Interview with Monidipa Fouzder
Becoming a parent, including being a parent to a child with autism and additional needs, has completely shaped the way Kerri-Anne Ball works as a lawyer, she tells me.
Specialising in private wealth, Kerri-Anne advises clients on a range of matters, such as succession planning, preparing wills, trusts, power of attorney and probate. Her clients include business owners and the elderly.
But because of her own experience as a parent, she has also forged a specialism in advising clients with children or other family members with vulnerabilities.
‘This could be a disability, learning difficulty or other vulnerability like addiction or a mental health condition,’ she said.
‘It has given me a real-life understanding of the worries and pressures these families face, particularly around the future. I’m fully aware of the worry, fear and anxiety these parents carry around with them on a daily basis, never mind thinking about a future when they might not be able to support their children.
‘Things like, “What will happen to my child when I am no longer around? Who will look after them? Who will advocate for them and make decisions? Who will protect them?”. These clients have often fought long and hard to put the right support in place for their child. Their biggest worry is whether they continue to receive the right care and support after their deaths. In my job, it goes beyond legal advice. It’s about careful, considered planning.’
Knowing how overwhelming and upsetting the conversations can be, Kerri-Anne focuses on listening first, and making sure her advice is clear and practical. She is open about her family life, which clients appreciate. That shared understanding helps to build trust and strong, long-term relationships.
'These clients are scared, the uncertainty is daunting and sometimes they feel guilty having the conversation'
What made Kerri-Anne want to specialise in private wealth work?
After completing her LPC, she joined Stewarts Law as a paralegal, working in the personal injury team in Leeds. She was eventually promoted to senior paralegal.
On why she decided not to specialise in personal injury work, Kerri-Anne said: ‘I enjoyed it, but it’s litigation. It’s a court process. It’s very fast-paced. You’re negotiating with the defendant for three, four, five years over a settlement. I like to be involved not on the litigation side of it. I’m not a litigator. I like to proactively help clients with their estate planning rather than being involved with the reactive litigation process.’
Kerri-Anne moved to Clarion in 2015, where she trained and qualified as a solicitor. She was drawn to private wealth work because it is ‘such a people-focused area of law’.
She said: ‘Every client’s circumstance is different. The advice is not one-size-fits-all. It has to be personalised. I enjoy taking time to dive into a client’s situation, understanding not just the legal issues but the wider context, and putting plans in place to protect their family… Specialising in this area of law allows me to help families plan ahead and put structures in place. It’s a combination of technical and legal work, but an area of law that makes a difference to clients.’
What does she love most about her job? ‘I love meeting new clients. I love hearing about them. The biggest reward I get is bringing peace of mind to clients.’
What does she find most challenging? ‘It can be really emotionally heavy, particularly where clients have complex family situations or family members with disabilities or vulnerabilities. These clients are scared, the uncertainty is daunting and sometimes they feel guilty having the conversation.’
Kerri-Anne is also a governor of her local primary school. She became a parent governor seven years ago. She was then appointed governor responsible for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). ‘I developed a real passion for wanting to support children with additional needs beyond my own family. I understand and see how important early support is.’
Kerri-Anne oversees the school’s SEND provision, making sure the school’s legal duties are being met. She ensures SEND pupils are properly supported and included, ‘so that they are able to have as fulfilling an education experience as their peers’.
She has been interviewed twice by Ofsted during school inspections. ‘It is rewarding and validating to hear directly from Ofsted how inclusive the school is.’
And just as she unpicks a client’s situation at work, she does the same with the school. ‘Both roles complement each other.’
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