Categories & criteria
The categories for the Hedge Fund Services Awards | Europe have been developed in consultation with the industry to ensure they reflect the breadth, depth and innovation of today’s hedge fund service landscape.
From fund administration and prime brokerage to legal, compliance and technology solutions, each category highlights the firms setting new standards of excellence and partnership across the sector.
What the judges look for
Each entry is reviewed by an independent panel of senior hedge fund executives, including COOs, CFOs, CTOs, CCOs and GCs, who assess submissions against the following core criteria:
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Commercial success and business growth
Demonstrating strong performance, market impact and client value. - Innovation in products or services
Showcasing forward-thinking solutions that respond to evolving client and industry needs. - Future development potential
Highlighting plans and capabilities that ensure continued advancement and relevance. - Client testimonials and feedback
Providing clear evidence of client satisfaction, trust and measurable results.
Administrator
- Best administrator – boutique and emerging managers
- Best administrator – client service
- Best administrator – middle-office services
- Best administrator – overall
- Best administrator – private equity / credit (new for 2025)
- Best administrator – technology
Systems Management
- Best cash management solution
- Best EMS solution
- Best fund accounting and reporting software
- Best integrated surveillance firm
- Best managed account platform
- Best outsourced trading provider
- Best portfolio management software provider
- Best treasury management system
Legal & Compliance
- Best advisory firm – client service
- Best advisory firm – compliance
- Best advisory firm – regulation
- Best law firm – private equity/credit (new for 2025)
- Best offshore law firm
- Best offshore law firm – client service (new for 2025)
- Best onshore law firm
- Best onshore law firm – client service
- Best regtech solution
- Best regulatory hosting solution
- Best regulatory reporting solution
- Best tax advisor
Prime Broker
- Best prime broker – boutique and emerging managers
- Best prime broker – client service
- Best prime broker – emerging markets
- Best prime broker – mid-market funds (new for 2025)
- Best prime broker – overall
- Best prime broker - technology
Digital Assets
- Best digital assets custodian
- Best digital assets provider
- Best digital asset exchange
Technology & Data
- Best cloud technology – boutique and emerging managers
- Best cloud technology solution
- Best cyber-security service provider
- Best data management solution
- Best data provider
- Best innovation in AI (new for 2025)
- Best risk management technology
- Best tech infrastructure provider
- Best technology firm – client service
- Best technology firm – overall
- Most innovative technology firm - boutique (new for 2025)
- Most innovative technology firm - large scale (new for 2025)
Other Third Party Partners & Platforms
- Best executive search
- Best hedge fund incubator (new for 2025)
- Best insurance provider
- Best managed service provider
- Best marketing and communications consultancy
- Best outsourced provider
- Best service provider - ESG
- Best turnkey platform provider (new for 2025)
- Best UCITS platform
- Best valuations firm for hard to value assets