Associate - Private Client

Contentious Private Client, London, Full-time permanent

The role

We are looking for a solicitor to join our growing international Private Client team based in London.

You will undertake a broad range of contentious private client work predominantly for individuals with international connections and their trustees, to include advising on the restructuring of trusts, foundations and other vehicles, advising on trustee powers, overseeing applications to court in various jurisdictions, making and advising on claims by beneficiaries, trustees and protectors.

You will be expected to carry out marketing and business development activities to expand the firm’s client base, which is likely to involve international travel.

The person

This is a great opportunity to join a forward-thinking law firm and our stats speak for themselves.

The firm has a significant private client national service line (NSL) headed up by Chris Belcher. We have teams in each of our Birmingham, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester and Norwich offices. The teams also work closely with colleagues in other areas such as corporate, real estate and family. Their workload is varied and of high quality including all aspects of personal tax, lasting powers of attorney, the formation, administration and restructuring of trusts, family investment companies and other onshore and offshore structures for UK tax planning, family and asset protection, together with succession planning for family business owners. The London team is led by Sarah Cormack who is recognised by the directories as a leader in her field.

The firm also has a national estate and trust litigation team, which has ambitious growth plans.  The recruitment of a contentious private client lawyer in London is a key part of the growth strategy of the national private client litigation department, which already has lawyers based in our Birmingham, Norwich, Cambridge and Manchester offices.  The team acts for a wide range of clients, including but not limited to private individuals, trust companies, educational establishments, professional indemnity insurers, charities, business owners and high net worth individuals. 

Skills and attributes

*         Good academics – 2.1 degree and good A levels (or equivalents)

*         Technically strong with relevant experience

*         Excellent written English and drafting skills

*         Good research skills, including an ability to use online information sources

*         Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with clients, potential clients and multipliers

*         Negotiating skills

*         Attention to detail

*         Time and matter management skills

What else should I know?

Mills & Reeve is a major UK law Firm renowned for its outstanding service to national and international clients, for its collaborative culture and deep sector expertise. The Firm has a strong sector focus with expertise in agriculture, charities, education, food and beverage, health, insurance, private wealth, real estate investment, sport and technology.

Clients include businesses from PLCs to start-ups, high net worth individuals and landowners, universities, colleges and education bodies and over 100 healthcare organisations.

The Firm has been named for a record seventeenth year running as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the Sunday Times’ annual survey and is one of only a small number of organisations nationally to have achieved a listing for seventeen years running.

We are also delighted to report for the second year running we were named winners of Roll On Friday Firm of the Year 2020.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to access your character and suitability.

Disclosure and barring service check

This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.