Spear’s rolled out the red carpet for the crème de la crème of London’s wealth management world, recognising the City’s best bankers, advisers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs, writes Matthew Hardeman
The great and the good of the private client world gathered at the Dorchester to celebrate the 11th Spear’s Wealth Management Awards last night.
Described as ‘the Oscars of the private banking world’, the awards, held in association with Gaggenau, celebrated the innovations and successes of entrepreneurs, philanthropists, private bankers and more. More than 700 of the capital’s jet-set came together to toast the winners, mingle and network at the prestigious event, hosted by Sky News economics editor, Ed Conway, and Spear’s editor-in-chief, William Cash.
The awards also recognised the City’s financial champions: Entrepreneur of the Year, Philanthropist of the Year and Outstanding Achievement Awards were all handed down (see below for the full list of nominees and winners), the latter this year won by privacy and reputation lawyer Gerrard Tyrrell.
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The latest edition of the Spear’s 500 was also launched at the event, highlighting more than 1,000 of the top private client advisers in business – from the best private bankers to the most revered family lawyers, expert art advisers and experienced yacht brokers. The guide, now in its fourth edition, also presents Spear’s top recommendations of service provides in the luxury lifestyle and alternative investment arenas – from fine wine to classic cars and jewelry.
Held since 2006, the Spear’s Wealth Management Awards have recognised the best individuals and firms working with HNWs for their innovation, success and outstanding contribution to their industries, the City and beyond, and London’s top entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
Winners included Angus McDonald (Entrepreneur of the Year), commended as a ‘serial’ entrepreneur ‘with a conscience, his genuine love of the West Highlands of Scotland and his work towards the creation of sustainable waste management’ (he described the awards as ‘worth the 600 mile journey’ down from Scotland), and Peter Gale (Private Banker of the Year) ‘for founding the bank’s thriving entrepreneurial group and exhibiting a desire to bring on the next generation’.
‘There are a number of awards ceremonies but I think Spear’s is the best – so I am genuinely quite surprised,’ said Gale, who took a hiatus from a family holiday to be at the awards. ‘It makes it all worthwhile.’
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HSBC Private Banking took home the prize for UK Private Bank of the Year (sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur), ‘for mandates of dizzying complexity and for its tailored offering to business-owning families’, while Citi Private Bank took home the crystal for International Private Bank of the Year ‘on account of a range of cross-regional client wins and impressive growth across the business’.
‘We’re delighted to win,’ said Citi’s David Poole, who collected the award. ‘Spear’s is the epitome of private client recognition globally and we’re thrilled to be privileged enough to receive this award from such an eminent panel of judges.’
Fellow private client veteran John Riches of RMW Law and Withers won tax and trust lawyer of the year for his ‘landmark’ work on the Common Reporting Standard, ‘all the while fronting a boutique practice’, the judges said.
Family Lawyer of the Year went to Emma Hatley at Stewarts, thanks to what the judges called her ‘sheer number of high-value cases, and her outstanding reputation’, ten years after she went home with Spear’s gong as a rising star. ‘It’s an incredible honour and wonderful recognition of a very hard-working year,’ she said. Sponsors Addcounsel said: ‘It’s a great award to be associated with… This is a very, very competitive award and there are some incredible lawyers in this space. It’s a great achievement.’
The Trusted Adviser Award went to Mark Stephens of Howard Kennedy ‘on account of his exceptional experience, global perspective and all round good-guyness’, while Niri Shan of Taylor Wessing ended the night as Spear’s Media, Privacy and Reputation Lawyer of the Year after being roundly backed by the judges for ‘being the go-to lawyer in all areas of reputation management’.
‘I’m very grateful for the award, which I’m accepting on behalf our team – Julia, Tim, Andy and Michael – because it’s a team effort,’ said Shan. ‘It’s an amazing night and I’ll never forget it.’
