The ‘Oscars of the private client world’ return this year to Raffles London at The OWO. Presented in association with The Windsor by Heathrow, the Spear’s Awards 2025 will once again celebrate the leading lights of wealth management, law, property, philanthropy and more – recognising those who set the benchmark for excellence in serving HNW and UHNW clients.
For more than a decade, the Spear’s Awards have honoured the advisers, innovators and entrepreneurs at the forefront of this ecosystem. Ahead of the ceremony on 20 November, we are delighted to reveal the finalists for the 18 award categories.
[See also: Book a table to attend the Spear’s Awards 2025]
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Judging process
Most categories are judged by an independent panel of experts, chosen for their outstanding sector-specific knowledge, alongside two members of the Spear’s editorial and research team. A small number of awards, including special honours such as the Spear’s Impact Award, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Grand Prix, are deliberated by Spear’s alone.
In the selection of independent judges with sector-specific expertise, every effort is taken to avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance thereof. Each judge is asked to consider a limited number of awards categories, where their expertise is most relevant. Judges are asked to declare an interest if they have a personal connection to any candidate, but professional relationships (such as being a client of a candidate’s firm, or being a service-provider to a candidate) is not considered grounds for recusal.
[See also: A guide to the Spear’s Awards: Everything you need to know]
In the vast majority of cases, judges could not be considered competitors of candidates for the awards categories that they are asked to evaluate. The only exception to this is where the previous year’s winner is invited to return as a judge. If they accept this invitation, they are of course not eligible to win any award in 2025. Where relevant, they are also forbidden to vote for any colleague from the same firm.
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The judges are asked to consider the awards submission form supplied by candidates and also their own knowledge of the candidates. This year, judging sessions were held at luxury Mayfair hotel, The Biltmore.
Judges award one point to their third preference, two points to their second preference and three points to their first preference. The winner is the candidate who receives the most points. In the event of a tie, the chair of judges has the casting vote.
The judging panel and shortlist for each award is listed below.
Watch the full announcement for the 2025 Spear’s Awards shortlist
HNW Wealth Manager of the Year
In association with Invest Barbados
- Andrew Cumming – JM Finn
- George Holmes – Bentley Reid
- James Beck – James Hambro & Partners
- Josh Matthews – MASECO
- Rosie Bullard – James Hambro & Partners
Judges: Nick Dogilewski (Partner, Exeter Partners); Annamaria Koerling (Managing Partner, Delfin Private Office); Mark Somers (Co-founder, Somers Partnership); Billy Stephenson (Managing Director, Stephenson Executive Search); Rupert Phelps (family office adviser); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
UHNW Wealth Manager of the Year
In association with Locate Isle of Man
- Aastha Gurbax – Goldman Sachs
- Ali Jamal – Azura Partners
- Ashley Coombes – UBS
- Charlie Hoffman – HSBC Global Private Banking
- Khaled Said – Capital Generation Partners
Judges: Nick Dogilewski (Partner, Exeter Partners); Annamaria Koerling (Managing Partner, Delfin Private Office); Mark Somers (Co-founder, Somers Partnership); Billy Stephenson (Managing Director, Stephenson Executive Search); Rupert Phelps (family office adviser); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Private Bank of the Year – UK
In association with JLL
Judges: Nick Dogilewski (Partner, Exeter Partners); Annamaria Koerling (Managing Partner, Delfin Private Office); Mark Somers (Co-founder, Somers Partnership); Billy Stephenson (Managing Director, Stephenson Executive Search); Rupert Phelps (family office adviser); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Private Bank of the Year – International
Judges: Nick Dogilewski (Partner, Exeter Partners); Annamaria Koerling (Managing Partner, Delfin Private Office); Mark Somers (Co-founder, Somers Partnership); Billy Stephenson (Managing Director, Stephenson Executive Search); Rupert Phelps (family office adviser); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Family Office Service Provider of the Year
In association with Averell
- Crestbridge Family Office Services
- Highvern
- Hundle & Partners
- JTC Private Office
- Saker Consultancy
- Schroders Family Office Service
- Stonehage Fleming
Judges: Nick Dogilewski (Partner, Exeter Partners); Annamaria Koerling (Managing Partner, Delfin Private Office); Mark Somers (Co-founder, Somers Partnership); Billy Stephenson (Managing Director, Stephenson Executive Search); Rupert Phelps (family office adviser); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Property Buying Agent of the Year
- Camilla Dell – Black Brick
- Ed Tryon – Lichfields
- Guy Meacock – Prime Purchase
- Jo Eccles – Eccord
- Sophie Rogerson – RFR
- Will Watson – The Buying Solution
