United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty has been honoured with the prestigious Grand Prix for Private Client Firm of the Year at the Spear’s Awards 2024. This marks the first time a property firm has earned this distinction, traditionally been given to financial powerhouses such as JP Morgan. The recognition underscores the firm's transformative influence on the luxury property sector, particularly in prime areas like Mayfair and Belgravia, where it has solidified its position as a market leader in high-value property sales.
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Managing Partner Claire Reynolds attributed the achievement to the company’s vision of redefining the luxury property experience. She commented:
"To be recognised as Private Client Firm of the Year by Spear’s is an extraordinary honour, especially given the breadth of talent across the wider private client industry. When we launched just over a year ago, we set out to disrupt the luxury real estate market and establish a new standard of excellence. Achieving such a prestigious accolade so early in our journey reaffirms our mission to redefine the client experience, and we are incredibly proud.”
“This award speaks to the dedication, commitment, and expertise of our team, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional results. We are excited about the future and look forward to setting new benchmarks in this rapidly evolving, competitive industry.”
The award, described by Spear’s Editor-in-Chief Edwin Smith as the “Oscars of the private client world,” was presented at Raffles London at The OWO in front of 400 industry leaders. Highlighting the firm’s exceptional performance, Smith remarked:
"The Spear's Grand Prix for Private Client Firm of the Year is as special as it is simple: it honours the firm in the Spear’s universe that has, quite simply, knocked it out of the park. We considered companies from private banking and wealth management, the family office services space, property firms, law firms, and also those that don’t fit neatly into a specific category at all.
But one emerged, fairly quickly, as the standout – largely for the seismic impact it has had on its own sector, the results it has achieved for clients, and the market share it has been able to wrest from its competitors."
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The award celebrates a year of remarkable growth for UK Sotheby’s International Realty. Just months after its launch, the firm expanded its reach with new London offices in Mayfair, Knightsbridge, St John’s Wood, Marylebone, and in the countryside in Surrey, rapidly establishing a dominant presence across the UK and becoming the market leader in Mayfair. Chairman George Azar explained that the firm's success is a result of its carefully curated team of top-tier professionals. He said:
"When we relaunched just over a year ago, we set out to disrupt the luxury real estate market and establish a new standard of excellence. By bringing together the industry’s most talented professionals and focusing on an exceptional client experience, we have achieved incredible milestones in record time. This award reaffirms our commitment to redefining the property sector and reflects the passion and dedication of our team."
Backed by the global Sotheby’s International Realty network, the company has implemented innovative strategies that have delivered outstanding results, including over £800 million in sold and agreed sales year-to-date. The firm's dominance is particularly evident in the £10m+ and £20m+ property segments, where it holds the largest market share, achieving up to 50% more than its nearest competitor. Demand for properties in Mayfair, Chelsea, and Kensington has surged, driven by international buyers who represent 70% of the firm’s clientele.
In addition to the firm’s recognition, the Spear’s Awards also celebrated outstanding individuals in the sector. Among the accolades, Becky Fatemi of UK Sotheby’s International Realty was named Property Broker of the Year. This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional performance in the brokerage of prime and super-prime residential properties. Fatemi’s achievements reflect UK Sotheby’s Realty’s commitment to excellence and its team’s extraordinary expertise in navigating the high-end real estate market.