The Outstanding Achievement Award was handed to fellow media and privacy law legend Gerrard Tyrrell, vanguard to the rich and famous among many more who will remain unnamed thanks to his street savvy and legal prowess. The judges commended Tyrrell ‘for acting for the Queen, and other royal families, and in servicing the legal needs of an untold number of people whose reputations have remained spotless precisely because he was committed to stopping the media from besmirching them’.
Meanwhile Future Leader Award-winner Cordelia Bowdery from Veritas was unanimously commended by the judges for her ‘verve and individuality, sass and sheer energy’. ‘I’m particularly proud to have been called sassy,’ laughed Bowdery. ‘It feels amazing.’
Patrick Smiley, from Smith & Williamson, won the UHNW Asset Manager of the Year Award ‘for having ‘one of the biggest books, never losing a client and being engaging, charming and very respected in the industry — at the top of his game’.
Meanwhile Bandish Gudka of LGT Vestra finally won for HNW Asset Manager of the Year after many years of being nominated for ‘sheer energy, market reputation, and likeability’ and achieving record returns on behalf of clients. ‘I’m absolutely delighted to win,’ said Gudka. ‘It goes to show that if you put your clients first, above all other interests, that’s what makes you successful.’
Property Adviser of the Year, sponsored by Gaggenau, went to Mayfair stalwart Peter Wetherell for keeping the postcode ‘on its feet during challenging times’, while Frank Hirth’s veteran chairman Paul Hocking won Private Client Accountant of the Year for his ‘excellent’ reputation accrued over many years.
Innovation was recognised in Jamie Ritblat and Alex Scott from Mount Kendal, who won Wealth Management Innovator of the Year, for being ‘the first family office to focus on real estate advice’ and bypassing the competition with an offering described by the judges as ‘genuinely original and imaginative’.
Philanthropist of the Year went to Malcolm Joyce, who was praised for his £1 million contribution to the Alzheimer’s society, while Philanthropy Adviser of the Year Anne-Marie Piper of Farrer & Co won ‘for heading up Farrer’s superb charitable offering and for her complex regulatory work’.
Spear’s editor Alec Marsh said: ‘The Spear’s Wealth Management Awards recognise the greatest talent working in London’s private client field. This year we celebrate the work of the very best in wealth management, private banking, law and other categories such as family office services.
‘We are particularly pleased to name Peter Gale of C Hoare & Co winner in the Private Banker of the Year category and doubly impressed to see Citi Private Bank take honours in the International Private Bank category for the second year running.’
‘Among our legal categories, the judges were privileged in particular to honour new talent — such as Emma Hatley at Stewarts, our Family Lawyer of the Year, in which category the judges also highly commended Miranda Fisher of Charles Russell Speechlys. However the old guard isn’t done yet as evidenced by John Riches’ victory in the heavyweight Tax and Trusts Lawyer of the Year category.’
‘We also take pride in bestowing the Outstanding Achievement Award on Gerrard Tyrrell, the Queen’s reputation management solicitor. As the last days’ revelations from the “Paradise papers” have shown, a figure like the Queen is under intense scrutiny across her entire life. Tyrrell’s work for her and for numerous other important clients, represents in our view a very significant contribution to the field.’
