Top offshore law firm Appleby has seen its Trusts Group named the Bermuda-Caribbean Private Client Team of the Year by the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners.

It was presented with the award at in the 2007/08 Private Client Awards Dinner in London.

In recognising the Appleby Trusts team, the judges said: "'Appleby's private client lawyers have contributed to the development of the trusts practice in each of those jurisdictions in which they are represented.

"Their staff are especially commended for their sensitive and helpful approach to the demands of trust litigation and their constructive advisory work."

Appleby's Randall Krebs, who leads the Trusts Group in Bermuda and, Partner Carlos de Serpa Pimentel, who heads the Trusts Practice in the Cayman Islands, who accepted the award on behalf of the Appleby team, said: "We are extremely honoured and proud to have won this award.

"We are very committed to servicing our private clients and all those working in the wealth management industry.

"We have worked hard to develop a talented group of trust lawyers who are able to assist our clients to achieve their objectives and to have this recognised by a distinguished panel of our peers is gratifying.

"We are also pleased that the judges recognised our commitment to building the trust industry in the jurisdictions in which we operate, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, BVI, as well as London and Jersey."