Private Wealth Associate - London

What we will offer

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

Team Structure

This is a great opportunity for an ambitious private client lawyer to join and help continue to grow the award-winning private wealth practice of a prestigious international law firm. The role will be working in the London private wealth team, part of our global private wealth team which also includes Hong Kong, Dubai, Paris and Singapore. Our international reach and personal touch mean we deliver comprehensive, proactive, tailored and robust solutions to address every aspect of our clients’ needs. We believe that putting our clients at the heart of what we do allows us to deliver excellent service and help them achieve their goals. Wherever our clients’ journey takes them, and at all stages along the way, we will be there to help and guide them.

The ideal candidate will already have a mixed trust and tax practice and will therefore be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of UK taxation affecting internationally mobile individuals and of all key principles of trust law and will have had a wide range of experience including:

• International and domestic tax, trust and estate planning for ultra-high net worth individuals and families;
• Being able to advise on choosing between major offshore jurisdictions and structures, such as where PTCs act as trustees, reserved power trusts, foundations, private funds and partnerships;
• Advising on succession issues including the law governing succession, single or multiple wills, UK inheritance tax (including business relief and the relevant property regime), life assurance and will drafting;
• Being aware of the main issues affecting wealthy individuals who move between jurisdictions, including the UK statutory residency test;
• Advising settlors, trustees, protectors and beneficiaries on matters of trust law including questions of interpretation of trust documents, duties of trustees and protectors and drafting all types of trust documents and documents effecting the reorganisation of trust assets;
• A working knowledge of charities would also be helpful.

The successful candidate will be expected to have strong academics, an analytical mind, good oral and written communication skills and enthusiasm. They will be expected to contribute to business development initiatives and build relationships with clients and contacts. The department runs regular legal training sessions covering the core practice areas, as well as associate development centres focusing on ‘soft’ skills and business development. The ongoing support and development of our associates is regarded as essential to our future growth and success.

Main Responsibilities

• Clear and concise drafting
• Conducting legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources
• Assisting in the preparation of legal articles
• Liaison with clients under the supervision of a partner
• Developing internal and external network of contacts
• Building excellent working relationships with clients and colleagues
• Attending business development and profile-raising events (client seminars, graduate recruitment activities)
• Financial management - setting realistic estimates in conjunction with the matter partner, monitoring the value of time recorded, raising an invoice and assisting with debt recovery if needed

Attributes/Skills Required

• Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and numeracy communication skills
• Excellent IT skills including the use of online technical resources
• Organised and able to work to deadlines with the ability to prioritise
• Good housekeeping / file management practices; records time promptly and accurately
• Resilient
• A self-starter, able to work alone and within a small team
• Ambitious, keen to work in a developing department
• Cooperative and collaborative in approach
• Acting professionally and proactively at all times
• Commercial awareness
• Exhibits an understanding of the firm’s position in the market and how it distinguishes its services from its competitors
• Excellent academic and professional qualifications
• Language capabilities in French, Arabic or Chinese would be advantageous

About the Firm

Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm, and we're committed to creating 'positive partnerships' with our clients. We represent listed and private companies, institutions and individuals, building lasting relationships to help them succeed in a complex and ever-changing world. Our focus is on five core sectors: Energy Transition, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Private Capital and Funds, Technology, and Transportation and Trade. With more than 1,500 people, including 220+ partners, across eleven offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we combine deep legal capabilities and broad commercial expertise. We have also forged close ties with high quality law firms around the world, blending local knowledge with global savvy for clients in over 100 countries. We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.