Senior Associate - Private Wealth in Reading

We are seeking an experienced Private Client Solicitor (5+ years’ PQE) to join our respected and expanding Private Wealth team, working across our London hub and Reading office.

This senior role is ideal for someone who thrives on technically challenging work, enjoys autonomy, and wants to contribute to the strategic growth of a high‑performing practice.

The position centres on sophisticated tax and estate planning, including cross‑border structures, multi‑jurisdictional estates and complex and high‑value family wealth arrangements.

You will work closely with senior colleagues on advanced planning matters while also helping to drive business development initiatives and strengthen the team’s market presence.

We operate a hybrid working model, with 2–3 days per week in the Reading office and regular collaboration time in London.

Experience/ Attributes required

• Significant experience across Wills, trusts, tax and broader Private Client advisory work
• Strong technical grounding in estate and tax planning, particularly for High‑Net‑Worth and cross‑border clients
• Confidence handling complex matters independently, including multi‑jurisdictional planning
• Experience advising family business owners on succession, governance and the taxation of business assets
• Strong understanding of Business Property Relief, Capital Gains Tax planning and the tax implications of transferring business interests
• Ability to navigate the interplay between corporate structures and personal estate planning for entrepreneurial and multi‑generational families
• STEP and/or CTA qualifications preferred
• Excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills
• A meticulous, organised and methodical approach
• Commercial awareness and the ability to apply legal knowledge pragmatically
• Experience supervising junior colleagues
• A proactive approach to business development and profile‑raising
• Strong file management and administrative discipline
• Commitment to staying up to date with legal developments and sharing knowledge within the team
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
• Work type
• Advising on complex estate and tax planning for High‑Net‑Worth individuals, business owners and internationally mobile clients
• Developing inheritance tax strategies and succession planning solutions for families with multi‑jurisdictional assets
• Drafting wills, LPAs, trust documentation and related private client instruments
• Structuring, creating and administering trusts, including those with cross‑border elements
• Supporting senior lawyers on advanced tax and estate planning projects, including international planning and restructuring
• Advising family‑owned businesses on succession planning, governance structures and long‑term wealth preservation
• Developing tax‑efficient strategies for the transfer of business interests, including reliefs such as Business Property Relief and related planning
• Working with corporate and commercial colleagues on the private‑client aspects of business restructures, shareholder arrangements and exit planning
• Supporting clients on the interaction between personal tax, business tax and family wealth structures, particularly where multiple generations are involved
• Managing a small number of probate and estate administration matters where required, typically involving complex or high‑value estates
• Supervising and mentoring junior team members
• Playing an active role in business development, helping to raise the profile of the Private Wealth team across London, the Thames Valley and the South East
• Building and maintaining long‑term, trusted client relationships

Benefits

Contractual

• 28 days holiday
• Pension scheme with a 6% employer contribution and the employee pays 2%
• Life Assurance - 5 x final salary
• Private medical cover for employee

Non Contractual

• Flexible Hybrid working
• An additional days holiday for your birthday
• A weekly wellbeing hour
• 8 hour per annum charity work
• Cycle to work scheme
• Bring your dog to work
• Social committee events
• Season ticket travel loan
• Eligible to purchase an additional five days holiday
• Team structure
• 2 x Partners
• 1 x Senior Associate
• 3 x Associate Solicitors
• 2 x Paralegals
• 1 x Legal Support Assistant