Interview With Katy Shaw from Moore KS

What do you do for your holistic law firm?

I am one of the tax directors in the private client group at Moore Kingston Smith. This means that I’m responsible for a portfolio of clients comprising of individuals, families and trusts, and who usually have complex tax affairs and need advice on a regular basis. Life decisions can be challenging; whether that’s making a significant investment, getting divorced or deciding whether to pass the business to the next generation. These decisions carry tax consequences, so I help my clients make decisions knowing what their tax context is.

What do you love most about your role?

I genuinely enjoy helping people, so working in an environment where my clients value the advice I provide brings me a lot of satisfaction. I also love solving a good old problem. Researching legislation and applying case law and guidance to provide robust advice is something I really enjoy doing and appeals to my love of learning. 

I also have the privilege of working with a range of fascinating clients and working with some of the best “brains” in the tax industry, which has made my career to date extremely rewarding.

What has been your greatest achievement?

A former client couldn’t decide between two names for his new company. Both great names, but one was much easier to say as an acronym, so I told him to go for that one (in the knowledge that acronyms are used prolifically by advisers). The company is now quite a famous business and I like reflecting on the fact that I helped to name it!

Why did you join PCD Club?

PCD offers high quality networking events to the private client adviser community, which are energising to attend and always convivial. I was keen for the private client group at Moore Kingston Smith to become better known in the market and hence why I recommended the firm join PCD.  

I am also a great believer that clients are better served in a multi-disciplinary context. Therefore, sharing ideas and learning from other professionals advising the same client base is very valuable. Being a member of PCD helps me to meet such professionals and ultimately help serve my clients.

On a weekend, where are you most likely to be found?

Typical of most parents, usually on the sports field or facilitating my children’s social lives. Parenting aside, I am a keen musician and attend concerts as much as I can. During lockdown, as well as juggling tax, banana bread and homeschooling, I dusted off my piano books and started lessons again and now love playing jazz as well as Bach and Beethoven.