Entry criteria

When entering the 2017 Awards, please read through the following criteria for your chosen category (ies), which explain what the judging panel will be looking for when they judge the entries and select the winners.

The judging period for the Awards will be April 2016 - April 2017.


The awards will be publicized internationally in the general and hedge fund media. All awards finalists will be honoured — and the winners announced at a lunch on Thursday 28 September at the Four Seasons Hotel.

All winners will also be invited to be interviewed by HFMWeek.

Criteria:
Fund Administration
Advisory, Accountancy & Technology
Legal
Prime Broker

Fund Administration Categories:

Best administrator - under $30bn single manager
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, responsible for assets under administration of under $30bn, that have shown growth and innovation over the course of the last 12 months in serving the needs of single managers. Success in this category depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth, as well as product/brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which displays significant success.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation and description of how market responded to the idea
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - under $30bn fund of hedge funds
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, responsible for assets under administration of under $30bn, that have shown growth and innovation over the course of the last 12 months in the funds of hedge funds space. Success in this category depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth, as well as product/brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which can boast significant success.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation for FoHFs
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - under $30bn overall
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, responsible for hedge fund assets under administration of under $30bn, that have shown growth and innovation over the course of the last 12 months in both the single manager and fund of hedge funds space. Success depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth, as well as product/brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which can boast significant success.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation and description of how market responded to the idea
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - over $30bn single manager
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, responsible for assets under administration of over $30bn, that have shown growth and innovation over the course of the last 12 months in serving the needs of single managers. Success in this category depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth, as well as product/brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which can boast significant success.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation and description of how market responded to the idea
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - over $30bn fund of hedge funds
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, responsible for assets under administration of over $30bn, that have shown growth and innovation over the course of the last 12 months in the fund of hedge funds space. Success in this category depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth, as well as product or brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which can boast significant success.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation for FoHFs
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - over $30bn overall
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, responsible for hedge fund assets under administration of over $30bn, that have shown growth and innovation over the course of the last 12 months in both the single manager and fund of hedge funds space. Success in this category depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth, as well as new product or brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which can boast significant success.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation and description of how market responded to the idea
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - middle-office services
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms who have made advances in providing middle office services to hedge fund and fund of hedge funds clients. Success in this category depends on providing examples on how a middle-office service has grown in customers and revenue, innovated via product and ideas and helped to reduce operational risk.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstrate how the service has made advance in one or several of the following areas:
• Trade capture and confirmation
• Reconciliation
• Risk reporting and analysis
• System of record maintenance
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - small and start-up firms
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms that have shown growth and innovation in providing bespoke services to small and recently launched HF management businesses. Success in this category depends on a mix of customer and revenue growth, as well as new product or brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which can boast significant success.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation specifically for small and start-up firms
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - technology
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms that have shown excellence and innovation in technology. Success in this category depends on providing examples of how new products or the use of technology internally have contributed to the growth of the firm and improved the customer experience.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - reporting services
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms that have shown excellence and innovation in reporting services. Success in this category depends on providing examples of how new products – like FormPF, investor transparency and Fatca reporting - and the improvement of existing reporting services have contributed to winning new business and improved the customer experience.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Demonstration of product innovation
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Most innovative fund administrator - under $30bn
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, with assets under administration of under $30bn, that have demonstrated consistent and recent innovation across their suite of products. Success in this category depends on providing examples of how new products and services, as well as the improvement of the core offering, has helped to meet client need and had a discernible impact on the growth of the business.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Demonstration of product innovation
• Description of new product and services
• Demonstration of improvement of existing services
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Most innovative fund administrator - over $30bn
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, with assets under administration of over $30bn, that have demonstrated consistent and recent innovation across their suite of products. Success in this category depends on providing examples of how new products and services, as well as the improvement of the core offering has helped to meet client need and had a discernible impact on the growth of the business.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Demonstration of product innovation
• Description of new product and services
• Demonstration of improvement of existing services
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - under $30bn client service
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, with assets under administration of under $30bn, that have managed to consistently exceed the service expectation of their client base. Success in this category depends on providing key examples, backed up by customer testimonials, of how the firm has delivered a high level of customer service.

Criteria:
• Details of approach to customer service
• Examples of problem solving on complex issues
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best administrator - over $30bn client service
This award is designed to reward hedge fund administration firms, with assets under administration of over $30bn, that have managed to consistently exceed the service expectation of their client base. Success in this category depends on providing key examples, backed up by customer testimonials, of how the administration firm has delivered a high level of customer service.

