Trusts & Estates Associate (Midlevel)

About Withersworldwide

Law.com International's Law Firm of the Year 2021

For 125 years, our firm has focused on and helped successful people, families, entrepreneurs, family businesses, governments and institutions negotiate the wide range of legal issues they face in their business and personal lives. Over time, we have gained valuable insights into the ways wealth can be generated, preserved, deployed and enhanced. We assist our clients in a variety of industry sectors including real estate, manufacturing, motorsport, luxury brands, sport, hotels and hospitality, technology, energy, art and cultural assets, life sciences, charities and philanthropy and financial services. With 18 offices our experience means we can see the global picture. We provide legal advice across a range of different practice areas including estate planning, personal and corporate tax and, corporate, banking and finance, access to capital (both private and public) both equity and debt, real estate, intellectual property, immigration, international trust structuring, philanthropy, luxury assets, international probate, public international law and international arbitration. 

Private Client and Tax Division

Today, we are the only truly global law firm dedicated to the personal and private capital needs of high net worth individuals and families.

Many of our clients are international families with interests in a number of locations. In a fast-moving and increasingly compliance focused world, the need for integrated advice that reaches across borders has never been greater. With offices across Europe, the United States and Asia-Pacific we provide coverage that other law firms in this area cannot match. Our team of experienced private client solicitors continually look for opportunities to ensure we have a strong presence in the locations where our clients live, work and invest.

Our advice to fiduciaries covers the design and implementation of new plans, as well as the modernization and consolidation of older trusts. We also assist them in complying with the complex rules surrounding investments, accounting, taxes and compliance.

This practice generates approximately 55% of the partnership's revenues and is the largest in the world with over 300 people. We advise on domestic and international tax, estate planning, succession and mental capacity laws in Europe, the US and Asia, as well as facilitating our client's philanthropic endeavors. We have immigration teams in the major financial centers and are well placed to deal with tax investigation and litigation cases. Real estate is very important to our clients, and we have a specialist residential and rural team.

Clients from every walk of life

Our clients have achieved success in many fields, from senior executives to multi-generational families, owners, managers and investors in private capital and some of the world’s wealthiest people. In Europe we have represented 70% of The Sunday Times top 100 Rich List and in Asia we act for 35% of the Hong Kong Forbes Rich List. We act not just as private client lawyers but trusted advisers, looking to build strong relationships with you and with other professionals advising you. This is one of the reasons we are proud to have been asked to represent families down the generations. Our mission: To be recognized as the top, and only truly global, law firm offering integrated domestic and international private client and tax advice.

Accolades

The private client team is ranked top in our offices around the world by the leading legal directories and have won and been shortlisted for a number of well recognized awards over the years.

Skills and Experience Required

• Strong academic credentials (JD required; LLM is a plus)
• Minimum 4-6 years of experience practicing in a law firm's Trusts & Estates/ Private Client group
• Connecticut Bar membership required (New York bar membership a plus)
• Strong drafting, writing, research and communication skills
• Experience drafting complex wills and trusts
• Experience drafting, explaining, recommending, and finalizing sophisticated wealth planning strategies and documents including Family Limited Partnerships, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts,  Dynasty Trusts, Insurance Trusts, Annual Exclusion Trusts, Directed Trusts, Sales to Defective Grantor Trusts, Buy-Sell Agreements, Decanting and Private Trust Companies in providing clients with long term wealth planning strategies
• Knowledge of and ability to research and apply rules governing estate, gift, GST, and income taxation of trusts and estates, gift and estate tax return reporting and preparation
• International experience a plus
• Ability to work directly with clients to establish, develop and maintain long-term relationships
• Strong project management,  ability to balance a large number of competing priorities
• Attention to detail
• Team Player

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement

It is the policy of Withersworldwide to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

If you are interested in applying for employment and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website to apply for a position, please contact the firm at us.recruiting@withersworldwide.com with your request.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation are made on a case-by-case basis.

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