The awards include categories for private client lawyers, accountants, private bankers, financial advisors and trust managers. This year sees the addition of the Private Investment Office of the Year Award and the return of the IFA Team of the Year and UK Boutique Firm of the Year Award.

Teams, firms and chambers can enter by completing an online form here. The entry deadline is 1 June 2012.

Tom Burroughes, group editor at ClearView Financial Media , is one of the members of the private client awards judging panel.

Last year’s winners include John Riches TEP as Trusted Advisor of the Year and Richard Moyse TEP for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Serle Court won the Chambers of the Year Award and Hottinger & Cie took home the award for Private Banking Team of the Year.

Confirmed sponsors for the Awards include: AP Executive, Citi Private Bank, Hawksford, Katten Muchin Rosenman, Mercator Trust Company, Ogier Private Wealth, Stonehage Group and Towry.

STEP’s award charity is Feed the Minds www.feedtheminds.org who deliver innovative education projects to help save lives, reduce poverty and transform communities in developing countries. Last year’s STEP PCA raised £56,770 for Feed the Minds through contributions by awards entrants

Worldwide Categories:

-- Chambers of the Year;

-- Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year;

-- Institutional Trust Team of the Year;

-- International Legal Team of the Year;

-- Investment Team of the Year;

-- Multi-Family Office Team of the Year;

-- Owner-Managed Trust Team of the Year;

-- Philanthropy Team of the Year;

-- Private Banking Team of the Year;

-- Private Investment Office of the Year;

-- Trusted Advisor of the Year;

 North American category

-- North American Team of the Year;

UK and Ireland categories

-- Accountancy Team of the Year;

-- Boutique Firm of the Year;

-- Charity Team of the Year;

-- Contentious Trust and Estates Team of the Year;

-- London Legal Team of the Year;

-- UK and Ireland Regional Team of the Year;