Judging Process

One question that is often asked of STEP is ‘How do you pick the winners? We are incredibly fortunate to have the leading lights of the industry comprising our Presiding Judges – these hand-picked practitioners form a powerful mix of experts and professionals, members and non-members. 

The Presiding Judges consider entrants objectively and shortlist teams as appropriate. The judges score each entry using the criteria listed for the category. The Presiding Judges then review all finalists and meet to make their final decisions. These judgments draw on the judges’ combined experience and knowledge of the industry.

The STEP Private Client Awards are completely impartial and because of this, if any of the judges have a conflicting holding in, or are connected by employment with, an entered firm in a particular category, they are asked to declare it and excuse themselves from judging that category.