In our series 'Life at Brodies', we're getting to know Brodies colleagues as they share their personal experiences and perspectives about working at Scotland's largest legal firm.

Do you want to know what it's like to work in one of the busiest private client teams in Scotland?

In this episode, Iona Clark and Nikki Neal talk about their experience working in the personal law team at Brodies; each sharing their own journey to becoming private client lawyers.

Iona shares her insight into having a private client focused traineeship and Nikki discusses the variety of exciting and complex work which makes each day different.

Wherever you are in your career find out more about making that next step in your journey at Brodies by visiting Brodies.com/careers.

In this episode of Podcasts by Brodies, legal experts Emily Pike and Stewart Gibson discuss the subject of inheritance and succession planning, unpacking the findings of an exclusive YouGov survey commissioned by Brodies.

The survey showed that only 25% of respondents have a full estate plan in place— and highlighted a significant gap between awareness of the subject of succession planning and action. Emily and Stewart explore common misunderstandings around inheritance tax, gifting, and intestacy, as well as the emotional barriers preventing families from discussing wealth transfer.

With major inheritance tax reforms set to take effect in April 2026, including new caps on relief for business and agricultural assets, the urgency for proactive estate planning has arguably never been greater. Through real-life examples, Emily and Stewart illustrate the risks of avoiding the conversation and the immense value of early planning, as well as:

• key takeaways from Brodies’ latest YouGov survey;
• why 58% of individuals haven't spoken to their families about inheritance;
• common misconceptions about tax, gifting, and intestacy;
• how proactive planning protects both assets and family relationships;
• how upcoming inheritance tax changes will impact estate planning; and
• essential steps to start meaningful wealth transfer discussions.

Access the full survey report via brodies.com/wealthtransfer

Receiving court papers can be daunting, but understanding what happens next is essential to resolving the issues at hand. In this episode of Podcasts by Brodies, Carly Forrest and Gemma Nicholson break down everything you need to know about dealing with Scottish court documents, ensuring you can respond effectively and avoid potential pitfalls.

We examine the importance of understanding which court has served the papers, whether you need to respond to the papers and how you respond.

For those defending a court action, we delve into the strategies available, including submitting written defences, challenging claims, and seeking dismissal where appropriate.

If you are interested in the process related to court papers in England and Wales, listen to our podcast 'What do I do if I'm served English court papers?'