LexisNexis Butterworths UK Taxation Awards 2007 – Grant Thornton Scoop 2 !
Last night’s prestigious LexisNexis Butterworths Taxation Awards saw leading business and financial advisers Grant Thornton scoop two top awards for Best High Net Worth Team and Lifetime Achievement.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mike Warburton and The Best High Net Worth Team Award was won by Grant Thornton’s Entrepreneur and Private Client team in Birmingham.
Commenting on their achievements, Rob Withecombe, Head of Tax at Grant Thornton, said: “I am so pleased for the Birmingham Private Client Team and Mike Warburton. This is a true reflection of the exceptional quality of the people that I have in my team. “
Upon winning the award for Best High Net Worth Team, Eric Williams, Head of Entrepreneur and Private Client at Grant Thornton in Birmingham said, “This is a real tribute to the quality of the Birmingham Entrepreneur and Private Client Team. It is a reflection of our holistic approach to personal tax and wealth management, the leading edge technical solutions that we can deliver to our clients and the commitment and dedication of the people in the team to the best possible client service. The success of the team has resulted in rapid growth with 30 people helping to offer tax solutions and with this strength in depth we can deliver at the highest level in the profession. This award represents external endorsement of these qualities and we are delighted to have been recognised nationally in this way.”
Withecombe added, “The core offering of our tax business without a doubt is the combination of commercial and creative advice – both in tax and in financial planning – that we bring to our private clients, to our entrepreneurs and to their businesses. The Birmingham team is “best of breed” in Grant Thornton – an accolade in itself. Their national recognition by the awards panel in the Best High Net Worth Team category is a true reflection of the real focus that Eric Williams and the team bring in this exciting area.”
Another major success was The Lifetime Achievement award given to Grant Thornton’s Mike Warburton, Senior Tax Partner, for his exceptional and on-going service to the tax profession. Mike has been described as ‘the nation’s unpaid tax adviser’ with his outstanding contribution in the media, helping to explain complex issues in a manner which is understandable to taxpayers.
“I am delighted to have won this award. I feel very privileged to be in a position where I can support the general public in a variety of ways against the strength and deeper pockets of others and at the same time do something I really enjoy. This is made possible and all the more pleasurable through the support and interest of colleagues in the profession and in the media.”
Withecombe said, “As for Mike, what can I say that has not already been said before about him? He is a true personality in tax and brings the subject alive for so many people, from the most successful of entrepreneurs to the “man on the Clapham omnibus”. To say that we have been lucky to have him as the public face of Grant Thornton’s tax team over the years, is an understatement indeed. His contributions to the wider public debate, his eye for fun and an ability to make the complex simple, make him a hugely popular figure. It is the most thoroughly deserved recognition for a great career. And he is by no means finished yet!”
Grant Thornton was also shortlisted in three other categories including Best VAT Team.
Michael Cleary, managing partner of Grant Thornton, concluded: “This level of achievement is outstanding and is excellent recognition of the growth and expertise of our tax practice. With the proposed merger between Grant Thornton and RSM Robson Rhodes, the future holds many opportunities and as we can see from these achievements, our business has gained recognition for providing in-depth technical and specialised qualities that enables us to deliver an elite service that stands alone in the market.”