“The STEP awards celebrate excellence in practice and the high status private client work richly deserves. Everyone on the shortlist should be proud.”

Nominees range from private client solicitors, accountancy firms, barristers, trust companies, banks and publishers, all of whom are being recognised for their innovation and contribution to their profession over the last year.

In the UK and Ireland section of the shortlist, the nominations are as follows:

Accountancy Team of the Year (UK & Ireland)

• BDO Stoy Hayward
• Rawlinson & Hunter
• Smith & Williamson

Barrister of the Year

• Brian Green QC, Wilberforce Chambers
• Ian Edge, 3 Paper Buildings
• Tom Dumont, Radcliffe Chambers

Charity Team of the Year

• Stone King
• Turcan Connell
• Withers

Contentious Trust and Estate Team

• Lester Aldridge
• Thomas Eggar
• Withers

London Legal Team of the Year

• Allen & Overy
• Baker & McKenzie
• Withers

UK and Ireland Regional Team of the Year

• Brodies
• Thomas Eggar
• Turcan Connell

Nominations under the International Categories include:

Institutional Trust Company

• Barclays Wealth
• Credit Suisse
• Investec

Independent Trust Company

• Bedell Group
• Close Trustees
• Mourant

Investment Team of the Year

• Citi Quilter
• FF&P
• Newton

Private Banking Team of the Year

• Citi Private Bank
• Deutsche Bank
• JP Morgan

Private Client Book of the Year

• IHT Trusts Alignment
• Tolley's Inheritance Tax Planning
• Underhill & Hayton

Caribbean Legal Team of the Year

• Appleby
• Conyers Dill & Pearman
• Morgan & Morgan

Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

• Carey Olsen
• Mourant
• Ozannes

North American Private Client Team

• Cantor & Webb
• Day Pitney
• Katten Muchin Rosenman

Best Government Initiative

• DIFC – Family Project Office
• Isle of Man – New tax regime
• The Bahamas – PTCs
• BVI - Business Companies Act.