Knowledge Lawyer (Trust, Estates and Inheritance Disputes)

About Withersworldwide

Withersworldwide has been acting for successful individuals, businesses and institutions for 125 years. We advise clients on their business, personal and philanthropic needs both at home and abroad. In this fast moving and increasingly regulated world the need for integrated and timely advice has never been more urgent.

We are recognised as the leading international law firm for successful people. With offices in Europe, Asia, the United States and the Caribbean we provide coverage across the world that other law firms focussed on the individual cannot. We have represented 70% of the Top-100 ‘Sunday Times Rich List’, as well as a significant number of people listed in the US (Forbes) and Asian (Hurun) Rich Lists.

The firm consists of three global legal Divisions: Business; Dispute Resolution and Private Client & Tax. Each Division is headed by a Divisional CEO and Divisional Operating Officer, working with the CEO of the global firm.

About the TEID team at Withersworldwide

Withers is top ranked for trust and succession disputes, with the world's largest team of inheritance lawyers dedicated to them. Noted for ‘outstanding professionalism and advice’ in Chambers and Partners’ High Net Worth guide. The team is supportive and completely committed to their clients and put their best interests at the heart of what they do, offering pragmatic advice to suit every client's needs. The team undertakes work including but not limited to advising on all types of trust and probate disputes, removal of executors and trustees, contentious trust and estate administrations, construction and rectification of wills and trusts, stress testing, Inheritance Act Claims, professional negligence, charities, and Court of Protection matters both financial and health and welfare.

Only a small percentage of our cases end up in court. In our view going to trial is rarely in the best financial or personal interests of clients. However this does not mean compromising on results. There are many forms of alternative dispute resolution, which help our clients resolve their disputes quickly and privately. Should court proceedings prove unavoidable, we are renowned for our ability to win the most complex onshore and offshore cases. With offices around the world, including London, New York, New Haven, California, Hong Kong and Singapore, our experienced cross-border trust and estate solicitors have achieved excellent results for our clients, resolving issues quickly and cost-effectively.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced part time Knowledge Lawyer (PSL) to provide our Trust, Estates & Inheritance Disputes (TEID) lawyers with professional and technical legal support. This role will ensure legal and practical knowledge is generated, captured, managed and communicated to our team of solicitors.  They will proactively lead on the professional development and training activity within the TEID team, ensuring a high quality service is delivered to internal and external clients. This role is joining an established Knowledge Lawyer team within Dispute Resolution, supported by two part time Knowledge Lawyers and an administrative support.

Areas of focus and responsibilities

• Take stock and analyse the team’s knowledge and training requirements, with support from fee earners and the Knowledge Management team, focusing on the team priority areas for knowledge/skills gaps within the team, precedents and business development (to include article writing and the delivery of training talks and seminars).
• Draft training plan which fits in with and works alongside the team’s business development plan, considering any resource requirements for implementation.
• Co-ordinate, design and deliver training for team members, and support the team in complying with the CPD regime. Provide regular internal briefings/training on key developments in case law, statute and market practice through group sessions, monthly meetings, seminars and external speakers.
• Provide input and leadership to the induction training of trainees and other new joiners to the TEID team.
• Create and maintain standard form and specialist precedents, example documents, know-how directories, and survival guides as required.
• Keep precedents, example and standard form documents and guidance notes up to date, including ensuring that the relevant section of the intranet is set up, maintained and kept up to date.
• Work closely with the Risk team to manage engagement letters and ensure compliance within the team.
• Maintain the team's know-how resources through pro-actively creating, sourcing and encouraging fee earners to contribute to know-how and precedent materials. Coordinate input into the firm's know-how system, and use your specialist knowledge to help fee earners to locate relevant know-how.
• Liaise with other Knowledge Lawyers within the firm to ensure the team shares and gains best practice, and in particular operates effectively on a departmental level.
• Where appropriate provide advice and guidance on specific points of law to fee earners or other internal business services teams.
• Become fully conversant with the team (and firm’s) BD strategy and business plan and actively work towards meeting the objectives and development of the plans.
• Work with team members to plan and (where appropriate) deliver seminars to clients and contacts, assessed against the team strategic priorities and working alongside other teams as required.
• Assist in the preparation of talks (to include research and drafting) being given at external conferences and events and consider how these might then be repurposed into shorter briefing notes/articles/ newsletters.
• Keep the team up to date with the latest developments in the world of TEID to include legislative and case law developments both in England & Wales and in key offshore jurisdictions. Be alert to how these developments could affect clients and potential clients.
• Keep up to date and ensure the team are alerted to key developments, opportunities and trends in the news which could provide a platform for comment, and which should be being considered when developing BD plans.
• Work proactively with team members to write articles/books/blogs on relevant topics for publication and liaise with and build contacts with the editorial teams of relevant publications where possible.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Qualifications and experience required

• Strong academic background
• A minimum of 4 years PQE as a practising solicitor or barrister
• Excellent organisation skills
• Proficient use of journals, commercial alerting/reporting services
• Research skills (using hard and soft source materials)
• Proactive in seeking out thought-leadership ideas to improve ways of working or BD initiatives
• High work standards and detail oriented
• Ability to develop strong working relationships – must demonstrate well developed interpersonal skills to build confidence, trust and respect amongst the team
• A team player, with evidence of supporting the wider team to deliver a first class service to clients
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to work with people at all levels
• First class communication and project management skills
• Organised and driven to achieve efficiency
• Proactive and able to work on own initiative

The Essentials

• Six month probation period
• 12 week notice period
• Flexible benefit package

For further information, please contact the recruitment team.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withersworldwide endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withersworldwide operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

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 ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.

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