Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Shahrzad Atai, Seddons GSC
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Shahrzad Atai, Partner, Private Client at Seddons GSC. Shahrzad Atai is a UK-qualified solicitor with over 15 years of legal experience in private client, cross-border transactions, corporate and commercial law, banking and finance, regulatory matters, and dispute resolution. She advises high-net-worth individuals, family offices, businesses, and institutions, and is fluent in English, French, Italian, Turkish, Persian, and Azerbaijani.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role:
I’m a solicitor specialising in private client work, with a particular focus on international wealth structuring, trusts, estate planning, cross-border transactions and complex UK property matters. Most of my clients are high-net-worth individuals and families, particularly from the Middle East, with international assets and often very complex structures. What I enjoy most is that no two clients are the same — there is always a new challenge to solve.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There really is no such thing as a typical day! It might start with a 6:30am Zoom call with Abu Dhabi, followed by a breakfast meeting with a client at 9:30. Then I’ll spend some time on my laptop, have a lunch meeting, and usually have more client meetings, calls or events in the afternoon. It can be a very long day, but I love the variety and the fact that I’m constantly meeting interesting people. I am a peoples person!
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions or requests you have received.
I recently had a client ask whether he could have two Wills because he had taken a second wife and didn’t want his first wife or his adult children to know about it! I had to explain that, in England, you cannot simply have two separate Wills dealing with the same estate. There is also the issue of confidentiality — once a Will goes through probate, it generally becomes a public document. So, unfortunately, his secret was unlikely to remain a secret!
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping them to overcome them?
A large proportion of my clients are from the Middle East, including jurisdictions that are considered higher risk from an AML perspective. Many are also high-profile individuals with complicated international businesses and sources of wealth.
The biggest challenge is often obtaining the information we need for AML and source-of-wealth purposes without making the client feel that they are being treated with suspicion. You have to be very thoughtful about how you ask the questions, explain why the information is required and make the process as straightforward and comfortable as possible. Ultimately, it comes down to building trust and relationship.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
One of my proudest achievements was restructuring a very complex corporate and trust structure so that the underlying assets could be refinanced. It involved a lot of moving parts and required careful coordination and strategic thinking. Seeing the structure successfully come together and achieving the client’s objective was extremely rewarding.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
I’ve been very fortunate to have had some exceptional mentors throughout my career, and I’ve learned a great deal from them (still learning!). For me, leadership is about being generous with your knowledge and helping others develop.
I also strongly believe in giving people space. Micromanagement doesn’t create good leaders. You have to trust people, give them responsibility and allow them to make decisions and grow. The best leaders, in my view, are those who create other leaders.
Who do you most admire and why?
I admire people who combine success with kindness, integrity and generosity. I’ve always been particularly inspired by people who have achieved a great deal professionally but remain humble and are willing to share their knowledge and help others. I think your legacy is not only what you achieve yourself, but also the people you help along the way.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
Istanbul, Turkey. I speak Turkish and have many clients in Istanbul, so I travel there quite regularly. I absolutely love the city — it has such a unique energy, incredible food and culture/history, and there is always something happening.
There is also a strong connection with my work. Many wealthy individuals and families in Turkey have assets in the UK and need advice on wealth structuring, succession planning and estate planning, so Istanbul is an important part of my international practice.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
Without a doubt, something involving horses. I’m fascinated by horses, and the only time I can completely switch off is when I’m on the saddle. I’m convinced that, in another life, I would have been a professional show jumper!
How do you relax after a long day?
I’m a real foodie and I love cooking, so my ideal way to unwind is either cooking a nice meal for my family or going out for a really good meal. Then perhaps a little television — or, if I have the time and energy, I’ll play the piano. Those are the things that allow me to completely switch off from work.
Key Takeaways
- Shahrzad Atai, Partner at Seddons GSC, specializes in private client work and advises high-net-worth individuals with complex international assets.
- Her typical day varies significantly, filled with client meetings, Zoom calls, and travel, highlighting her people-oriented approach to work.
- Atai faces challenges in obtaining AML information sensitively and stresses building trust with clients, particularly from high-risk jurisdictions.
- A key achievement includes restructuring a complex corporate structure to meet a client’s refinancing needs, showcasing her strategic skills.
- In her downtime, Atai enjoys cooking, playing the piano, and has a passion for horses, indicating a well-rounded personal life.
Shahrzad Atai’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
Seddons GSC’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
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