Knowledge

Bedell Cristin partner Zillah Howard has been awarded ‘Best in Offshore’ at the Europe Women in Business Law Awards organised by the Euromoney Legal Media Group.

Zillah, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the offshore finance industry, is a specialist lawyer with Bedell Cristin's Private Wealth and Fiduciary group which continues to sit in the top tier of both the Chambers and Legal 500 Directories. Her focus is on trust law and foundations, international and estate planning issues, and philanthropy. The Chambers Directory describes her as ‘being relied upon to provide incredibly well thought-out advice' and recognises her as 'very bright and thorough, user-friendly, flexible, always available and great to work with.'

An active member of the Jersey working parties which help to shape legislation on trust and foundation laws, Zillah is also a regular conference speaker on wealth management structures and philanthropy and has written the chapter on Jersey in the forthcoming Oxford University Press publication on foundations. She devotes time to building strong and lasting relationships with clients, a key feature of Bedell’s service ethos, and is committed to increasing awareness of the possibilities philanthropy can offer among her clients. In an earlier accolade this year, she was included in Private Client Practitioner's 2013 list of the UK's 50 Most Influential Private Client Practitioners. Zillah is also included in the ‘Honours List’ in the Citywealth Leading Lawyers list for 2012 and 2013.

Zillah was presented with her award at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday 19 June where she was commended for being recognised by her peers as an 'outstanding lawyer'. She joined more than 200 leading lawyers from many of the major law firms in London and across Europe and was the only lawyer from the Channel Islands to receive an award on this occasion.

Now in its third year, the Europe Women in Business Law Awards are given to both law firms and individuals. Individual winners are judged on their professional accomplishments over the last 12 months and advocacy and influence in their professional field.

Managing Partner, Richard Gerwat, added:

"It is a significant achievement to win the category two years running and everyone at the firm is delighted that Zillah's skills have been recognised once again in a highly competitive field amongst many leading international lawyers."