Five leading industry figures and 15 firms were honoured at the STEP Private Client Awards 2013/14, which were announced this week at an awards ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
Dawn Goodman TEP of Withers LLP scooped the coveted Trusted Advisor of the Year award, which for the first time was voted for by STEP members. Many members of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) have close links to IFP members and some IFP members are in both organisations.
Industry pioneer Philip Marcovici TEP was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his significant contribution in advising on the dramatic changes in tax disclosure and the development of tax amnesties and Michael Cadesky TEP received the Geoffrey Shindler Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession, following his recent work on a Model Taxpayer Charter.
STEP says this year saw the introduction of two important new categories reflecting the increasing importance of young professionals and family businesses to the future economic success of the profession: Family Business Advisor of the Year went to Peter Leach of Peter Leach & Partners LLP, and Young Practitioner of the Year went to Emma Horne of Morisons.
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Smith & Williamson was a major winner – coming away with two awards for their Investment and Accountancy teams. Among the other winning teams were firms Farrer & Co. (Contentious Trusts and Estates), Mourant Ozannes (International Legal Team) and Citi Private Bank (Private Banking).
Now in their eighth year, the awards set the standard for excellence in private client practice, says STEP. With more entries than ever, chair of the presiding judges Paul Stibbard TEP, said: "This year's competition raised the bar for the depth and quality of entries from an increasingly international arena. This should act like a beacon for exceptional practice, shining across the more challenging fiscal and economic conditions many professionals now face."
More than 650 private-client professionals attended the awards ceremony, which was hosted by Clare Balding OBE, BAFTA Special Award winner and RTS Presenter of the year.
The event raised £84,939 for the awards charity Feed the Minds, which works with local partners in developing countries, delivering education projects to help save lives, reduce poverty and transform communities. The awards were live-Tweeted on @STEPSociety (#STEPPCA) announcing the winners and all the action as the night unfolded.
STEP sponsors included Aon Private Clients, Bermuda Business Development Corporation, Butterfield Trust, Citi Private Bank, First Names Group, Forsters, Hawksford, Katten Muchin Rosenman, LexisNexis, Nedbank Private Wealth, Northern Trust, Oracle Capital Group, Stonehage Group and Towry.