STEP launches 2014/15 Private Client Awards

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) has opened nominations for its ninth annual Private Client Awards. The Private Client Awards recognise excellence in private client practice by solicitors, attorneys, accountants, barristers, bankers, trust managers and financial advisors. This year, for the first time, all categories are open to entries from firms and individuals worldwide.

Paul Stibbard TEP, Chair of the Presiding Judges and Senior Advisor at Rothschild Trust said: ‘The STEP Private Client Awards reflect the outstanding work undertaken in the private wealth sector. Firms, chambers, teams and individuals around the world are consistently demonstrating their abilities and achievements at the highest standard. The panel of judges is looking forward to the challenge of identifying the top tier nominations who truly deserve a Private Client Award.'

This year the Award categories and criteria have been reviewed and updated, and include four revised categories: Independent Trust Company of the Year; Trust Company of the Year; Legal Team of the Year – large; and Legal Team of the Year – midsize.

Teams, firms, sole practitioners and chambers can enter the STEP Private Client Awards by completing an online form at www.steppca.org The Awards are open to STEP members and non-members alike and nominations close on 30 May with finalists announced on 1 July. The Awards ceremony will be held on 17 September 2014 at the London Hilton on Park Lane Hotel.

STEP's Chief Executive David Harvey said: 'We want to acknowledge excellence and outstanding work and celebrate professional achievement. The Private Client Awards are rigorously judged, so to be recognised is a mark of pride for practitioners.'

He added: ‘This year we're opening nominations internationally to acknowledge the full breadth of work and the respective challenges that our nominees face. We expect to see nominations that are complete contrasts in terms of work and approach, but that all share the same hallmarks of excellence.'

Confirmed sponsors for the Awards include:

Butterfield Trust
Chase de Vere
Crestbridge
First Names Group
Hawksford
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Nedbank Private Wealth
Stonehage Group
Towry