Criteria:
• Details of approach to customer service
• Examples of problem solving on complex issues
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

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Advisory, Accounting & Technology

Best Audit Services
This award is designed to reward hedge fund audit specialists that have shown growth and excellent customer service over the past 12 months. Success in this category depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth, as well as product or brand development that demonstrated new thinking and which can boast success and positive customer feedback.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation and description of how market responded to the idea
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best tax advisory
This award is designed to reward the best tax advisory practitioners (from both audit and legal backgrounds), that have shown growth and innovation over the course of the last 12 months in serving the needs of manager. Success in this category depends on a mixture of customer and revenue growth. The winner should demonstrate genuine expertise and demonstrate new thinking and successful client outcomes.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Sales/market share figures
• Demonstration of product innovation and description of how market responded to the idea
• Description of future development possibilities
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best advisory firm – regulation and compliance
This award is designed to reward compliance professionals that have demonstrated expertise and innovation in providing hedge fund clients with key regulatory advice. Success in this category depends on a mixture of demonstrating customer and revenue growth, as well as detailing how new initiatives and compliance products have aided the business over the past 12 months.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Demonstration of increase in hedge fund clients
• Demonstration of product innovation
• Detail specific examples of where advice has helped clients
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

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Legal Categories

Best offshore law firm
This award honours a firm that has demonstrated a consistently high standard in providing legal services to the hedge fund sector. Success in this category depends on showing both customer and revenue growth, as well as detailing examples of innovation and where the service has made a real difference to clients.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Demonstration of product innovation
• Examples of key areas of recent advice and where this has made a difference
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best offshore law firm - client service
This award is designed to honour the law firm that firm that has shown genuine commitment to customer service. Success in this category depends on providing examples of how the firm has been particularly responsive and innovative in meeting customer need, as well as detailing examples of where client advice has made a real difference to the business development of a hedge fund management firm.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Description of high-level of client service
• Examples of key areas of recent advice and where this has made a difference
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best onshore law firm
This award is designed to honour the firm that has demonstrated a consistently high standard in providing legal services to the sector. Success in this category depends on demonstrating both customer and revenue growth, as well as detailing examples of innovation and where the service has made a real difference to clients.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Demonstration of product innovation
• Examples of key areas of recent advice and where this has made a difference
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best onshore law firm - client service
This award is designed to honour the law firm that firm that has shown genuine commitment to customer service. Success in this category depends on providing examples of how the firm has been particularly responsive and innovative in meeting customer need, as well as detailing examples of where client advice has made a real difference to the business development of a hedge fund management firm.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Description of high-level of client service
• Examples of key areas of recent advice and where this has made a difference
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

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Prime Broker Categories

Best prime broker - technology
This award is designed to honor the prime broker that has been able to show excellence in providing technology services and advice for clients. Success in this category depends on a mixture of demonstrating how proprietary tech services have furthered the needs of clients; as well as how consultancy services have helped clients developed their own solutions.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Description of high-level of client service
• Examples of key areas of recent advice and where this has made a difference
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best prime broker – innovation
This award is designed to honour the prime broker that has been able to show real excellence in improving its offering over the last 12 months. Success in this category depends on demonstrating how significant improvements to a core service or the launch of a new service/product have improved operational or asset raising conditions for clients.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Description of high-level of client service
• Examples of how a new or existing service has added to user experience of clients
• Positive customer

Best prime broker - capital introduction
This award is designed to honour the prime broker that has shown the greatest commitment and aptitude in the forum of cap intro. Success in this category depends on demonstrating how, via investor contacts and cap intro events, the prime broker has been able to aid client attempts to meet relevant and active investors.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Description of high-level of client service and innovation in the field of cap intro
• Examples of portfolio of capital introduction events
• Demonstrate breadth and quality of investor contacts
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonial

Best prime broker - boutique
This award is designed to honor the best boutique prime broker. Success in this category depends on demonstrating how technical expertise and excellent customer service have benefited clients and enabled the prime broker to effectively compete against larger players in this field.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Description of high-level of client service
• Examples of how a new or existing service has added to user experience of clients
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best prime broker – consulting services
This award is designed to honour the prime broker that has demonstrated the most insightful, relevant and useful consulting service. Success in this category depends on demonstrating a wide skill-set that illustrates strength and depth of expertise and the ability to advise clients on a wide variety of issues.

Criteria:
• Description of high-level of client service and innovation
• Demonstration of diversity of consulting service
• Examples of key areas of focus over the past 12 months
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

Best overall prime broker
This award is designed to honour the prime broker that has demonstrated consistency and skill across the whole of its organisation. Success depends on demonstrating a wide skill-set that illustrates strength across all of prime brokerage’s core areas of service, as well as a commitment to innovation and customer service.

Criteria:
• Commercial success and business growth
• Description of high-level of client service and innovation
• Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials

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