Law Student Wins Business Lawyer of the Year Award

Posted on: 13 October 2011

School of Law student, Raphael Clancy, was recently presented with the Business Lawyer of the Year Award by leading international law firm Maples and Calder.  The award aims to acknowledge students who excel in the skills and capabilities which are essential for successful business lawyers.

Andrew Doyle, Managing Partner of Maples and Calder Dublin; Judge Peter Kelly; Raphael Clancy; and Henry Smith, Global Managing Partner of Maples and Calder.

After securing a place on the Maples and Calder summer internship programme, Raphael was eligible to compete for the Maples and Calder Business Lawyer of the Year Award.  Four candidates beat off stiff competition to reach the final during which they argued for and against an agreed topic using the format of a Moot Court.  The judging panel, made up of Judge Peter Kelly, Barrister John Kennedy and Maples’ Head of Litigation Dudley Solan, assessed the students’ skills of persuasion and chose Raphael as the overall winner for his structured approach to the case and quick thinking ability during his rebuttal argument.  Fellow School of Law student, Ben Mitchell, was the runner up in the competition.

Congratulating Raphael on the award, Head of the School of Law, Professor Hilary Biehler said: “The Law School is delighted with Raphael Clancy’s success in winning the Maples and Calder Business Lawyer of the Year award and also extends its congratulations to Ben Mitchell who was runner up in the event.  Events of this nature provide our students with invaluable experience and an opportunity to develop their skills in a variety of settings.”

During the summer internship, student participants have the opportunity to take part in three one week rotations in different departments in the Dublin office including Corporate, Finance, Funds, Litigation, Property and Tax where they are exposed to a diverse range of work and tasks.  A team made up of Maples partners and mentors then assess their ability to display excellence in applying the law to complex business situations in a way which is innovative, creative and optimal from a client’s perspective. 

Managing partner of Maples and Calder, Andrew Doyle, Mr Justice Peter Kelly and Global Managing Partner of Maples and Calder, Henry Smith presented Raphael with the award which included a commemorative medal, a cheque for €2000 and a further three week internship in either the company’s Hong Kong or Cayman Islands office.  The other finalists were Ann O’Donovan of UCC and Sarah-Anne Jackson of UCD.