An Interview with Susanne Batchelor

What do you do for Brodies?

I am a partner in the personal and family team based in the Edinburgh office. I lead one of the largest private client teams in Scotland providing estate planning advice for a whole variety of individuals with a particular emphasis on high-net-worthclients. This includes wills and powers of attorney, tax planning, setting up trusts and other entities, personal injury trusts, charitable trusts and adults with incapacity work.

What do you love most about your role?

I have worked at Brodies for over 15 years so I definitely love my role.In particular I love supporting and mentoring colleagues. It is so rewarding watching talented colleagues develop in their career, being promoted and ultimately becoming partners in the firm.

.What has been your greatest achievement?

Balancing the demands of being a partner in the top law firm in Scotland with being a wife and a mother to a young child. It is a constant challenge –but extremely rewarding.

How has your business adapted in light of COVID-19?

The culmination of the past two years has enabled us to embrace a new way of working, with work being the thing you do, not the place you go. We have implemented our smart working policy, which focuses on flexibility and ensuring that wherever we work from, we are at our most effective and productive. That approach is underpinned by several factors -meeting the needs of clients, collaboration, being effective, maintaining our collective sense of identity, training and mentoring, wellbeing and considering others. 

Why did you join PCD?

It is a great opportunity to widen my network of contacts (particularly English lawyers) who may have clients who have Scottish interests. There are many situations where Scots law advice is requiredand we have the knowledge and expertise to assist.

On a weekend, I am most likely found......

Enjoying family time with my husband and nineyear old daughter. We have lots of adventures together – I am always planning our next holiday! I am also occasionally found at certain Scottish football grounds.