Domestic Estate Planning Associate

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.

The Role

This role will sit in our New York office.

Withers is seeking a dynamic, self-starting estate and trust attorney with a vision, initiative and demonstrated commitment to guiding clients through wealth transitions with estate planning that is clear, creative, and enduring. Candidate will be expected to:

• Handle a full range of private client practice and trust and estate administration/planning; including, advising on complex wealth structures, drafting estate planning documents, tax analysis, estate administration and trust administration.
• Have previous experience drafting, explaining, recommending, and finalizing sophisticated wealth planning strategies and documents; including, but not limited to: testamentary estate plans, irrevocable grantor and non-grantor trusts, leveraged gifting strategies, income tax planning using trusts (particularly QSBS planning), post-mortem planning and estate administration.
• Possess 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.
• Independently have the ability to spot and advise on cross-border and/or income tax issues is a plus.
• Contribute to the team's profile and undertaking business development activities to establish, develop, and maintain long-term relationships; including, writing articles and posts, attending events and conferences, and building networks with private wealth contacts and intermediaries including global and peer firms and counsel.

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.

Key Skills and Experience

• Strong academic credentials (J.D. required; LL.M. is a plus);
• Minimum 4-6 years of experience practicing in a law firm's Trusts & Estates and/or Private Client group;
• New York Bar membership required;
• Strong drafting, writing, research and communication skills;
• Domestic experience required and international experience and/or income tax experience a plus;
• Strong project management with an ability to balance a large number of competing priorities;
• Attention to detail; and
• Team Player
• For New York, the expected salary range for this position is between $235,000 and $280,000. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.

About Withers

A law firm focused on people, performance, and collaboration. For the past 125 years, we have supported some of the world's most remarkable people and organizations at defining moments in their lives.

As the global private client firm, we are trusted advisors to families, founders, fiduciaries and businesses - and more than this, to governments, charities and financial institutions.

We structure, grow and preserve capital. We protect reputations and relationships, ideas and innovations. We secure our clients' legacies across generations.

We are united in our commitment to integrity, quality and collaboration. We have a culture of high performance and deliver excellent service consistently across the firm. We provide tailored solutions built on trust and partner with our clients to achieve their goals.

Many of our clients are shaping the future, and creating solutions to tackle many of the world's problems. It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice.

Our role is to get to know…