Excellence Awards | STEP

The STEP Excellence Awards

The STEP Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional achievement, recognising the highest achievers across all STEP qualifications globally.

The Awards align with STEP’s core focus on promoting high standards and professional excellence. They recognise the top-scoring student at distinction level (70 per cent or above) per STEP exam or assignment, Essay Route, and the highest-scoring graduates across each of the STEP Diplomas.

The individuals listed here represent the best and the brightest practitioners – many of whom will be names to watch out for in the years ahead.

This year's Excellence Awards winners

Below we are pleased to list our winners: the highest-scoring students from the 2023 sittings across all STEP exams globally.

International

Graduate

Highest-scoring Diploma graduate across all four papers and all jurisdictions

Jennifer Wood TEP

Jennifer Wood TEP

STEP Diploma in International Trust Management
RBC Wealth Management
STEP Toronto

International

Advanced Certificates

Highest-scoring students worldwide

Thomas Andrew Angus

Thomas Andrew Angus

STEP Advanced Certificate in Company Law & Practice
Grant Thornton Services (Jersey) Limited
STEP Jersey

Eunice Yuet Ning Chan

Eunice Yuet Ning Chan TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts Law & Practice
Bank Julius Baer & Co Ltd
STEP Singapore

Anuschka Dimech

Anuschka Dimech

STEP Advanced Certificate in Company Law & Practice
Blevins Franks Trustees Limited
STEP Malta

Alexandra Geiger

Alexandra Geiger TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in Principle of International Tax, AML and Compliance
MME Legal AG and Rajah & Tann
STEP Singapore

Tara-Lee Schmarr

Tara-Lee Schmarr

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trustees Duties: Investment and Management of the Trust Fund
London & Amsterdam Trust Company Limited
STEP Cayman Islands

Ryan Al-Hakim

Ryan Al-Hakim

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes
Milbank LLP
STEP City of London

Matt O'Brien

Matt O'Brien

STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates
Farrer & Co LLP
STEP London Central

Hilary Busby (née Sharkey)

Hilary Busby (née Sharkey) TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates
Turcan Connell
STEP Scotland

Tara-Lee Schmarr

Lauren Rapeport

STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates
Withers LLP
STEP London Central

George Badger

George Badger

STEP Advanced Certificate in UK Tax for International Clients
Wiggin Osborne Fullerlove
STEP London Central

Andrew Hart

Andrew Hart TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising the Family Business
MA Partners LLP
STEP Norwich and Norfolk

Kam Nat

Kam Nat

STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Governance
BDO Canada
STEP Vancouver

International

Certificates

Highest-scoring students worldwide

Natalia Harmer

Natalia Harmer

STEP Certificate in International Trust Management
Saffery (Suisse) SA.
STEP Geneva

Chloe Louise Brown

Chloe Louise Brown

STEP Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering
Hassans Services Company Limited
STEP Gibraltar

Gary Viales

Gary Viales

STEP Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering
Hassans Services Company Limited
STEP Gibraltar

Poppy Richardson

Poppy Richardson

STEP Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering
Macfarlanes LLP
STEP London Central

International

Essay Route

Highest-scoring students worldwide

Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson

'The role of the protector'
Kennedys
STEP Bermuda

Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson

'Letter of wishes'
Kennedys
STEP Bermuda

Andrea Weber

Andrea Weber TEP

'Civil law and common law challenges'
Walder Wyss AG
STEP Zurich Centre

Andrea Weber

Andrea Weber TEP

'Removal of executors'
Walder Wyss AG
STEP Zurich Centre

Robert Avis

Robert Avis TEP

'The role of the protector'
Charles Russell Speechlys SA
STEP Geneva

Sarah Dove

Sarah Dove

'Letters of wishes'
Ward Hadaway LLP
STEP North East and Cumbria

Gavin McLeod

Gavin McLeod

'Letters of wishes'
St Philip's Chambers
STEP Birmingham

‘The essay route gave me the space to reflect on the perspectives and experience I have gained over my career to date, and applying this to topical subjects for the profession. The format of the Essay Route permits the space to explore a subject in real detail.’

Robert Avis TEP, Charles Russell Speechlys SA

England and Wales

Graduate

Highest-scoring students

Joseph Keeping

Joseph Keeping TEP

STEP Diploma in Trusts & Estates (England & Wales)
Howes Percival LLP
STEP Norwich and Norfolk

England and Wales

Advanced Certificates

Highest-scoring students

Amelia Talfourd-Cook

Amelia Talfourd-Cook

STEP Advanced Certificate in the Administration of Estates (England & Wales)
Stevens & Bolton LLP
STEP Surrey

Claire Taylor

Claire Taylor

STEP Advanced Certificate in the Administration of Trusts (England & Wales)
Irwin Mitchell LLP
STEP Sussex

Courtney Way

Courtney Way

STEP Advanced Certificate in the Taxation of Trusts and Estates (England & Wales)
Saffery LLP
STEP Bristol

Hannah Kasem

Hannah Kasem TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust and Estate Accounting (England & Wales)
UHY Hacker Young LLP
STEP East Midlands

Seamus Murphy

Seamus Murphy

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust and Estate Accounting (England & Wales)
Family Office Tax
STEP Yorkshire

