Domestic Estate Planning Associate

Overview

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.

Type Permanent - Full Time

Location New York

Job Role Private Client and Tax

The Private Client and Tax Division serves international families with interests in multiple locations. In a fast-moving and increasingly compliance-focused world, there is a growing need for integrated cross-border advice. With offices across Europe, the United States and Asia-Pacific, we provide coverage that other firms cannot match. Our team of experienced private client solicitors seeks opportunities to maintain a strong presence where clients live, work and invest.

Our advice to fiduciaries covers the design and implementation of new plans, as well as modernization and consolidation of older trusts. We also assist with compliance regarding investments, accounting, taxes and related rules. 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 clients’ philanthropic endeavors.

We have immigration teams in major financial centers and are well placed to handle tax investigations and litigation. Real estate is important to our clients, and we have a specialist residential and rural team.

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 undertake 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.

• 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
• 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.

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