Philanthropist Jessica de Rothschild and the co-founders of toy retailer The Entertainer, Gary and Catherine Grant, were among the winners at the 2025 Spear’s Awards, presented in association with The Windsor by Heathrow.
The awards ceremony, regarded as the Oscars of the private client world, took place at Raffles London at The OWO on 20 November and drew more than 400 leading figures from the private client sector, alongside prominent entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
Gary and Catherine Grant were named Entrepreneurs of the Year. The husband-and-wife duo founded The Entertainer in Amersham in 1981 after Gary, then 22, was sacked from his job in a bicycle shop. What began as one toy shop has since grown into a business with 160 stores, nearly 2,000 employees and around 1,000 concessions in supermarkets and department stores. It is valued at up to £80 million, according to The Times.
Earlier this year, the Grants announced they would transfer all their shares in the business to an employee trust, giving staff a say in how the company is run and the chance to earn bonuses linked to profits in a model with echoes of the John Lewis Partnership. The family will be paid for its shares out of the company’s future profits.
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‘Little did I know back in 1981 when Cath and I founded The Entertainer that we would have the capability and opportunity to grow a business that would have a market share of over 15 per cent,’ said Gary Grant, noting that it meant The Entertainer was ‘as big as Woolworth’s in its heyday’.
‘When I left school at 16 with one O-level in maths, this would have been a dream that was too big to dream.’
Jessica de Rothschild was named the winner of the Spear’s Impact Award in recognition of her work in support of USA for UNHCR (the UN refugee agency).
De Rothschild has played a pivotal role in launching Building Better Futures, a $15 million campaign to support the education of refugee women and girls.
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The initiative will provide 1,000 university scholarships to young refugee women through the DAFI Scholarship Program, the world’s oldest higher-education scholarship scheme for refugees.
This work is in addition to a distinguished philanthropic career that has seen de Rothschild, daughter of the late financier Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, serve as a trustee of the Eranda Rothschild Foundation, which has donated more than £74 million to a wide range of charities. She also has a parallel career as a theatre and film producer.
‘Investing in the future of women is about building a better future for everybody,’ de Rothschild said upon accepting the award. She described the campaign as an opportunity to ‘redefine what impact looks like – by creating opportunity and agency.’
Becky Fatemi was the inaugural recipient of the Spear’s Woman of the Year Award.
The new prize has been introduced to help address a disparity in the private client sector, where men account for some 64 per cent of the individuals included in the Spear’s 500 – the market-leading selection of top advisers to UHNWs, billionaires and family offices. Taking into account only the most senior executive roles, the figure rises to 78 per cent.
‘This award is about celebrating the women who – despite that disparity – have made it to the very top of the tree, are performing at the very highest level, and who are using their influence to support colleagues on their own journey to do the same,’ said Spear’s editor-in-chief, Edwin Smith.
Fatemi, executive partner at Sotheby’s International Realty UK, was recognised for her stellar performance as an international super-prime property broker, in addition to philanthropic and entrepreneurial projects. Fatemi is the founder of Shadow to Shine, a foundation that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop skills and careers, as well as BlackBook, a platform designed to connect people in the creative industries, backed by TV host and DJ Maya Jama.
‘Being named Spear’s Woman of the Year is an extraordinary recognition and one I am genuinely grateful for,’ said Fatemi. ‘The past 12 months have been about growth, innovation and purpose, from launching the first buying division at Sotheby’s International Realty UK to building BlackBook into a creative-first professional network and expanding the impact of Shadow to Shine.’
‘What makes this award meaningful is that it reflects the values I try to champion: excellence, integrity, cultural diversity and genuine care for clients. I work in an industry where women, particularly women of colour, are still rare at the top. Showing that you can lead, build and create opportunities while staying true to who you are feels important.’
The Grand Prix – awarded to 2025’s leading firm in the private client sector – went to property developer Valouran for its work to deliver The Whiteley London, which also scooped the prize for Super Prime Property Development of the Year.
Spear’s editor Edwin Smith described the project, which is the redevelopment of the historic Whiteleys department store in Bayswater, as ‘not only extraordinarily ambitious and impressive in its own right’, but also ‘part of a wider plan set to have far-reaching, long-lasting positive consequences for many, many thousands of people, for many, many years to come. As one of our judges said: “This is once in a lifetime.”’
The full list of 2025 Spear’s Awards winners and finalists can be seen below.
Click the links below to jump to a section of this article:
- The complete list of winners and finalists
- Judging process
- Highlights from last year’s awards
- Partnerships
The complete list of winners and finalists
HNW Wealth Manager of the Year
In association with Invest Barbados
- Andrew Cumming – JM Finn
- George Holmes – Bentley Reid
- James Beck – James Hambro & Partners
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – Arbuthnot Latham
- Hampden Bank
- HSBC UK Private Banking
- UBS Global Wealth Management
- Weatherbys
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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
- WINNER – 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
Jessica de Rothschild, for Building Better Futures and USA for UNHCR
Spear’s Entrepreneur of the Year
In association with Unforgettable Travel Company
Gary & Catherine Grant, co-founders of The Entertainer
Spear’s Grand Prix
Valouran, for The Whiteley London
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.
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 for each award is listed above.
Highlights from last year’s awards
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).
