Legal-Department-of-the-Year---Large-Team Baker McKenzie, Ashurst, Dentons and DLA Piper are among the firms competing to be named International Law Firm of the Year at the Middle East Legal Awards.

Completing the line-up in this flagship category at the awards – which are jointly hosted by Legal Week and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Middle East Chapter – are Stephenson Harwood, Clyde & Co, DWF and Eversheds Sutherland.

The shortlist, which is unveiled today (21 March), showcases the region's top lawyers and legal departments and was chosen from a record number of submissions.

Among the companies represented in the in-house categories are Deutsche Bank, Microsoft, FedEX, Johnson Controls and Middle East satellite television broadcaster OSN.

The awards will take place at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Dubai on 19 April.

Regional firms represented on the shortlist include Afridi & Angell, Al Tamimi & Company, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates and Hadef & Partners, which line up in the Regional Law Firm of the Year – Large Firm category.

The awards are divided into in-house and private practice sections. Law firm team awards cover a range of practice areas including corporate, banking and finance, construction and arbitration.

The winners will be chosen by an independent judging panel chaired by Dean Sheehan, vice-president and general counsel for Middle East and Africa, Pepsico, whose legal team was last year's winner of Legal Department of the Year – Large Team (pictured above).

Last year's ceremony, which was attended by nearly 400 lawyers, saw DLA Piper named International Law Firm of the Year, while Al Tamimi & Company and Al Jallaf Advocates & Legal Consultants won the Regional Law Firm of the Year large firm and small firm categories respectively.

Click here to read the full shortlist, and click here to find out more about the Corporate Counsel Forum Middle East conference, which takes place on 19 April.