Personal profiles, professional insights: Karmen Ko, Private Client Senior Associate

From colour-coded sticky tabs and meticulously organised files to helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult moments, Karmen Ko brings a unique blend of empathy, precision and positivity to her role in Blake Morgan’s Private Client team. As part of our Personal profiles, professional insights series, we caught up with Karmen to learn more about her journey into law, her award-winning career and missing her big break in Harry Potter.

What attracted you to law and private client work?

Unlike many people, Karmen’s career had not been mapped out at a young age but she was sure that she wanted a degree that would challenge her and allow her to refine her analytical skills. With the guidance of her school careers advisor, she narrowed this down to law; a decision strengthened by her love for the film, Legally Blonde.

Her route into Private Client law was equally organic. The partners at her training firm were very quick to identify characteristics that they believed would make her particularly well suited to Private Client work.

“They suggested I do a seat in Private Client because of my love of colourful post-it notes and sticky tabs and because of my organisational skills,” Karmen laughs. As anyone who has worked with Karmen will know, organisation remains one of her trademarks.

“I quickly found that this was the area for me given the high level of client contact and the varied cases I was dealing with.”

What do you enjoy most about your work?

For Karmen, the answer is simple: people.

One of the aspects she enjoys most is being able to make a genuine difference to clients during difficult periods and making a real difference in their lives. While estate administration matters often involves challenging circumstances, Karmen finds it rewarding to see the tangible impact her work can have.

It is hard enough to lose a loved one but being able to help someone through that difficult period and relieving them of the paperwork burden so that they can process their grief in their own time is really rewarding.

An unforgettable evening ending with a Chambers award

When asked about her career highlight, Karmen points to receiving the prestigious ‘Star Associate’ award at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards this year, an achievement that came as a complete surprise.

The award was even more rewarding knowing it was based on interviews with clients and thorough research conducted by Chambers’ own team, further reinforcing the positive impact she is making to her clients.

It transpired that the experience itself was memorable for more than one reason…

Our table seemed incredibly far away from the stage, so after getting over the initial surprise of hearing my name being read out, my second thought was 'I really hope I don't fall over in front of all these top lawyers!'

What makes a strong client relationship?

For Karmen, the key is communication.

“It’s about keeping clients updated and making them aware of any potential delays and timeframes,” she explains. “It sounds basic, but it is such a key thing to get right.”

With some areas of Private Client work, delays are inevitable when dealing with external bodies and it can seem that there can be periods where little visible progress occurs. Rather than letting clients worry, Karmen believes transparency is key and will tailor her approach to the individual’s specific needs.

Life outside the office

Away from work, Karmen has plenty to keep her occupied.

A self-confessed food enthusiast, she is working her way through a long list of London restaurants and tackling pastries and cakes one-by-one as she goes.

“I love trying new restaurants and there are always new and exciting places opening up in London. Currently, it is afternoon tea season, but I already have a list of patisseries to sample for when that season ends.”

When she isn’t busy dining out, Karmen also enjoys baking; her own version of stress relief therapy.

A surprising claim to fame

Every Personal Profiles interview uncovers an interesting fact, and Karmen’s certainly didn’t disappoint.

Long before becoming a lawyer, she attended a casting audition for the Harry Potter films. She reveals:

I remember watching Blue Peter and hearing the casting date for the Cho Chang role that weekend. I begged my mum to take me, and was so convinced that this was going to be my big break.

Sadly, after a full day of queuing, Hollywood fame wasn’t in her stars, but Hollywood’s loss in Karmen was ultimately a gain for the legal world.

What advice would you give aspiring lawyers?

Karmen’s advice centres on exploration, resilience and perseverance.

“Law will always remain an incredibly competitive area to be in, so starting early with work experience is a must,” she says.

With so many different practice areas available, she believes gaining as much exposure as possible is key. She also encourages aspiring lawyers not to be discouraged by any setbacks.

“It will often feel like rejection upon rejection when it comes to training contract applications and it can be really hard,” she says.

But you have to persevere as nothing worth having in life is ever easy and it will all be worth it in the end!

It is a philosophy that sums up Karmen’s approach perfectly: thoughtful, practical and quietly optimistic.

Whether she’s guiding clients through complex personal matters, sampling the newest viral cake creation or reflecting on a near-miss with cinematic stardom, one thing is clear – Karmen combines professionalism with genuine warmth and positivity. And while her acting career may never have materialised, Blake Morgan’s clients and colleagues are undoubtedly glad the legal profession won out in the end.