Judges: Elaine Dobson (Head of residential property, Taylor Wessing); Roarie Scarisbrick (Partner, Property Vision); Hugh Wigzell (Partner, Farrer & Co); Simon Chadowitz (Partner, Fladgate); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Property Broker of the Year
In association with Blacklane
- Alex Christian – Savills
- Charles McDowell – McDowell Properties
- Marcus O’Brien – Sotheby’s International Realty
- Nick Beckett – Knight Frank
- Thomas van Straubenzee – Knight Frank
Judges: Elaine Dobson (Head of residential property, Taylor Wessing);Roarie Scarisbrick (Partner, Property Vision); Hugh Wigzell (Partner, Farrer & Co); Simon Chadowitz (Partner, Fladgate); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Super-Prime Property Development of the Year
- 100 George St
- Holland Park Gate
- One Carrington
- The Whiteley London
Judges: Roarie Scarisbrick (Partner, Property Vision); Hugh Wigzell (Partner, Farrer & Co); Simon Chadowitz (Partner, Fladgate); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Lawyer of the Year – Tax & Trusts
In association with Raffles London at The OWO
- Alexandra Hollingshead – Farrer & Co
- Ashley Crossley – Baker McKenzie
- Chris Moorcroft – Harbottle & Lewis
- Helen Clarke – Irwin Mitchell
- Nick Warr – Taylor Wessing
- Robert Brodrick – Payne Hicks Beach
Judges: Stuart Ritchie (Chair of the private client committee, ICAEW); Matthew Woods (Partner, Withers); Paul Ayres (Global chair of private client services, BDO); Morag Ofili (Barrister, Edwin Coe); Camilla Wallace (Partner, Wedlake Bell); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Lawyer of the Year – Family
- Anna Worwood – Penningtons Manches Cooper
- Ben Parry-Smith – Payne Hicks Beach
- Byron James – Expatriate Law
- Claire Gordon – Farrer & Co
- Emma Harte – Keystone Law
- Sam Longworth – Stewarts
- Simon Pigott – Levison Meltzer Pigott
Judges: Nichola Gray KC (Barrister, 1 Hare Court); Deirdre Fottrell KC (Barrister, 4PB); Deborah Eaton KC (Barrister, 1KBW); Alexis Campbell KC (Barrister, 29 Bedford Row); Colin Rogerson (Partner, Mills & Reeve); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Lawyer of the Year – Reputation
- David Engel – Addleshaw Goddard
- Emma Woollcott – Mishcon de Reya
- Hanna Basha – Payne Hicks Beach
- Mark Stephens – Howard Kennedy
- Matt Bosworth – Russell-Cooke
- Rory Lynch – Gateley
Judges: Sara Mansoori KC (Barrister, Matrix Chambers); Salamander Davoudi (Co-founder, Tancredi); Jo Livingston (Global brand and communications director, Lewis Hamilton Ventures); Mark Borkowski (founder, Borkowski); Nigel Tait (Partner, Carter-Ruck); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Private Client Accountant of the Year
- Alison Hill – PwC
- Ashley Hill – Irwin Mitchell
- Craig Kemsley – August Private
- Gary Ashford – Harbottle & Lewis
- Sarah Farrow – EY
Judges: Stuart Ritchie (Chair of the private client committee, ICAEW); Matthew Woods (Partner, Withers); Paul Ayres (Global chair of private client services, BDO); Morag Ofili (Barrister, Edwin Coe); Camilla Wallace (Partner, Wedlake Bell); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Future Leader in Private Client Services
- Jessica Fazzone – Irwin Mitchell
- Kamila Samin – Lincoln Private Investment Office
- Luke Scarratt – Payne Hicks Beach
- May Delaney – Harbottle & Lewis
- Thomas Allsupp – James Hambro & Partners
Judges: Hugh Wigzell (Partner, Farrer & Co); Simon Chadowitz (Partner, Fladgate); Camilla Wallace (Partner, Wedlake Bell); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Private Client Innovation of the Year
- Courtney Legal
- Hamblin Family Law
- HOOKE London
- HSBC UK Private Bank
- LGT Wealth Management
- Payne Hicks Beach Family Department
- W8 Advisory
Judges: Hugh Wigzell (Partner, Farrer & Co); Simon Chadowitz (Partner, Fladgate); Morag Ofili (Barrister, Edwin Coe); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Spear’s Woman of the Year Award
In association with The Windsor by Heathrow
- Becky Fatemi – Sotheby’s International Realty
- Catherine Bedford – Harbottle & Lewis
- Charlotte Thorne – Capital Generation Partners
- Nancy Curtin – AlTi Tiedemann Global
- Priya Rawal – The Luxury Property Forum
- Sofia Syed – MEUM Group
Judges: Nichola Gray KC (Barrister, 1 Hare Court); Camilla Wallace (Partner, Wedlake Bell); Morag Ofili (Barrister, Edwin Coe); Aisha Alli (Head of Research, Spear’s); Edwin Smith (Editor-in-Chief, Spear’s)
Spear’s Impact Award
In association with Clinic Les Alpes
Winner to be announced on the night
Spear’s Entrepreneur of the Year
In association with Unforgettable Travel Company
Winner to be announced on the night
Spear’s Grand Prix
Winner to be announced on the night
Highlights from the Spear’s Awards 2024
Partnerships
The Spear’s Awards 2025 is presented in association with our headline partner, The Windsor by Heathrow and our category partners: Averell, Blacklane, Clinic Les Alpes, Invest Barbados, JLL, Locate Isle of Man, Penfolds, Unforgettable Travel Company and Raffles London at The OWO.
The Spear’s Awards provide a platform to connect in person with over 400 of the most influential figures in the world of private wealth. In addition, partners of the awards benefit from a multi-platform offering across digital, social, multimedia and print to ensure maximum exposure to an exclusive audience.
Partnership enquiries can be directed to Spear’s commercial director, Shady Elkholy (shady.elkholy@spearswms.com).
