We are delighted to announce that Francis Caesar Devine and Kayla Nielsen from our Gosford and Newcastle offices have been named national finalists in the Criminal Law category of the 2025 Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards. This marks the second consecutive year that Kayla and Francis have been recognised as finalists in this prestigious and highly competitive category, with Francis taking out the top honour in 2024.
The Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards celebrate Australia’s most exceptional young legal professionals aged 30 and under. Being named a finalist is an extraordinary achievement, reflecting dedication to achieving the best outcomes for clients, advancing the legal profession and demonstrating outstanding leadership and initiative.
Kayla joined our firm as a part-time law clerk in mid-2022 before becoming a valued member of the Criminal Law team in early 2023. Her exceptional work ethic, commitment to excellence in defended hearing matters and leadership capabilities in mentoring junior solicitors led to her promotion to Associate in June 2024. Kayla also played a pivotal role in supporting Senior Trial Advocate and Managing Director Manny Conditsis during a historic murder trial, showcasing her initiative and leadership in high-pressure situations.
Francis has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill since joining the firm in August 2022. Known for his calm, measured approach to legal advocacy, he has consistently achieved remarkable outcomes for his clients, including representing a client interstate on a serious criminal charge and ensuring they avoided imprisonment. His meticulous preparation and ability to deliver robust sentencing submissions have set him apart. Francis’s leadership and outstanding achievements saw him promoted to Senior Associate in June this year, building on his recognition as Australia’s top young Criminal Lawyer Under 30 in 2024.
These and other many other outstanding achievements over the past 12 months resulted in Kayla and Francis being nominated for the award and subsequently selected as finalists after completing their detailed award submissions.
Manny Conditsis expressed his pride in both Kayla and Francis, saying, “Their dedication, professionalism and ability to consistently deliver exceptional outcomes for their clients is a testament to their talent and hard work. They are outstanding representatives of our firm and the profession and I am incredibly proud of them, regardless of the outcome on awards night.”Kayla and Francis are honoured to be named as finalists once again and look forward to celebrating at the black-tie gala event at The Star, Sydney, on Thursday, 6 March 2025, where winners across all categories will be announced.
