Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Zoe Norton, Druces
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Zoe Norton, Private Wealth Solicitor at Druces.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
I am a solicitor in the Private Wealth Team. I advise on non-contentious matters, such as probates and estate administration, succession planning, preparing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, setting up trusts in lifetime and gifting assets and the tax implications of these actions. I also work on contentious matters, such as claims by beneficiaries to remove the executors, defending executors in such claims, advising individuals on challenging Wills and claims for reasonable provision from a person’s estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975. I also make applications to the Court of Protection.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I start the day by answering emails that have come in overnight or are lingering from the day previous, usually from clients with queries on documents I have already prepared for them but also from other advisors, e.g. accountants. I may then have some meetings with new or existing clients to take instructions, but if not, I start working on my to-do list. Typical to-do list tasks may be drafting a Will for a client, preparing an inheritance tax account, writing Instructions to Counsel to prepare a Letter of Claim in a contentious matter, or reviewing evidence and documents sent through by the clients to assess the merits of a claim. I finish the day by answering some more emails as I try and keep my inbox as clear as possible. At lunch, I try and go for a walk!
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
On the contentious side, I am working on a claim to overturn a Will on the grounds of forgery. In other words, the testator’s signature was purportedly forged, so the Will is invalid. On the non-contentious side, I am assisting a client with gifting some rental properties to a trust and taking advantage of the gift with reservation of benefit carve-out for properties not occupied by the donor.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
Knowing when and how to gift an asset to their offspring – outright gift, bare trust, discretionary trust, loan agreement. To assist them, I present all the viable options and explain the pros and cons of each option to help them pick the best option that allows them to help their children, whilst still preserving sufficient wealth for their own lifestyle.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
On a contentious matter, I acted for a lady who was deputy to her disabled son and who was the subject of removal proceedings by the professional deputy. We managed to keep our client as her son’s deputy and have the professional deputy replaced.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Honesty, willingness to take control and manage a situation, and a good sense of humour.
Who do you most admire and why?
Paris Fury – 7 kids and Tyson Fury; unbelievable resilience, patience, and problem-solving skills!
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
Lloret de Mar for my friend’s hen do; if anyone happens to go, please look out for my sunglasses that I left in a bar!
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
Being a current affairs journalist was always something that piqued my interest!
How do you relax after a long day?
A large white wine & a packet of crisps, please
Druces’ Citywealth Leaders List profile
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