The Citywealth International Financial Centre (IFC) Awards 2022 were held recently at the Biltmore Hotel in Mayfair, London. The awards were established in 2010 to celebrate outstanding service and advisors in the major international financial centres.

They are judged by an independent panel of internationally renowned experts, as well as an online vote, which carries 10% of the weighting.

Awards go to those organisations that are recognised by peers and clients as standing out in the areas of ’in-depth technical expertise and knowledge of their field’ and offering ’market-leading services’.

The Gold award for Law Firm of the Year - Isle of Man 2022 was won by Simcocks Advocates with Advocate John Rimmer Limited winning the Silver award and the Bronze going to DQ Advocates.

Simcocks chief executive officer Phil Games attended the award ceremony and received the award from host, comedian Jake Lambert.

Phil said: ’I’m extremely proud that Simcocks has been recognised in this way, but prouder still of our team of dedicated, skilled, talented individuals, as it is they who make this company great. It’s been a difficult two years and the staff here have brought us through in fine form. This award goes to them.’

Affinity were also winners, from a shortlist of nine local firms, of the Gold award for Trust Company of the Year - Isle of Man 2022.

Suntera Global won the Silver award with Bronze ZEDRA awarded the Bronze.

The Athol Street-based Affinity Group was established on the Isle of Man in 2004 and has since opened offices in Malta and the Cayman Islands. They employ 36 members of staff in the island ’plus one office French bulldog namd Gary’.

Affinity Group chief executive officer Andy Morgan said: ’I am unbelievably proud of how far the company has come since 2004 and this is down to our incredible team’s determination and passion as the driving force behind it.

’As we have diversified our offering into new sectors and jurisdictions, we have consistently applied our ethos which is a personal, boutique approach to corporate structuring. Affinity has an ambitious vision for the future, offering our clients more exciting opportunities.’

The JTC group, which has an office in the Isle of Man, won Gold in the overall Trust Company of the Year.

Ravenscroft, which also has a substantial presence in the Isle of Man, was the Silver winner in the Investment Management Company of the Year - Channel Islands & Isle of Man category and Haydn Taylor, managing director of Ravenscroft in Jersey, won Silver for Investment Manager of the Year - Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Gold awards in these categories went to Jersey-based Rathbone Investment Management International and Jonathan Giles from Rathbone Investment Management.

Andy Morgan and Alex Gardner from Affinity