Private Client Solicitor in London

Wills, Trusts, Probate and Court of Protection

Gattas Denfield LLP is an ambitious, growing boutique law firm based in North London who operate nationwide but with a particular focus on London and the Home Counties. The firm has a strong reputation for providing high-quality legal advice through a personal, responsive and commercially focused approach.

The firm has grown organically over more than 40 years, establishing a strong and loyal client base. It is now entering an exciting new phase of development, with an ambition to build a leading full service law firm.

Growth will be underpinned by continued investment in people, infrastructure, marketing and business development, with clear targets for the next five years, while retaining the qualities that distinguish a smaller practice: personal service, accessibility, agility and genuine client relationships.

Private Client is an area the firm is committed to developing. The successful candidate will join at an early and important stage in the growth of this service, with a genuine opportunity to help shape its direction and, over time, to help build and eventually lead a dedicated team.

For an experienced lawyer seeking greater autonomy, closer client relationships and the opportunity to have a tangible influence on a growing practice, this represents an opportunity to grow a strong profitable practice outside of the traditional City model.

The ideal candidate

Gattas Denfield is seeking an ambitious and technically excellent Private Client solicitor with a focus on non-contentious private client work — wills, trusts, probate, estate administration and Court of Protection. This is a role for someone who takes pride in the quality of their work, handles sensitive matters with empathy and professionalism, and is motivated to help grow a developing service.

The successful candidate will be ambitious in the same spirit as our senior lawyers, but the emphasis here is different: there is no expectation that they will be heavily sales-driven or lead a team from day one. Instead, we are looking for someone who will deliver outstanding client work, build their profile in the market through networking and events, and grow with the practice as the volume of Private Client work increases.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have strong post-qualification experience in non-contentious private client work (wills, trusts, probate and estate administration), ideally 5-8 years PQE




• Be a solicitor admitted in England & Wales and in good standing with the SRA




• Have excellent technical knowledge of wills, trusts, estates and inheritance law




• Have experience of administering high value complex estates that include assets in multiple jurisdictions




• Be able to take instructions for and prepare Lasting Powers of Attorney and trusts




• Have a detailed understanding of the tax consequences of setting up Trusts and Family Investment Companies




• Ideally have a STEP accreditation




• Desirable, but not essential: some exposure to contentious probate, estate or trust disputes (for example, Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims or challenges to the validity of a will) and to Court of Protection matters




• Be confident managing sensitive, emotionally charged matters independently, with sound judgement and discretion




• Be proactive about non-fee-earning work, including networking, attending events and raising their own and the firm's profile




• Enjoy working in an entrepreneurial and evolving environment




• Be motivated by the opportunity to help grow a developing service and, in time, to help build and lead a team

Above all, the successful candidate will be someone who wants to help build something, rather than simply step into something established.

The role

As a Private Client solicitor focusing on non-contentious private client work, the successful candidate will take ownership of their clients and matters while working closely with the firm's partners and wider team. The role combines high-quality non-contentious work with a developing contribution to the growth of the Private Client service.

In the near term, the focus is on excellent client delivery and building a strong personal and firm profile in the market. As the Private Client workload grows, the role is expected to carry increasing responsibility for the development of the service and, where appropriate, for building and leading a team. The firm is committed to developing its use of AI to support its lawyers.

Reporting line:

Reports to the Partner. Direct reports: none initially, with the expectation that the successful candidate will help build and, in due course, lead a team as the service grows.

Legal and client responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of non-contentious private client matters — including wills, trusts, estate administration and probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work — from instruction through to completion.

Technical / transactional scope:

• Dealing with both testate and intestate estates




• Experience of drafting Bare and Discretionary Trusts




• Administering Trusts and advising Attorneys and Deputies on their roles




• Understand the implications of multi-jurisdictional estates




• Conversant with the probate application procedure both online and paper applications




• Drafting wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, and advising on inheritance tax and estate planning (including Family Investment Companies)

In addition, the successful candidate will:

• Manage risk, compliance and file quality effectively, including: compliance with the SRA Standards and Regulations and the SRA Code of Conduct; anti-money laundering (AML) obligations and client due diligence/source-of-funds checks; and robust file risk management including file reviews




• Develop trusted, long-term relationships with clients and professional contacts




• Identify issues at an early stage and provide practical, commercially appropriate solutions




• Work to a chargeable hours target of 1,200 hours per annum

Developing the Private Client practice

The successful candidate will play an active part in growing the firm's Private Client service as it develops, including:

• Delivering consistently high-quality work that supports the reputation and growth of the service




• Providing insight into market trends, client needs and emerging opportunities




• Contributing to the development of processes and ways of working as the service grows




• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the firm, including the Property and wider teams, to support clients and develop the business




• Being proactive with non-fee-earning work that supports the growth of the practice

Profile, networking and business development

While this role is not primarily sales-driven, being visible in the market is an important part of it. The successful candidate will be expected to be proactive with non-fee-earning activity, including:

• Attending networking events, seminars and relevant professional gatherings




• Developing and maintaining relationships with clients and professional contacts




• Building their own profile and that of the firm, including through the firm's Marketing and Business Development activity (networking, events, webinars, LinkedIn and targeted client communications)




• Contributing ideas that support the growth of the Private Client service over time

The emphasis is on genuine relationship-building and visibility rather than on pursuing hard business-development targets.

A pathway to growth and leadership

This role is designed to grow with the Private Client service. In the near term, the focus is on outstanding client delivery and profile-building.

of the service and, where appropriate and subject to performance, to help build and eventually lead a team.

Learning and development

The role will include ongoing CPD, technical training and support. The firm will support relevant professional development, including studying for the STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Diploma, where appropriate.

Package and benefits

• Salary: competitive salary range, benchmarked to the relevant PQE level




• Role content: varied caseload of non-contentious private client work (wills, trusts, probate, estate administration, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection)




• Competitive bonus scheme — performance targets to 10%, with a transparent bonus scheme




• Pension: auto-enrolment workplace pension firm contribution 3%




• Working arrangements: office based 5 days per week 9am-5.30pm. Office location: The White House 301a Kingsbury Road London NW9 9PE




• Wider benefits: practising certificate, a minimum of two continuing professional development days, and a 15% client referral scheme




• Induction and onboarding: structured induction and onboarding programme for new joiners

Equal opportunities and inclusion

Gattas Denfield is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.

Recruitment process

Gattas Denfield's recruitment process is designed to be straightforward, professional and efficient.

• Step 1: Introductory call with Partner.




• Step 2: First meeting with a Partner and Recruitment Director.




• Step 3: Second meeting with senior leadership team.




• Step 4: Background checks.




• Step 5: Onboarding and training.

Meetings may be held virtually or in person, depending on candidate location and availability.

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