60 second interview with Rosalyn Breedy of Wedlake Bell
Tell me about your role at Wedlake Bell.
I am a corporate, funds and financial services partner and head the Financial Services Sector group and my clients include family offices, entrepreneurs, fund managers and fiduciaries around the world.
How has the private client industry changed?
Ultra-high-net-worth clients, their families and their businesses are more globalised and more entrepreneurial. I’m seeing that family office and entrepreneur clients are particularly keen to co-invest and support new businesses and I can see them becoming an alternative to venture capital firms in the future. In my experience, philanthropy and sustainable capitalism are also growing concerns for private clients.
What lesson have you learnt?
To stay open minded, creative and curious – while continuing to exercise discernment and judgement. It is important to work with people you respect and speak up for the disenfranchised.
Tell us about interesting client instructions.
At the high-tech end, we are advising the first global institutional quality fund of funds providing exposure to the rise of digital assets – Epsilon Capital and their advisors, Point Group, the strategic consultancy. The fund is now nearing launch.
When it comes to bricks and mortar, we are also acting for a family-run business with ambitious plans associated with an innovatively designed mixed use “culinary quarter development” with high spec kitchens, pop-up restaurants, serviced offices and 380 rental homes in London.
What challenges do your clients face?
Political volatility and succession issues are top of the agenda at the moment.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Use empathy to understand the perspective of the other, and conduct tense negotiations as if you were stood on a balcony to avoid being caught up in the heat of emotions.
What was the last book you’ve read?
The last business book was “A Class with Drucker – The lost lessons of the World’s greatest management teacher”, by William Cohen. It is an excellent summary and application of Drucker’s teachings and essential reading for anyone trying to build a business in complex times.
And for pleasure” Bright Young Dead”, the second in the bestselling Mitford Murders series of Golden Age crime novels by Jessica Fellowes – can’t wait for the TV series!
How do you relax after a long day?
Listening to China Moses on late night Jazz FM after a family meal and watching The Great British Bake Off with my children.