The winners were as follows:
Private Banker of the Year — Sponsored by Mayfair Practice
Peter Gale, C Hoare & Co – WINNER
Roddy Boulton Credit Suisse – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Jim Bouley, Julius Baer
Amit Kotha, RBC Wealth Management
Helen Watson, Rothschild Wealth Management
Private Bank of the Year UK — Sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur
HSBC Private Banking – WINNER
Weatherbys – HIGHLY COMMENDED
C Hoare & Co
Coutts Private Bank
Hampden & Co
Rothschild Wealth Management
International Private Bank of the Year — Sponsored by Villas Valriche Heritage
Citi Private Bank – WINNER
JP Morgan Private Bank
Julius Baer
Pictet
UBS
Philanthropist of the Year — Sponsored by Alphonse Island
To Malcolm Joyce for his work in supporting the Alzheimer’s Society
Philanthropy Adviser of the Year — Sponsored by Sunseeker
Anne-Marie Piper, Farrer & Co – WINNER
John Canady, National Philanthropic Trust UK
Clive Cutbill, Withers
Jon Kinnell, CAF
Maya Prabhu, Coutts & Co
Simon Weil, Bircham Dyson Bell
Future Leader in Wealth Management — Sponsored by Tarquin’s Dry Gin
Cordelia Bowdery, Veritas – WINNER
Tiffany Troxel, Julius Baer – HIGHLY COMMENDED
James Barrett, Julius Baer
Clement Hutton-Mills, Rothschild Wealth Management
Wealth Management Innovator of the Year — Sponsored by The Word Residences at Sea
Jamie Ritblat and Alex Scott, Mount Kendal – WINNER
Jonathan Bell, Stanhope Capital
Alan & Gina Miller, SCM Direct
James Sellon, Maseco
High-Net-Worth Asset Manager of the Year — Sponsored by Rémy Martin
Bandish Gudka, LGT Vestra – WINNER
Patrick Wilson, Credit Suisse – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Alice d’Esparbes, UBS
Ross Elder, Lincoln
Charles White, McInroy & Wood
Ultra-High-Net-Worth Asset Manager of the Year — Sponsored by Boadicea the Victorious
Patrick Smiley, Smith & Williamson – WINNER
Daniel Pinto, Stanhope Capital
Khaled Said, Capital Generation Partners
Natasa Williams, LGT Vestra
Tax and Trust Lawyer of the Year — Sponsored by World of Fine Wine
John Riches, Withers – WINNER
Russell Cohen, Farrer & Co – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mark Bridges, Farrer & Co
Jonathan Conder, Macfarlanes
Ashley Crossley, Baker McKenzie
Charles Gothard, Macfarlanes
Filipo Noseda, Mishcon de Reya
Family Lawyer of the Year — Sponsored by Addcounsel
Emma Hatley, Stewarts Law – WINNER
Miranda Fisher, Charles Russell Speechlys – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Susan Apthorp, Sears Tooth
Frances Hughes, Hughes Fowler Carruthers
Davina Katz, Schillings
Joe Vaitilingam, Vaitilingam Kay
Lawyer of the Year (Defamation and Reputation) — Sponsored by Elite Traveler
Niri Shan, Taylor Wessing – WINNER
Nigel Tait, Carter-Ruck – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Charlotte Harris, Kingsley Napley
John Kelly, Harbottle & Lewis
Ramona Mehta, Mishcon de Reya
Private Client Accountant of the Year — Sponsored by Villa Sandi
Paul Hocking, Frank Hirth – WINNER
Nicola Roberts, Deloitte – HIGHLY COMMENDED
James Hender, Saffery Champness
Simon Jennings, Smith & Williamson
Property Adviser of the Year — Sponsored by Gaggenau
Peter Wetherell, Wetherell – WINNER
Ed Tryon, Lichfields – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Camilla Dell, Black Brick Property
Guy Meacock, Prime Purchase
Thomas Van Straubenzee & Rory Penn, VanHan
Trusted Adviser Award — Sponsored by the Monaco Economic Board
Mark Stephens, Howard Kennedy – WINNER
Mark Bridges, Farrer & Co
Jonathan Conder, Macfarlanes
William Drake, Owl Private Office
Elizabeth Henson, PwC
Entrepreneur of the Year — Sponsored by Salamanca Group
Angus MacDonald, SWR – WINNER
Rod Brown, Opun
Kym Denny, hVIVO
Ben Elliot, Paul Drummond & Aaron Simpson, Quintessentially
Emily Forbes, Seenit – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Family Office Services Provider of the Year — Sponsored by eToro
KPMG – WINNER
Owl Private Office
Smith & Williamson
Stonehage Fleming
Outstanding Achievement Award — Sponsored by Parmigiani
Gerrard Tyrrell, Harbottle & Lewis – WINNER
Matthew Hardeman is Senior Researcher at Spear’s
Twitter: @matthewhardeman
