Ann Fenech, head of the marine litigation department and managing partner of Fenech & Fenech Advocates has been awarded the “Best in Shipping and Maritime Award” at the Euromoney Legal Media Group “Europe Women in Business Law Awards 2012” held under the auspices of the International Financial Law Review at an award ceremony held at the Savoy in London.

Malta today is no longer a follower but a recognised leader in maritime affairs

The awards recognised the leading female business practitioners in Europe across 32 legal practice areas ranging from structured finance to energy resources.

Dr Fenech told The Times Business that she was extremely honoured to have been nominated to receive the award in the first place given that this was a European event recognising leading female lawyers in Europe, and even more so to have actually won the award.

She said: “I am extremely pleased on a personal level since it seemed that a fair amount of research had been carried out on each individual nominee and it was a very personal award. However, I am even more satisfied by the fact that among the recipients made up of established lady lawyers from the best and finest law firms in Europe the award for shipping and maritime went to a recipient from Malta which further enhances and reaffirms Malta’s important place in the world of shipping and maritime affairs today.”

She added: “Malta today is no longer a follower but a recognised leader in maritime affairs.”

Other award winners included Nathalie Hobbs from Linklaters – Best in Banking and Finance, Ruth Fox from Slaughter and May – Best in Financial Regulation, Sarah Murphy from Freshfields – Best in Capital Markets and Penelope Warne from Cameron McKenna – Best in Energy. The Outstanding Achievement Award went to Ingrid Simler QC, head of Devreaux Chambers, and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Dame Janet Gaymer, ex senior partner at Simmons and Simmons. A full list of winners can be viewed on www.iflr.com.