The Private Client team at law firm Balfour+Manson has been awarded  STEP Gold Employer Partner accreditation, in recognition of its specialist skills in inheritance and succession planning.

The firm becomes of only a handful of law practices in Scotland to achieve ‘Employment Partner’ status by STEP, the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in this area of law. The organisation works to improve public understanding of the issues that families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards to its members.

STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting wills to issues surrounding international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

The Employer Partnership Programme (EPP) sets out benchmarks for organisations for employee learning and development to help employers maximise the learning of their STEP members.

The EPP accreditation also confirms Balfour + Manson’s commitment to helping members of its staff gain their individual STEP qualifications, and its aim is for all qualified solicitors within the team to become TEP’s.

Karen Phillips, Partner, Private Client team at Balfour+Manson comments,

“Balfour+Manson being awarded the Gold Employer Partner STEP accreditation is a brilliant endorsement of the firm as a whole, but more specifically our Private Client team. It demonstrates to clients that we offer the highest level of expertise in areas of law that can have a profound impact on their lives.

“We place a huge emphasis on learning and development and helping our own people be the best they can be as they develop their careers. This accreditation is recognition of the supportive culture that exists within our Private Client team and also across the firm. We look forward to continuing to offer opportunities for professional development in association with STEP.”

Jenni Hutchinson, STEP’s Head of Employer Partnerships, commented,

“Balfour+Manson has demonstrated a supportive and encouraging approach to learning and development and we are pleased to see the value it places on staff training. We had no hesitation in recognising these qualities by awarding the firm with a well-deserved Gold Employer Partner accreditation.”