Meet Zakiya J. Norton | Attorney & Co-Founder of Norton Basu, LLP

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zakiya J. Norton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zakiya J., what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Some of our reasons were personal: We wanted to own our time and control our financial fate. While we are proud of our accomplishments as businesswomen and lawyers, we also treasure our family and understand the value of work/life balance.

We knew that we could do things differently, and better, than many firms. For example, we’ve made it a priority to proactively communicate with our clients. We broke the mold by making client service a top priority, which boosted our reputation in the Silicon Valley and Los Angeles areas, thereby rewarding us with clients who rave about us.

Additionally, our commitment to practicing ethically was a driving factor. Starting our own firm gave us the freedom to take the right cases for the right reasons, to support the causes and local non-profits of our choice, and to target the communities we wanted to serve.

What should our readers know about your business?
There are several things which set us apart. The most obvious one is that we are a minority woman-owned firm, which is an anomaly in the area of estate planning law. Unlike many firms, we take pride in educating our clients, providing outreach to educate our community, and ensuring that our clients feel comfortable asking questions. We don’t talk down to our clients, we collaborate with them. We give solid, pragmatic advice which provides real-world solutions.

Another distinguishing element is that we do Trust and Estate Litigation, which means that we see what happens when estate plans go wrong, and family members are at odds with each other. This informs our ability to craft strategies which are likely to avoid conflict.

Our journey has not been easy but we were prepared for that. We knew that if we built our following organically, without compromises or shortcuts, we were playing the long game. It may have taken longer, but we persevered, and our reputation is proof that we chose the best path.

One lesson we learned early is that the power of networking should not be underestimated. In some ways, we are pioneers because we have included a full-time marketing and business development professional on our team. By consistently staying in touch with our valued supporters, the firm continues to enjoy significant growth and expansion.

A key part of our brand is cultural competency. We readily understand how cultural traditions affect family dynamics and where they intersect with legal planning considerations.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A Dodger game at the stadium

Lunch at Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen

A visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the LaBrea tar pits

Dinner at Post & Beam

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
From the outset of my journey with co-founder and attorney Somita Basu, we’ve been incredibly self-reliant. This was not by choice, but because we did not have accessible mentors such as other attorneys and business leaders. Therefore, we gained inspiration from Brene Brown’s book Dare To Lead, as well as her Netflix special, Call To Courage.

Leadership requires strength and courage, to be sure, but also vulnerability and empathy. Her wisdom gave us the confidence to face potential failure with bravery and to trust our intuitive inner voices when making bold, unconventional moves.

Also, the Honorable (Retired) Judge LaDoris Cordell provided us with emotional support and guidance when we really needed it.

Website: https://www.nortonbasu.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nortonbasullp/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/norton-basu-llp/

Twitter: @nortonbasu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nortonbasu

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/norton-basu-santa-clara-2?osq=norton+basu

Image Credits
Steven Cotton