The eprivateclient 50 Most Influential is the definitive rankings of the key players in the UK and offshore private client practitioner sector.
To showcase the achievements of those listed this year and to get to know them a bit better, eprivateclient has begun publishing a series of Q&As with our 2021 50 Most Influentials.
This week we caught up with Charles Russell Speechlys' Piers Master. A partner and head of private wealth, Piers acts for some of Charles Russell Speechlys' largest private clients. Clients include high net worth individuals from across the world, including US nationals living in the UK or with financial interests in the UK. He is very well known for his work with Middle Eastern clients, where he acts for many ruling family members and billionaires – many of whose families have US links.
What have been your proudest personal/team achievements this year?
Managing to grow our business quite significantly despite all the challenges of lockdown, and being involved in some of the most interesting private client work imaginable.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You must choose a career which genuinely interests you. You will be working longer hours than your young self can imagine and so you need to be able to enjoy what you do.
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
Gaining a privileged insight into some of the world’s leading families and helping them navigate through challenging times.
What challenges do you see your firm/clients facing in 2021?
Like everyone else, navigating the realities of a world with Covid. Most existing relationships can be maintained remotely, but it is harder to build new ones without face to face contact. So I shall be back on the planes as soon as we are allowed to travel…
What does being named a 50 Most Influential mean to you?
I am thrilled!
What is the favourite part of your job?
It may sound a bit trite, but making a difference. Great wealth does not automatically bring great happiness (far from it in some cases), and we can do a lot to solve problems for our clients to make life easier for them.
What made you choose to focus on private client work?
Private client work offers a rare opportunity in the legal world to combine technical rigour with human interest. Many areas of law offer one or other of these – far fewer offer both.
What book/luxury item would you want with you on a desert island?
A difficult one. Maybe a photo album to remind me of pre-desert life. Maybe that amazing book ‘Arabian Sands’ by Wilfred Thesiger to remind me of how one can thrive on life in a desert. Sorry, that is two answers!
If you were not in (and it is not) your current role, what would be your dream job?
Running a wine farm in South Africa
What’s your favourite hobbies/passions/interests outside of work?
Part-time professional singing (has been a lifeline through Covid), travel (though it seems like a distant dream right now), my wine collection (which has been expanded too enthusiastically during the pandemic and some of it will probably never be drunk).
What one piece of advice has benefited you the most in your career?
My university tutor being very honest and saying I would be better off in a legal career than in an academic one!
