Smith & Williamson describes itself as an independent professional and financial services group. Ranked No. 8 in Accountancy Age's Top 50 it pulled in £152m of fees last year, which shows that its channelled focus on private clients is working well.

Founded in 1881, the firm's 1300 staff discharge their private client remit but also provide mid-to-large corporates, professional practices and non-profit organisations with the financial advice they need to achieve their business goals.

Smith & Williamson Ltd is now the principal UK member of Nexia International, one of the longest established global networks of independent accounting and consulting firms.

The UK practice has an interesting structure - its corporate finance arm is part of M&A International, a leading independent alliance of specialist merger and acquisition firms with 42 divisions around the world.