Categories and Criteria

Awards Criteria for all Categories

Demonstrate excellence over the past year, taking into account any significant obstacles that you have had to overcome.
Demonstrate excellent client service that is relationship driven, aligned with the interests of clients, transparent and cost effective, and where appropriate, bespoke.
Demonstrate excellent leadership, including a clear vision for the future and taking advantage of market opportunities.
Demonstrate excellent technical skills and a qualified team with support for ongoing CPD.
Where applicable, demonstrate innovation and involvement in interesting, challenging or new areas of practice.
Demonstrate, where relevant, excellent branding, visible and strategic positioning.
Demonstrate a broader contribution to the profession. Contribution to wider social
responsibility, including support for good causes and maintaining high standards of staff treatment.

Criteria for International Categories

Advocate of the Year

Advocate of the Year applies to a self-employed individual in independent practice who undertakes specialist drafting and advisory work, represents litigants before the courts or is involved in mediation.

Chambers of the Year

Chambers of the Year applies to a Chambers of barristers established anywhere in the world.

Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year

Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year is open to the team who integrate independent financial advice into the wider estate planning strategy of their clients. Whether working in-house with a law firm or accountancy firm, or in a separate business but liaising closely with legal and accountancy contacts. This team has shown that it understands the needs of ‘private clients’, be they, for example, trustees or incapacitated clients. It is likely that this team has shown innovation in the proposition they offer to trustee clients, or other specific segments of the private client market. Their approach to developing professional connections also makes them stand out. This team is committed to further developing their legal and taxation knowledge, which reflects the more technical demands of the clients they deal with.

Independent Trust Company Team of the Year

Independent Trust Company Team of the Year applies to a trust company unconnected to a bank anywhere in the world.

Institutional Trust Company Team of the Year

Institutional Trust Company Team of the Year applies to a trust company owned by a bank anywhere in the world.

International Legal Team of the Year

The International Legal Team of the Year (replacing IFC Legal Team) applies to a legal team which is located outside of the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada and focuses on cross-border or international work.

Investment House of the Year

Investment House of the Year applies to firms which specialise in managing investments. Entrants should place particular focus on excellent client service, including client communications, innovation, accountability, clarity and transparency. Entrants should also demonstrate good risk-adjusted performance and security of firm.

Long-Term Savings and Pensions Team of the Year (Insurance)

Long-Term Savings and Pensions Team of the Year applies to firms which provide long-term savings products and solutions for pensions, investments and protection. Entrants should place particular focus on excellent client service, including client communications, innovation, accountability, clarity and transparency.

Multi-Family Office Team of the Year

An award for Multi-Family Office enterprise dedicated to meeting the comprehensive needs of several families or branches of the same family. To be eligible the nominee must meet the following criteria:

a) Be dedicated to meeting the needsof multiple families or multiple branches of the same family.

b) Provide a range of the following services*:

Wealth structuring
Tax, estate and succession planning
Managing holding structures (e.g. trusts, foundations, companies)
Philanthropic planning
Global asset allocation, investment strategy and performance reporting
Family business advisory
Family governance

* Whilst it is not essential that entrants provide all of the above services the award is intended to those who provide a significant range of such services.

Philanthropy Team of the Year

Philanthropy Team of the Year applies to a team who provide outstanding strategic advice to donors on philanthropic giving and structures.

Private Bank Team of the Year

Private Bank Team of the Year applies to a team of private bankers anywhere in the world.

Criteria for Regional Categories

Accountancy Team of the Year (UK & Ireland)

Accountancy Team of the Year applies to teams of accountants operating in an accounting firm.

Boutique Firm of the Year* (UK & Ireland)

The Boutique Firm of the Year award is for an individual lawyer or accountant or a practice with a maximum of six fee earners specialising in trusts and estates.

*Note this award is not intended for a practice within a larger firm.

Charity Team of the Year (UK & Ireland)

Charity Team of the Year applies to a team who provide outstanding advice to charities.

Contentious Trust and Estates Team of the Year (UK & Ireland)

Contentious Trust and Estates Team of the Year applies to lawyers specialising in acrimonious and disputed situations which require resolution whether through litigation or some other means. Entrants should highlight any third parties you believe have given prominent assistance in achieving your objectives.

Legal Team of the Year (London)

The London Legal Team of the Year applies to teams of lawyers who are established in London.

North American Team of the Year

North American Team of the Year applies to all accountancy, legal and investment teams located in the USA or Canada.

UK and Ireland Regional Legal Team of the Year

The UK and Ireland Regional Legal Team of the Year applies to teams of lawyers who operate in the UK or Ireland and are located outside of London.