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 funds
- Best administrator – client service
- Best administrator – middle-office services
- Best administrator – overall
- Best administrator – private equity / credit
- Best administrator – private equity / credit – client service
- Best administrator – technology
Legal & Compliance
- Best advisory firm – client service
- Best advisory firm – compliance
- Best advisory firm – private equity / credit
- Best advisory firm – regulation
- Best law firm – private equity / credit
- Best offshore law firm
- Best onshore law firm
- Best onshore law firm - client service
- Best onshore law firm – start up and boutique managers
- Best regtech solution
- Best regulatory hosting solution
- Best regulatory reporting solution
Other Third Party Partners & Platforms
- Best cash management/treasury service
- Best executive search
- Best hedge fund platform
- Best insurance provider
- Best leadership/coaching firm *NEW FOR 2026*
- Best managed account platform
- Best managed service provider
- Best marketing and communications consultancy
- Best middle office service provider *NEW FOR 2026*
- Best offshore governance firm *NEW FOR 2026*
- Best outsourced provider
- Best outsourced trading provider
- Best service provider - ESG
- 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 – overall
- Best prime broker – technology
Systems Management
- Best cyber-security service provider
- Best front office analytics platform *NEW FOR 2026*
- Best fund accounting and reporting software
- Best integrated surveillance firm
- Best portfolio management software provider
- Best risk management technology
- Best treasury management system
Technology & Data
- Best cloud technology – boutique and emerging managers
- Best cloud technology solution
- Best data management solution
- Best data provider
- Best digital assets provider
- Best innovation in AI - large scale firm *NEW FOR 2026*
- Best innovation in AI - small scale firm *NEW FOR 2026*
- Best legal technology solution *NEW FOR 2026*
- Best tech infrastructure provider
- Best technology firm – client service
- Best technology firm – overall
- Most innovative technology firm – boutique
- Most innovative technology firm – large scale