The shortlist for The British Wills and Probate, sponsored by CTT Group, has been revealed with 75 firms, businesses and individuals recognised for their commitment to innovation, service excellence, client experience and technical expertise.
Throughout the week, starting on Monday 19th August, a selection of category shortlists have been revealed exclusively through Today’s Wills and Probate. Those who have been shortlisted are provided with a range of digital assets and PR to be used on websites, emails, newsletters and social media to help them make the most of their success. Firms are also encouraged to share their success on social media using #BWAPAwards2024.
Returning as Headline Sponsor for the second year and commenting on the final shortlists, CTT Managing Director, Andrew Houston says
“It’s an honour to be headline sponsors of an event that does so much to recognise and celebrate talented individuals within our industry. The very best of luck to all those who’ve been shortlisted for an award at this year’s British Wills and Probate Awards. Making the shortlist is a tremendous achievement, and I wish those nominated every success at this year’s awards.”
The judging process is wholly independent with a panel of 30 judges undertaking two rounds of review of the categories to arrive at the final shortlists. The winners will be announced live at The British Wills and Probate Awards which is hosted on 10th October 2024 at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester and simultaneously live streamed via the British Wills and Probate Awards website. Tickets for the awards are available now.
CLICK HERE to book your tickets for The British Wills and Probate Awards 2024.
Magician and funny man Ben Hanlin has been announced as the host the 2024 awards. Hanlin has appeared on television globally and was a contestant on ITV’s Dancing on Ice where he reached the semi finals. Since starring in ITV2 show “Tricked” in which he performed magic and pranks on celebrities and members of the public he has amassed over 2 million followers across his social media channels. He says his big passion is still performing live in front of audiences and his goal is always to make his shows funny, amazing and interactive. Hanlin replaces broadcaster Jennie Bond who has hosted the awards since they launched in 2018.
In its seventh year organisers Today’s Media have undertaken a wholesale review of the categories and criteria to ensure they remain as relevant in 2024 as they were in 2018. Alongside returning favourites, including “Best Place to Work,” “Court of Protection Team of the Year,” and “One to Watch Practitioner of the Year” the 2024 ceremony introduces two new contentious and non-contentious Practitioner of the Year categories, a specialist “Tax and Trust Team of the Year” and has revamped the Will Writing and Solicitor Firm of the Year categories.
2024 also sees the launch of a hugely important new category; “Wills and Probate Excellence,” sponsored by Arken.legal. The award, which will replace the “Today’s Wills and Probate Industry Champion”, embodies everything that Today’s Wills and Probate stands for as a news publication and everything The British Wills and Probate Awards was introduced to recognise; independence, integrity and a recognition of the incredible diversity of the profession. a category into which all the estate planning and solicitor categories will be entered, with the winner identified as being the cream of the crop.
Commenting on the overhaul of the categories, Today’s Media Managing Director David Opie says
“Seven years is a long time ago and it’s fair to say over that period private client work has evolved. If an event like The British Wills and Probate Awards remained static, it would very quickly become stale, and it wouldn’t reflect the incredible innovation the sector has gone through over the last seven years, or the work of the incredible professionals who deliver day in, day out, for their clients.
“It was a bit of case of “7 year itch!” We review the categories and criteria every year but this time it felt like it was more important than ever to account for the changing landscape of legal services and the role of the wills and probate community.”
The format of the event is unique with and encourages plenty of opportunities for networking and collaboration. The awards themselves are hosted at the start of the evening, simultaneously live streamed via The British Wills and Probate Awards website. The evening then moves to the Networking Reception, before dinner is served back in the gala hall. The relaxed nature of the dinner means attendees are free to wander round the room throughout the evening to network with fellow guests. With over 450 attendees in person in 2023 and a further 250 online, tickets are anticipated to be in demand with a range of individual, half table and full table options.
Congratulations to all those shortlisted for The British Wills and Probate Awards 2024 and all the very best of luck on the night.
