DP World, Hadef & Partners and Herbert Smith Freehills are among the entrants to be shortlisted as Legal Week unveils the nominations for the second annual Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards.

Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Clyde & Co are among the firms battling it out for international law firm of the year, with the winner due to be announced at a ceremony held at Dubai's Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi on 16 May.

Meanwhile, the Middle East law firm of the year will see last year's winner Al Tamimi compete with Galadari & Associates, Habib Al Mulla, Hadef & Partners and KBH Kaanuun.

Standard Chartered Bank is in the running for legal department of the year, going head to head with the likes of Dell, DP World and The Emirates Group.

The awards process, which recognises achievements by lawyers, legal departments and law firms in the Middle East, is overseen by a judging panel chaired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts vice president of legal for the Europe, Africa and Middle East division Elias Hayek, who is also set to host the ceremony.

The panel, which will meet later this month to choose the winners, comprises legal heavyweights including du general counsel (GC) and senior vice president of legal and regulatory Anneliese Reinhold, Gulf Investment Corporation GC Khalid Khan and Dubai International Financial Centre Courts registrar Mark Beer.

Hayek said: "We have a list of fantastic finalists demonstrating the contribution of both general counsel and law firms to the improving economic position across the Middle East."

To reserve your table at the gala dinner and awards ceremony, click here to book online or call Steve Hands on +44 (0)20 7004 7460. Alternatively, click here to send an email.

Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards 2013 shortlist in full:

General Counsel of the Year
David Haigh, GFH Capital
Shehzaad Sacranie, Mubadala GE Capital
Mohd Sadique, China State Construction Engineering Corporation
Afshan Akhtar, Aluminium Bahrain
Nassib Abou-Khalil, Yahoo!

Legal Department of the Year – large team
Aluminium Bahrain
DP World
The Emirates Group
Standard Chartered Bank

Legal Department of the Year – small team
China State Construction Engineering Corporation
Dell
GFH Capital
QInvest

Legal Counsel of the Year
Angela Jensen, Novo Nordisk
Wafa Derouiche, Pentair
Imad El-Sayed, The Coca-Cola Company

Innovation Award
Dell
China State Construction Engineering Corporation
Dubai Aviation City Corporation
Herbert Smith Freehills

CSR Award
Clifford Chance
Hadef & Partners
Latham & Watkins and The Royal Bank of Scotland
SJ Berwin

International Law Firm of the Year
Allen & Overy
Clifford Chance
Clyde & Co
Eversheds
Squire Sanders
Dentons
Vinson & Elkins

Middle East Law Firm of the Year
Al Tamimi & Company
Galadari & Associates
Habib Al Mulla
Hadef & Partners
KBH Kaanuun

Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team of the Year
Allen & Overy
Al Tamimi & Company
Clifford Chance
Clyde & Co
Hadef & Partners
King & Spalding

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
Bin Shabib & Associates
Clifford Chance
Habib Al Mulla
KBH Kaanuun
Shearman & Sterling
Simmons & Simmons
SJ Berwin

Transportation, Energy and Infrastructure Team of the Year
Ashurst
Hadef & Partners
Pinsent Masons
Shearman & Sterling
Dentons
Vinson & Elkins

Corporate Team of the Year
Al Tamimi & Company
Allen & Overy
Clyde & Co
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Habib Al Mulla
Hogan Lovells

Property and Construction Team of the Year
Allen & Overy
Eversheds
Hadef & Partners
Norton Rose
Pinsent Masons
Dentons

Commercial Team of the Year
Al Tamimi & Company
DLA Piper
Eversheds
Hadef & Partners
Dentons
Taylor Wessing