Citywealth Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Katharina Kutter, Kutter Law

Date: 29 Jan 2025

Karen Jones

This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Katharina Kutter, Lawyer at Kutter Law.

Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.

I founded Kutter Law in 2017. We specialize in inheritance and family law, focusing on advising businesses and high-net-worth individuals on wealth succession, asset distribution, tax law, and family law planning – particularly in cross-border matters.

What does a typical day look like for you?

After taking my dog for a walk in the woods, I start my working day by preparing for upcoming meetings with clients. These meetings often take place online or I meet my clients in person in my or their office. It is then often necessary to coordinate with colleagues from abroad, notaries or my clients’ tax advisors.

I then spend the late afternoon and early evening with my family – which is very important to me – before catching up on the latest developments in family law and succession planning in Germany, Switzerland and France in the evening.

Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.

I am currently advising many clients on the drafting of prenuptial agreements relating to various countries. These agreements often relate to the USA, France, Switzerland and Germany.

Last year, for example, I was asked by a colleague from the USA to advise his client drawing up a prenuptial agreement and it turned out he was a famous musician, and his band was one of my favorite bands when I was a teenager.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?

There are so many details to consider when drawing up marriage contracts and wills. Particularly in the case of multinational families, it is important to work out the sometimes extreme differences in the legal situation of the various countries that apply in the event of a dispute. It is my job to point out these differences and to make arrangements that, at best, avoid disputes in advance.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

This year I will be opening my third office in Hamburg and I am looking forward to exciting new contacts and challenges there.

I am generally proud of the positive client feedback and of course also of the nomination for this award.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?

A leader needs a good combination of professional, social and personal skills. Good specialist knowledge, strategic thinking and the ability to make decisions are required. Important are empathy and good communication skills, as well as the ability to work in a team. Last but not least, a sense of responsibility, authenticity and resilience are also required.

Who do you most admire and why?

Most of all, I admire women who have tirelessly fought for their causes with perseverance and legal skill, like former US constitutional judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?

I recently travelled to Paris for a conference of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. The exchange with my colleagues there was once again a huge enrichment and I made some exciting new contacts. I particularly enjoyed speaking French all day and loved the wonderful atmosphere of Paris.

If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?

As I am a passionate about food and fond of many beautiful things I could have imagined myself running a five star hotel.

How do you relax after a long day?

I try to spend as much time outside as possible. What I enjoy most are long walks by the sea or in the forest and/or spending time with my family and my dog.