Gitanjali Bajaj and John Gallagher recognised as “Lawyers of the Year” by The Best Lawyers Australia 2022

DLA Piper is pleased to announce that Australian Partners Gitanjali Bajaj (Litigation & Regulatory, Sydney) and John Gallagher (Finance, Projects & Restructuring, Melbourne) have separately been recognised as “Lawyers of the Year” in the 14th edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia 2022 Awards.

Gitanjali has been recognised as the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in the category of International Arbitration. Gitanjali is the Asia-Pacific Co-Head of International Arbitration for DLA Piper, specialising in dispute resolution and risk management in major international and domestic infrastructure projects. She has represented principals and contractors both in domestic proceedings and international commercial arbitrations under various rules including ICC, SIAC, DIAC and DIFC-LCIA, including most notably acting in ICC arbitrations (seated in Singapore) relating to the construction of the Ichthys Onshore LNG Project (Australia's largest LNG project), and separately in relation to exploration and exploitation of the oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea (acting for the national petroleum authority of Timor-Leste). Gitanjali was also separately recognised as a “Best Lawyer” for Alternative Dispute Resolution for this year. 

John has been recognised as the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for his Government Practice in Melbourne. John is one of the senior members of our Finance & Projects team in Australia and leads the Melbourne Finance & Projects team. He focuses on project structuring solutions for infrastructure and engineering projects and programs, and is widely acknowledged across Australasia as a leader in collaborative contracting delivery strategies. He has acted extensively for the Victorian Government and its Agencies (including the Department of Premier & Cabinet, Department of Transport, Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning, Melbourne Water,  VicRoads, Victoria Police, Country Fire Association, Environmental Protection Authority, V/Line, Level Crossing Removal Project), and also advising private sector clients on government contracting opportunities such as the $10 Billion plus North East Link Project (as part of a team lead by Jonathan Stafford, DLA Piper Sydney).  John is also keenly sought out by governments in other jurisdictions – most recently including the Ministry of Health of British Columbia, Canada and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads to lead teams develop unique project solutions on critical complex infrastructure projects.  John was also separately recognised as a “Best Lawyer” for Construction/Infrastructure Law, Water Law and Project Finance and Development from 2012 - 2020. John was also this year admitted to The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Construction. 

47 partners from DLA Piper Australia have been recognised by Best Lawyers in 2022. Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession, with recognition widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honour, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers.