In 2017 the partners of Mortlock McCormack Law established an annual prize in recognition of academic excellence in Child and Family Law at the University of Canterbury. This prize is in honour of Hugh Crispe Cottrell, a Partner at Mortlock McCormack Law from 2009, until he passed away in 2011. Hugh Cottrell was a well-respected Christchurch lawyer and was appointed a Notary Public early in his career. Hugh’s love of people and the law drew him to focus on family law, where he was regularly appointed to act as both mediator and lawyer for children.

The 2021 prize was awarded to Haley Stephens, who has since moved to Auckland for an exciting work opportunity. We were delighted to have Haley and her father, Warren, join the MML team for morning tea to celebrate her accomplishment.