Freehills awards outstanding talent with a coveted overseas scholarship
06 December 2005Leah Watterson, a third year litigation solicitor in Freehills’ Melbourne office has been awarded the Peter J Perry Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding performance and contribution to Freehills and its Litigation practice.
The highly sought after Fellowship, worth A$40,000 plus up to six months paid leave to undertake further study or research at an institution of the recipient’s choice, is awarded to a Freehills Litigation solicitor every two years.
In announcing the award, Freehills’ Litigation practice group head, Keith Steele, said that recipients of the award demonstrate excellent technical legal knowledge and a real commitment to and capacity for delivering creative, effective, efficient and value-based litigation and dispute resolution solutions and service.
‘Recipients are assessed on their all round performance, as well as their contribution and conduct within in the firms’ practice as being consistent with our excellent standards and values.
‘Importantly, the Fellowship also gives one of our best people the opportunity to gain invaluable exposure to the international legal arena so when they return they add a wealth of important knowledge and experience to our Litigation practice,’ he continued.
Upon receiving the award, Ms Watterson said she was thrilled to have been selected in such a prestigious environment for the Fellowship, given the wealth of talent within the national group. ‘To be given the opportunity to study overseas with the financial support of Freehills is a wonderful opportunity and one that is greatly appreciated, ‘ she said.
‘I intend to use the fellowship to further enhance the expertise of the litigation group by undertaking a Master of Laws program in corporate and securities regulation in the USA. Attractive options include the program offered by Georgetown University in Washington DC.’
The Peter J. Perry Fellowship was established in 2001 to honour the memory and exceptional contribution to Freehills’ Litigation practice by Peter Perry, a partner in the Sydney practice from 1978 until his death from cancer in September 2000.
Mr Perry was a principal architect of the development of Freehills’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice, and was committed to the attraction, training and retention of top quality solicitors.
Previous Perry fellows include Jason Betts, who undertook a Masters of Law at the University of Virginia (majoring in class action defence theory), and Elizabeth Steer, who has recently returned from Oxford where she undertook a Bachelor of Civil Law.
The objective of the Fellowship is to promote and encourage those ideals which assist Freehills in attracting, retaining and developing people of outstanding quality. Freehills also recognises talent outside the Litigation practice via the Brian Page Fellowship, which is an equivalent scholarship also awarded every two years in the intervening periods between the Perry Fellowship.
ENDS
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