What do you enjoy most about working as a private client lawyer?
I enjoy the mix of human connection and practical problem‑solving. Chatting with clients and hearing their stories is honestly one of the best parts of my job. Private client meetings always seem to produce surprises - often a client will say “I probably should have mentioned this earlier…” at the end of the meeting and ends up revealing the key detail of the day!
Clients often come to me at significant or stressful moments in their lives, and I value the trust they place in me to help them deal with those tricky scenarios. I like showing them that what feels complicated is usually far more manageable than they expect.
What types of private client matters do you typically advise on?
I advise on wills, powers of attorney, estate and tax planning, trusts and executries. I enjoy the mix of working with different personalities and navigating complex technical matters - it’s part legal work, part detective work, and occasionally part family diplomacy.
My workload covers a surprising range of real‑life moments. I can start the day at a round‑table meeting with clients and their financial adviser navigating tax planning for a blended family with overseas assets, then move on to organising a funeral, visiting someone in hospital to discuss a power of attorney, or deciding on a sensible monthly allowance for a trust beneficiary with a creative approach to spending. It’s an unpredictable combination, but that’s why I enjoy it!
How do you approach helping clients with estate, tax, or succession planning?
I focus on keeping everything clear and jargon‑free. These topics can feel intimidating, but once they are explained in plain English, clients often find things become much easier to handle. There is no such thing as a silly question, and I try to create a relaxed conversation where people feel comfortable to share their concerns.
I prefer a natural discussion over a rigid checklist - clients often remember the most important detail halfway through talking about something else. That helps us build a plan that genuinely reflects their life. My aim is for clients to leave feeling informed, confident and lighter than when they arrived.
What kinds of support or additional resources do you draw on to guide clients through the process?
Private client work often overlaps with other areas, so I work closely with colleagues across the firm to make sure advice fits together properly. Having top specialists just a teams call away is something I really value.
I also collaborate with external advisers such as accountants, financial planners and investment managers. Everyone brings a different piece of the puzzle, and working together means clients get a plan that works practically as well as technically.
Why did you want to join the Brodies private client team?
I was drawn to the team’s strong reputation and the chance to work alongside people who quite literally wrote the book on this area of law, which is both reassuring and ever‑so‑slightly intimidating on your first day.
Being able to learn from experts of that calibre, in a team that genuinely shares ideas and enjoys working together, was a huge attraction. The impressive rankings were a welcome bonus!
What confirmed I’d made the right choice was how welcoming everyone has been. Moving after spending my whole career at another firm felt like a leap, but the Brodies team immediately made it feel like the right place. It’s a supportive, friendly environment where people are generous with their time and expertise, and it strikes a lovely balance between being challenged professionally and genuinely enjoying coming to work.
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Senior Associate
