Description:
Private Client and Tax DivisionToday, 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 facilitate 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:
We are seeking an experienced and highly capable associate to join our Private Client & Tax team in San Diego or San Francisco. This role is designed for a professional who thrives in a sophisticated practice and is ready to take on meaningful responsibility across complex estate planning and administration matters.
- This position sits at the center of our team, working closely with partners, paralegals, and other associates, serving as both an independent contributor and a key coordinator who helps drive matters forward efficiently and thoughtfully.
- You will play a critical role in bridging day to day execution with higher-level strategic work, helping ensure that complex client matters are handled seamlessly from start to finish.
- Familiarity with estate planning for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients with complex family structures and complex assets.
- Experience structuring charitable organizations and foundations, structuring major and planned gifts, and ensuring compliance.
- Highly skilled in foundational (revocable) estate planning for clients and able to handle planning from start to finish; including the initial interview, plan design and drafting, review and discussion with the client, execution, and follow up.
- Exposure to estate with irrevocable trusts such as: CRUTs, GRATs, IDGTs, ILITs, and QPRTs.
- Possesses previous gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax skills, and is able to:
- engage with ultra-high-net-worth clients to design and implement complex estate freeze and charitable planning with technical precision; and
- prepare and review estate and gift tax returns
- Ability to independently run a post-mortem trust administration, expertly advising fiduciaries to keep them ahead of milestones, avoiding pitfalls and surprises, and efficiently shepherding distribution of assets to beneficiaries.
- The role will also involve contributing to the team's profile and undertaking business development activities to establish, develop, and maintain long-term relationships; including, writing articles/posts, attending events/conferences, and building networks with private wealth contacts/intermediaries including global and peer firms and counsel.
Key Skills and Experience
- Strong academic credentials (J.D. required; Tax LL.M. a plus);
- Between 3 – 5 years practicing in a law firm Trusts & Estates group;
- California bar membership is required;
- Proven ability to stay on top of a busy practice – including time recording, proactive deadline and matter management, and taking ownership of assigned projects – and doesn't require supervision in these areas;
- Demonstrates a genuine interest in contributing to the firm's success as a whole, including through mentorship of junior team members and development and refinement of firm processes;
- Inspires the confidence of clients, intermediaries, and referral sources (internal and external); and
- Takes a practical approach to solving client problems, and is nimble in employing tools to implement these solutions.
