Lawyer of the Year – Antitrust & Competition and Individual Spotlight – ESG Leader of the Year nominations went to Tardif, leading competition and regulatory partner and office managing partner of Reed Smith's Paris office. Tardif focuses on litigation and advises on issues in European and French government regulations, including competition law, distribution law, consumer and regulatory rules. She assists global leaders before EU and French courts and regulatory authorities. She is a former member of the firm’s global executive committee.
A nomination for Lawyer of the Year, Shipping & Maritime went to Antonia Panayides, a partner in Reed Smith's Transportation Industry Group. Based in London, Panayides advises owners, charterers, managers, brokers, P&I and defence clubs on the full spectrum of shipping and offshore disputes, as well as helping them navigate new decarbonisation regulations.
Sarah Caldwell, a London-based partner in the firm’s Financial Industry Group, was shortlisted for Lawyer of the Year, Structured Finance & Securitisation. Caldwell focuses mainly on structured finance transactions, securitisation, debt capital markets and debt restructurings, advising originators, issuers, corporate service providers, trustees, account banks and investors. Her experience includes asset-backed securities, capital markets bond issuances, and structured debt note programmes.
Finally, Reed Smith is one of seven firms to be shortlisted for France Firm of the Year.
The Women in Business Law awards recognise exceptional women lawyers and the law firms that cultivate their success across corporate finance, commercial, IP, tax and disputes practices throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Based on months of rigorous research into professional achievements, advocacy, thought leadership and diversity-supporting policies, the 2025 shortlist honours practitioners who excel in their fields while actively championing gender equality in the legal profession.
London-based IFLR sponsors the global IFLR1000 and five IFLR annual awards, covering Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. Winners will be announced on June 25 in London.