Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Peter Burgess, Burgess Mee
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Peter Burgess, Senior Partner and Mediator at Burgess Mee.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
I am a partner and mediator at Burgess Mee, a top-ranked boutique family law practice with two offices in London. Prior to setting up my own firm with Antonia Mee, I was an associate at Withers in London.
What does a typical day look like for you?
One of the reasons I like my job is because no two days are the same! I might start with a breakfast meeting, attend a mediation and a conference with Counsel, while squeezing in a new client call about a prenup in between. Then I might be dashing to dinner with a former client to catch up on how they are getting on. It’s non-stop!
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
Much of my work is based on supporting HNW and UHNW individuals going through the early stages of divorce and separation. I acted for the wife in the landmark Cazalet v Abu Zalaf Court of Appeal win, which changed the law on rescinding (undoing) a divorce decree. It was an unusual case with lots of interesting features including a reconciliation after an early rupture in the marriage and a prenuptial agreement.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
Many of our clients come to us having experienced significant trauma, either connected to the separation or preceding it and precipitating the ending of the relationship. We have had our entire team trained in recognising the signs of trauma – the flight, flight, freeze or fawn response – and we’ve developed a suite of information and resources to better support these clients at www.withinthewindow.com. The window in question is their window of tolerance – the state between hyperarousal and hypoarousal, which enables them to think clearly and calmly.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Either my trip to the Court of Appeal (in Cazalet v Abu Zalaf) or setting up our guide for coparents – The Happy CoParent (www.thehappycoparent.com), a free resource for separating couples with lots of information and discussions with experts in the field of family relationships.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Being human and listening to the team but also giving them the direction they need to flourish. They are all bright, capable people who have a lot to give! We have a no judgment policy when someone makes a mistake – we call it Black Box Thinking (after the book of the same name). So when someone makes a mistake, we discuss it calmly and we work out how we can stop it recurring.
Who do you most admire and why?
I am a huge David Bowie fan. His output was incredible, he was a musical and style genius and a master of reinvention. He was also one of the first musicians to leverage his own music rights, so he was well advised as well – a true creative, constant innovator and shrewd operator.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
I was in Dubai for Christmas – my first time in the Gulf. It was a lovely break with the family.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
I come from a long line of lawyers, so I think law was inevitable. But I did always want to be a human rights barrister, so maybe that is a direction I would have gone in.
How do you relax after a long day?
I do try to exercise – I aim to run one marathon per year, but I also spend a lot of time running around after our naughty Labradoodle puppy Pippin with my wife and two children.
If you could recommend one person in the private wealth industry, who would it be, and what would you say about them?
Probably my business partner, Antonia Mee. She is absolutely at the top of her game, she handles clients brilliantly, is hugely tenacious and, even though she is incredibly wise, she is always learning.
Peter Burgess’ Citywealth Leaders List profile
Burgess Mee’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
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60 second interview with Antonia Mee, Burgess Mee | Citywealth News
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Key Takeaways
- Peter Burgess, a Senior Partner at Burgess Mee, manages a dynamic role in family law, handling unique client needs daily.
- His notable case includes Cazalet v Abu Zalaf, which reshaped divorce law concerning prenuptial agreements.
- Burgess Mee supports clients dealing with trauma by training their team to recognize signs and providing resources.
- He admires David Bowie for his creative genius and ability to leverage music rights, reflecting innovation and strategy.
- Outside of work, he enjoys running marathons and spending time with his family and Labradoodle puppy.
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