HR Reimagined: Leading the New Era of Work

31 March – 1 April 2026
International Convention Centre, Sydney

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Recognition that resonates: Celebrate the best at the Lexpert Rising Stars Awards

Thursday 12 November 2026 | Liberty Grand, Toronto
 
NOMINATIONS WILL OPEN ON MAY 11
 
NOMINATE NOW

CELEBRATING CANADA’S LEADING LAWYERS 40 AND UNDER

Lexpert Rising Stars honours leading lawyers 40 and under from law firms, in-house departments, and other practices. Members of the legal profession in Canada are invited to nominate qualified lawyers who have made outstanding contributions in their careers thus far.

Winners will be revealed on November 12, 2026 and profiled in Lexpert Special Edition magazine out in November.

Lexpert Rising Stars is presented by Lexpert magazine and supported by Canadian Lawyer and Law Times. The event is brought to you by Key Media, the organizers of a variety of awards ceremonies across Canada, where hundreds of professionals gather annually, in person or virtually, to acknowledge the best professionals across the nation. We are proud to continue our tradition by celebrating legal excellence.

Previous Winners

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Enbridge - Enbridges Legal Mentorship Program-01
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Langlois Lawyers-01
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McInnes Cooper-01
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TC Energy Corporation-01
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Torys LLP-01

Showcase your firm among Canada’s legal elite—enter now for your chance to be featured! 

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“The awards are an attestation to the exceptional quality of our work and our incredibly talented and dedicated team.”

– Cox & Palmer LLP CEO

“Having a combined event to celebrate in-house and general professional merit only increases the value and importance of what the nominees and winners have done."

– Dow Canada Lead Counsel
“Thank you so much for this event designed for our legal community.”
– Langlois lawyers, LLP PR Specialist

“Congratulations to all Winners! Thanks as well to all the sponsors and organizers who made this event happen.”

– Barriston LLP Partner

Why enter the Canadian Legal Awards

  • Build trusted credibility 
    Recognition signals quality and judgment to clients, recruits, and peers. 
  • Win more mandates 
    Stand out in pitches and RFPs with clear proof of excellence.
  • Attract and retain top talent
    Showcase a culture where great lawyers do their best work.
  • Raise your profile
    Gain high-visibility exposure across our platforms and event programming.
  • Benchmark with the best
    Measure your work against national peers and refine your strategy.
  • Celebrate your team
    Recognise the people behind the results and strengthen firm pride.
  • Turn recognition into results
    Leverage your shortlisting or win across marketing, BD, and client communications. 

What Makes the Canadian Legal Awards Unique?

  • Multi-Channel Media Exposure: Digital, print, and event coverage at every stage. 
  • Exclusive Access: Speaking, judging, and research opportunities for winners and finalists. 
  • Powerful Network: Direct connection to Canada’s leading legal professionals. 
  • VIP Networking Reception: Mingle with the nation’s top legal minds, industry influencers, and decision-makers at an exclusive, invitation-only pre-awards reception. 
  • Winners’ Showcase: Be featured in a special edition of Canadian Lawyer magazine and across our digital platforms, highlighting your achievements and sharing your story with the entire legal community.  

Don’t just celebrate excellence—elevate it.

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What awaits you: 

  • Main Stage: Dive into a robust agenda focused on the most pressing workforce issues and actionable strategies for success.
  • Directors Forum: An exclusive program for senior HR executives tackling enterprise-level challenges and opportunities.
  • Learning & Development Stage: Specialised sessions for L&D leaders looking to empower teams and drive continuous growth. 
  • HR Innovation Stage: Essential tech, zero hype. See what HR leaders are using to drive their business, people and culture forward.
  • Workshops: Level up your team with practical, interactive sessions

NEW for 2026!

Find your people. Connect with peers on the topics that matter most to you.

Step into action with our all-new themed discussion tables—built for leaders who want results now. These fast-paced, interactive sessions go beyond theory, delivering tactical conversations and proven takeaways you can put to work immediately. Choose from 90+ roundtables and workshops, each focused on real-world challenges and led by industry experts.

Key Themes Include:

  • What’s actually working with AI in HR right now
  • How to map skills for real workforce agility
  • Tactics for developing leaders who thrive through change
  • How to get ahead of new psychosocial risk rules
  • Real steps to make performance feedback continuous
  • Data-driven ways to attract and keep great talent
  • How to bake measurable inclusion into every HR process
  • Proving L&D ROI with metrics that matter
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MAY 11, 2026

Nominations Open

Start your journey to recognition! Submit your nominations from this date and help us celebrate outstanding achievements in our industry.

JUNE 26, 2026

Nominations Close

Don’t miss your chance—this is the final day to submit nominations for consideration. Make sure your entries are in before the deadline!

NOVEMBER 12, 2026

Awards Night

Join us for the main event, where winners will be announced and excellence across the industry will be celebrated.

4 Content Stages. 90+ Peer-Led Roundtables. Your Blueprint to Elevate HR

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Main Stage

Unlock the future of HR. Top leaders tackle culture, AI, and workforce transformation with bold keynotes and actionable panels.
Learn More
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Director's Forum

Connect with Australia’s boldest HR minds. No filters—just sharp ideas, real talk, and next-gen strategy shaping the future of work. 

Learn More
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HR Innovation Stage

Tackle the future of work at the HR Innovation Stage—where bold ideas and new tech redefine what’s possible in people and culture.

View Agenda
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Learning & Development Stage

Supercharge your people with the latest in AI, digital skills, and learning innovation. Real insights, real tools—transformative learning starts here. 

View Agenda
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Learning & Development Stage

Supercharge your people with the latest in AI, digital skills, and learning innovation. Real insights, real tools—transformative learning starts here. 

Learn More
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HR Innovation Stage

HR Innovation Stage: Essential tech, zero hype. See what HR leaders are using to drive their business, people and culture forward.

 

Coming Soon
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Workshops

Get hands-on with expert-led sessions. Master compliance, tech, and leadership—walk away ready to make an impact. 

View Agenda

2026 Sponsors

Legal Sponsor
Workshop Sponsor

2025 Sponsors

Venue

ICC Sydney

International Convention Centre, Sydney

14 Darling Drive
Sydney, NSW 2000
Website: iccsydney.com.au

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