Natalie Richards

Natalie Richards

STEP Advanced Certificate in Will Preparation
Woodfines LLP
STEP Beds Bucks and Herts

Natasha Etherton

Natasha Etherton

STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising Vulnerable Clients
Evelyn Partners
STEP Kent

England and Wales

Certificates

Highest-scoring students

Robert Davies

Robert Davies

STEP Certificate in Trusts and Estates (England & Wales)
Foot Anstey LLP
STEP Bristol

Timothy Collyer

Timothy Collyer

STEP Certificate for Financial Services (Trusts and Estate Planning)
Montgomery Charles Financial Management
STEP Bristol

Laurence Stokes

Laurence Stokes

STEP Certificate for Financial Services (Trusts and Estate Planning)
STEP Birmingham

Jeremy Gray

Jeremy Gray

STEP Certificate for Financial Services (Trusts and Estate Planning)
NOVA Wealth
STEP Surrey

‘Studying towards the STEP Diploma in Trusts & Estates has really helped to broaden my technical understanding as well as highlighting key practical points to be aware of in the private client and wealth planning industry. The course offering really is invaluable and I would absolutely recommend the Diploma to anyone new to the industry or those who are simply looking to broaden their knowledge and understanding.’

Joseph Keeping TEP, Howes Percival LLP

Northern Ireland

Graduate

Highest-scoring Diploma graduate across all four papers

Leeanne McCurry

Leeanne McCurry TEP

STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates (Northern Ireland)
John Boston & Co
STEP Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Advanced Certificates

Highest-scoring students

William McCleery

William McCleery

STEP Advanced Certificate in the Administration of Estates (Northern Ireland)
Dickson & McNulty Solicitors
STEP Northern Ireland

Leeanne McCurry

Leeanne McCurry TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in the Taxation of Trusts and Estates (Northern Ireland)
John Boston & Co
STEP Northern Ireland

‘For any practitioner dealing with the administration of estates on a daily basis, this course is a must. The syllabus is broad and is a good reminder of matters that are often overlooked during the administration process. For the litigators out there, the course also touches upon contentious aspects of estate administration, which I have found invaluable in my practice.’

William McCleery, Dickson & McNulty Solicitors

Scotland

Graduate

Highest-scoring Diploma graduate across all four papers

Charlotte Alexandra Fleming

Charlotte Alexandra Fleming TEP

STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates (Scotland)
Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP
STEP Scotland

Scotland

Advanced Certificates

Highest-scoring students

Katie Brown

Katie Brown

STEP Advanced Certificate in Wills and Executries: Law & Practice (Scotland)
Gillespie Macandrew LLP
STEP Scotland

Rebecca Devine

Rebecca Devine

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (Scotland)
Jones Whyte Law Ltd
STEP Scotland

Charlotte Alexandra Fleming

Charlotte Alexandra Fleming TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust and Executry Accounting (Scotland)
Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP
STEP Scotland

Charlotte Alexandra Fleming

Charlotte Alexandra Fleming TEP

STEP Advanced Certificate in Taxation of Trusts and Estates (Scotland)
Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP
STEP Scotland

‘The Advanced Certificate in Taxation of Trusts and Estates was a challenging but extremely rewarding course. It has equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to allow me to carry out complex tax calculations and provide associated advice, thereby enhancing the service I am able to provide to clients.'

Charlotte Alexandra Fleming Charlotte Fleming TEP, Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Canada

STEP Canada holds a separate annual Student Awards, the winners of which are listed below.

Special award: Gerald W Owen Book Prize

The Gerald W Owen book prize, sponsored by The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company, is awarded to the STEP Canada student who achieves the highest overall average in all four diploma courses.

Vincent X. Ouyang

Vincent X. Ouyang

Gerald W Owen book prize
The Cao Law Corporation
STEP Vancouver

Canada

Diploma Courses

Brett J. Maerz

Brett J. Maerz

Law of Trusts
Owen Bird Law Corporation
STEP Vancouver

Michael F. Sims

Michael F. Sims

Taxation of Trusts & Estates
STEP Edmonton

Jennifer Lewis

Jennifer Lewis

Wills, Trust & Estate Administration
Torkin Manes LLP
STEP Toronto

Matthew P. Sharp

Matthew P. Sharp TEP

Trust & Estate Planning
Structure CPA LLP
STEP Calgary

Canada

Essay Route

Cecile Ko Brock

Cecile Ko Brock TEP

McCarthy Tetrault LLP
STEP Toronto

Canada

Certificate of Trust and Estate Administration Program

Scott Bates

Scott Bates

Sigma Accounting Group LLP
STEP Edmonton

Why STEP?

STEP’s qualifications are widely recognised as the benchmark for the private client and wealth planning industry and are taken by accountants, lawyers, trustees, bankers and others to demonstrate their specialist knowledge and expertise.

Read more about STEP here.

‘As a private client solicitor, I always endeavour to provide the best advice to my clients, and for me, studying to become a TEP is an excellent way to ensure that I will continue to develop my own knowledge and experience to allow me to do so.’

Rebecca Devine, Jones Whyte Law Ltd

TEP Roll Call

Completion of the STEP Diploma, plus the requisite experience, can lead to full STEP membership and use of the 'TEP' designation.

We are pleased to share that 743 individuals became TEPs in 2023.

View the TEP Roll Call