Citywealth Leaders List, 60 second interview – Anna D. Vladau, Bonnard Lawson International Law Firm
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Anna D. Vladau, partner at Bonnard Lawson International Law Firm.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
I am a Swiss-qualified tax lawyer and partner in the Tax and Private Client departments of Bonnard Lawson. I advise ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families on complex Swiss and cross-border tax matters, particularly in the context of relocations, structuring and succession.
I work extensively with US and French clients, as well as internationally mobile families with ties to multiple jurisdictions, and I am accustomed to navigating the specific regulatory, cultural and tax sensitivities that arise in those contexts.
I also regularly act as Swiss counsel to international law firms and advisers, providing discreet, technically robust and pragmatic support for their UHNW clients.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There is rarely a typical day. My time moves between complex technical analysis, strategic discussions with clients and international advisers, conference calls across jurisdictions, and speaking engagements or exchanges with peers. I thrive on this variety, even though it demands constant agility and the ability to shift quickly between roles.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
Every client instruction is different, which makes it hard to single out one in particular. What often proves most interesting is not the instruction itself, but how best to react in the client’s interests when matters become challenging. In highly contentious international succession cases, this can mean dealing with opposing counsel whose emails arrive in bold, red, and at a frequency suggesting they may have skipped a calming breath or two. The real exercise lies in replying with impeccable courtesy, strategic restraint and a perfectly neutral font. Acting in the client’s best interests, in those moments, often begins with pausing before pressing “send”.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
Our clients operate across borders, industries and generations — and complexity is their greatest challenge. They face shifting tax regimes, regulatory scrutiny, succession pressures and reputational risk, often simultaneously.
We bring clarity and structure. By designing robust cross-border planning, future-proof governance frameworks and discreet asset protection strategies, we help families preserve wealth, ensure smooth generational transitions and remain agile in a rapidly changing environment.
Above all, we act as long-term strategic partners — coordinating advisers and anticipating risk before it becomes a problem.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
My proudest professional achievement is earning the trust of families at some of the most defining moments of their lives — whether preparing a business exit, relocating internationally, or planning the transfer of wealth to the next generation.
What is particularly meaningful to me is seeing strategies we designed years earlier stand the test of time — protecting not only assets, but relationships and values within the family.
Private wealth advisory is ultimately about responsibility and stewardship. Being entrusted with that responsibility, often across generations, is something I consider both a privilege and my greatest achievement.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
For me, leadership starts with listening. I have learned that when people genuinely feel heard, they bring their best thinking and their strongest commitment to the table.
I also believe a leader’s role is to create confidence — to encourage people to stretch, to trust their judgment, and to grow into the best version of themselves. I try to lead by example: staying calm under pressure, being transparent, and setting high standards while remaining supportive.
Ultimately, leadership is about responsibility. It is about building trust, nurturing talent and creating an environment where excellence feels both expected and achievable.
Who do you most admire and why?
The person I admire most is my father, who is no longer with us.
He was born in 1944 in communist Romania and grew up in a system that severely limited freedom and opportunity. Because of our family’s opposition to the regime, he was forced to leave high school. Many would have accepted that as the end of their ambitions — he did not. He completed his diploma regardless and refused to let circumstance define his future.
In the 1980s, he made the courageous decision to leave Romania and became a political refugee in Switzerland, starting again in a new country with uncertainty but unwavering determination. He went on to build a remarkable career as a pilot, flying for more than 35 years around the world — not merely as a profession, but as a lifelong passion.
He never accepted “no” as a final answer and never made excuses for adversity. From him, I learned resilience, discipline and the quiet strength required to persevere with dignity. His example continues to guide both my professional life and the way I approach challenges: with integrity, courage and an enduring belief in possibility.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
Bucharest, Romania.
It is an incredibly vibrant and dynamic city — full of energy, creativity and contrasts. Beyond its architectural elegance and emerging business scene, there is a strong entrepreneurial spirit and cultural depth that make it both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful for me.
It is a place that blends history and modern ambition in a way that feels both authentic and forward-looking.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
I think I would either be a war correspondent or working in paediatrics.
Both paths share something important to me: a desire to understand people’s realities deeply and to be present where it matters most. Reporting from conflict zones would satisfy a strong curiosity about the world and a commitment to giving voice to complex human stories. Paediatrics, on the other hand, reflects a more direct form of care — helping children and families in moments of vulnerability.
In different ways, both would allow me to travel, to listen, to learn — and hopefully to make a meaningful difference, however small
How do you relax after a long day?
The best way for me to unwind is to take a long walk with my Rhodesian Ridgeback, who is usually by my side — even at the office.
After a demanding day, stepping outside, slowing down and walking in silence creates a sense of calm and perspective. There is something grounding about that quiet companionship and the simple rhythm of movement.
It is a moment of balance — an opportunity to disconnect from complexity and reconnect with clarity.
Bonnard Lawson’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
Subscribe to the Citywealth Weekly Newsletter to learn more about Private Wealth Management.
Read more:
Citywealth Top 50 Private Client and Family Legal Heroes 2022 | Citywealth News
IFC Awards – Shortlist | Citywealth | 2026 shortlist best offshore
Citywealth IFC Awards recommended names shortlisted candidates
Report on the Citywealth IFC (International Financial Centre) Awards 2026
Citywealth Leaders List, 60 second interview – Alasdair Hills, JM Finn
This week's 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Alasdair Hills, Investment Management at JM Finn.
Citywealth Leaders List, 60 second interview – Julian Hawkhead, Stowe Family Law
This week's 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Julian Hawkhead, Senior Partner at Stowe Family Law.