Associate (NQ-1 PQE) – Private Wealth Disputes in London

The Private Wealth Disputes team sits within the Mishcon Private department, which comprises art, reputation, property, immigration, tax and wealth planning specialists, alongside tenacious litigators who are highly experienced at dealing with both family and business disputes and complex multi-jurisdictional cases. The team focuses on issues around trusts, inheritance, wills, mental capacity, and associated matters. We know the discord these issues can bring to families in jurisdictions across the world; with one of the largest Private Wealth Disputes teams in the country, we can advise on all challenges that a client might face.

We understand the matters that cause concern to family members, family offices and trustees. Whether it is challenging a trustee or executor over the discharge of their duties, defending a breach of trust claim, contesting the validity of a will due to undue influence or dealing with issues of mental incapacity caused by dementia, the team is experienced and empathetic in helping clients navigate their way through these sensitive situations.

We handle situations where there is a potential dispute regarding a trust, estate, will or succession matter, both domestic and cross-border. Our work routinely involves international issues and we work alongside and co-ordinate lawyers from other jurisdictions as necessary. Recent cases have concerned matters involving Cayman, Bermuda, BVI, the Bahamas, Nevis, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Channel Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand, amongst others.

We work with our colleagues from across Mishcon Private to efficiently deal with specialised issues including tax and structuring, reputation, family matters or art and luxury assets. We recognise that going to court is not the answer to every problem. We are ready to be measured and diplomatic, but will act with toughness in adversity as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

This is a new role, created as part of the team's expansion. Fee earners within the team have a significant amount of responsibility from the get-go. They are usually working on a combination of one or two ultra-high value and complex disputes as part of a large team, alongside a number of smaller matters which they have the primary responsibility for progressing. The fee earner will be involved in all aspects of case management: liaising with the client and counsel, keeping the matter partner updated, monitoring costs and attending meetings and court.

At times and where capacity allows, fee earners within the team may be asked to assist other teams within Mishcon Private. There is also the opportunity to get involved in cross-department special interest groups who share knowledge and business development opportunities around different legal areas, such as the Luxury Assets, Education, Mental Capacity and Addiction special interest groups.

Alongside client work, all fee earners are expected to contribute to developing business for the team and to expand and share their knowledge of the practice area, in team meetings, attending conferences and networking events and writing articles. Fee earners within the team act as Ambassadors, assigned to other teams within the Firm and responsible for nurturing the team's relationship with that group, educating that team about the work of the Private Wealth Disputes team and identifying opportunities to work together and develop business.

Skills / Experience

• Approximately up to 1 years' PQE gained in a litigation practice.
• Experience in some of the following: trusts disputes, wills/succession, administration of complex multi-jurisdictional estates, Court of Protection applications, injunctions, 1975 Act claims and/or mental capacity issues.
• Desirable (but not essential) to have started the ACTAPs course or be working towards a STEP qualification.
• Strong academic background.
• Trained at a leading practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical matters and other key points succinctly, tailoring approach as needed.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and possess a positive attitude towards challenges and change.
• Excellent technical skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Able to work in a challenging and fast-moving area of the law, with the ability to juggle a busy workload and consistently deliver high quality work to tight deadlines.
• Strong case management experience and exposure to private clients is essential.
• Able to inspire the trust and confidence of clients and senior colleagues.
• Commercial and driven with a willingness to actively develop their own profile and participate in business development activities, on behalf of the team, both internally and externally.
• Flexibility to work beyond core working hours, as needed, to enable the team to meet the needs of the Firm's clients.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About Mishcon De Reya LLP

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm, which now employs over 1400 people with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone.

With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Hong Kong and UAE, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.