Mid-Level Associate (4-5 Years)

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 16 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 endeavours. We have immigration teams in the major financial centres and are well placed to deal with tax investigation and litigation cases. 

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 recognised 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 recognised awards over the years

The Department

Our team helps successful families and their advisors around the world to further the family's business, philanthropic and personal goals, and structure their assets in an efficient way to preserve and protect their wealth now and for future generations. We advise on all aspects of wealth structuring, using sophisticated and creative techniques to provide optimal results that integrate income and transfer tax planning with non-tax goals.  We have over 150 lawyers worldwide who concentrate on tax and wealth planning for many of the world's wealthiest families, often with complex structures and global interests. We work together cross-office and cross-discipline to advise on all aspects of tax and wealth planning.

The Role

The focus of this role will be to work alongside partners and senior associates in advising high net worth individuals and their advisors on primarily complex domestic estate and tax planning, trust structuring, and estate and trust administration, including working with business interests, investment vehicles, family enterprises, and charitable organizations. This role has been contemplated as full time, but part time applicants with the requisite experience will also be considered.

Skills and Experience Required

• Strong academic credentials (JD required; LLM is a plus)
• Admitted to, and in good standing with the State Bar of California
• Strong drafting, writing, research and communication skills
• Experience drafting complex wills and trusts
• Probate court experience a plus
• Exposure to and experience in drafting, advising on, and implementing sophisticated wealth planning strategies such as Family Limited Partnerships, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts,  Dynasty Trusts, Insurance Trusts, Directed Trusts, Sales to Grantor Trusts, Buy-Sell Agreements, Decanting, and Private Trust Companies
• Knowledge of and ability to research and apply rules governing income taxation of trusts and estates, gift tax return reporting, generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax, and Chapter 14
• Desire to work directly with clients and coordinate with intermediaries, with a goal of establishing and maintaining long-term productive 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 ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.

#LI-AP1