Catriona joined Mills & Reeve in June 2023 having spent seven and half years as national head of private client & family at her previous firm, Gateley. She’s dual qualified as a solicitor and chartered tax adviser and specialises in acting for business owning families.
Working closely with individuals and families, often alongside their other professional advisers, Catriona provides tailored advice and solutions. She takes time to get to know and understand her clients’ requirements so that they get best value from her advice. We caught up with Catriona to find out how she’s getting on…
What surprised you most about working with the private client team?
I always knew that the team had an excellent reputation and were highly regarded in the market, but what’s impressed me most is how collegiate they are. There’s a refreshing lack of ego and individuals of all levels are encouraged and supported to develop specialisms, while being excellent overall practitioners.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
This is a tricky one to give a succinct answer to. I really enjoy the variety that working in private client provides. Getting to know clients and their families and finding solutions that help them achieve their estate planning objectives is really satisfying. I also enjoy seeing junior team members learn and grow. Supporting them in their journey is hugely rewarding.
Why did you choose Mills & Reeve?
In many ways, I see this as coming home as I worked for the firm many years ago as a junior solicitor and I’ve eventually found my way back here. In the 19 years since I was last here, Mills & Reeve has maintained its culture and, even though it’s much larger now, it still has a positive and supportive feel to it. The Birmingham private client team are exceptional and true leaders in the market, so to be honest, it wasn’t a difficult decision.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Always remember, grace under pressure!
What’s the best professional compliment you’ve been given?
The one I don’t tire of is that I’m “refreshingly normal for a lawyer” - and that was from a KC!
If you hadn’t been a lawyer, what do you think you’d be doing now?
There’s a couple of options I could go for here, but I think I’d have been a business owner or a psychologist.
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