Categories & Criteria
The categories for the HFM European Services Awards 2025 are developed in consultation with the sector to ensure they are representative of the broad and fast moving nature of hedge fund services and solutions.
The criteria the judges look for:
- Commercial success and business growth
- Demonstration of product or service innovation
- Description of future product or service development possibilities
- Positive customer feedback via submitted testimonials
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
Digital Assets
- Best digital assets custodian
- Best digital assets provider
- Best digital asset exchange
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
Other third party partners/platforms
- Best executive search
- 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
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
Systems Management
- Best cash management/ treasury management system
- 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
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)