The shortlist for The British Wills and Probate Awards 2024
Best Use of Technology
Sponsored by: The Estate Registry
- Estatesearch
- LEAP Estates
- Capacity Vault
- Cashroom
- Sail Group
Legal Assistant of the Year
Sponsored by: Fraser & Fraser
- Linda Eriksson – HTF Legal Ltd
- Nicola Huseyin – Thackray Williams LLP
- Jaimmie Poon – Confidence Wills
- Karolina Strelcovaite – Martin Tolhurst Solicitors
- Maggie Taylor – Fidler & Pepper Lawyers
Court of Protection Team of the Year
Sponsored by: Anglia Research
- Clarion
- Hugh James
- Hugh Jones Solicitors
- Kingsley Napley LLP
- Michelmores
Community & Charity Champions
Sponsored by: The HAIG Legal Group
- Forbes Solicitors LLP
- Morecambe Bay Wills & Estates Limited
- Oliver & Co Solicitors
- Talbots Law
- Touch Solicitors
Probate Provider of the Year – North & Midlands
Sponsored by: Institute of Legacy Management
- Forbes Solicitors LLP
- Ramsdens Solicitors LLP
- Sills & Betteridge LLP
- Taylor Emmet
- ZEDRA
Probate Provider of the Year – South
Sponsored by: CLS Property Insight
- Kings Court Trust
- Laurelo
- Premier Solicitors
- Thackray Williams LLP
- Thomson Snell & Passmore
Innovation & Transformation of the Year
Sponsored by: Level
- Circe Law Ltd
- Culver Law Ltd
- Digilegal Ltd
- Dunham McCarthy
- Octopus Legacy
Estate Planning Consultant of the Year
Sponsored by: Society of Willwriters
- Nadine Abrahams – Estate Planning Solutions
- Andrea Bentham – Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates Limited
- Helen Davies – Heritage Estate Planning
- Sid Mohanty – Amadeus Legal Services
- Paul Stanford – Stanford Legal Services
Best Place to Work
Sponsored by: FSL Finance
- Arken.Legal
- Culver Law Ltd
- Oliver & Co Solicitors
- Shakespeare Martineau
- Sills & Betteridge LLP
Estate Planning Firm of the Year – Boutique
- ELM Legal Services
- Heritage Estate Planning
- Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates Limited
- Southeast Legacies
- Squiggle Consult
Estate Planning Firm of the Year – Large
Sponsored by: WillSuite
- Heritage Wills
- Octopus Legacy
- Simpler Law Ltd.
- The Willwriting Partnership
Legal Supplier of the Year
Sponsored by: CILEX
- Arken.Legal
- Cashroom
- Estatesearch
- Finders International
- LEAP Estates
Contentious Practitioner of the Year
- Debra Burton – Shakespeare Martineau
- Tony Cockayne – Michelmores
- Mark Keeley – Freeths LLP
- Polly Stephenson – Ashtons Legal LLP
- Alexia Thomas – Red Kite Law LLP
Contentious Wills & Probate Team of the Year – Boutique
Sponsored by: Aviva
- Stevens & Bolton LLP
- JMW Solicitors LLP
- Hugh James
- B P Collins LLP
- Birketts LLP
Contentious Wills & Probate Team of the Year – Large
- Freeths LLP
- Moore Barlow LLP
- Penningtons Manches Cooper
- Rothley Law Limited
Tax & Trusts Team of the Year
Sponsored by: Provira
- HTF Legal Ltd
- Irwin Mitchell LLP
- Lawson West Solicitors
- Mayo Wynne Baxter
- Thomson Snell & Passmore
One to Watch Practitioner of the Year
Sponsored by: The Law Superstore
- Lucy Cresswell – JMW Solicitors
- Madison Earl – Sills & Betteridge
- Isabella Glass – Blackstone Solicitors Ltd
- Tari Gonyora – Martin Tolhurst Solicitors
- Sophie Wallace – Tassells LLP
Probate Research Firm of the Year
- Anglia Research
- Estate Research
- Finders International
- Fraser & Fraser
- Pro-Gen Research
Private Client Practitioner of the Year
Sponsored by: Finders International
- Madeline Harris – NE Family Law
- Sophie Fenn – Wilkes
- Jacqueline Emmerson – Emmersons Solicitors
- Abigail Doust – Clarkson Wright & Jakes
- Fiona Dodd – Mayo Wynne Baxter
Private Client Firm of the Year – Boutique
Sponsored by: Ochresoft
- Circe Law Ltd
- Hugh Jones Solicitors
- SE-Solicitors
- Tassells LLP
- Touch Solicitors
Private Client Firm of the Year – Large
Sponsored by: LEAP Estates
- Dunham McCarthy
- Hugh James
- Irwin Mitchell LLP
- Morr & Co
- Pennington Manches Cooper
Customer Service Champion
Sponsored by: Exizent
- B P Collins LLP
- Oliver & Co Solicitors
- Rothera Bray LLP
- Talbots Law
- Thornton Jones Solicitors Limited
#BWAPAwards2024
