure of a successful person, deserving of recognition, is that they inspire you and others to do better, then Stefanie is one of those people."
The Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards recognise female legal professionals who have challenged, influenced or changed the practice of law in Australia.
Commenting on her award win, Stefanie said: "I have been very fortunate to work in a cohesive, strong working and highly motivated core team [which is] supportive in my growth as a lawyer. I am committed to furthering my legal career in a manner which not only provides me with challenges and growth but also the opportunity to give back to the profession as well as to the wider community."