Senior Associate

Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.

We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that's a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That's why they choose us.

Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients' trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them.

Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

We provide specialist legal advice on the whole spectrum of private and business issues, helping clients to preserve and transmit their family assets and wealth (advising on trusts, Wills, probate and tax).  We offer a straightforward personal service specifically tailored to clients’ requirements. We have a wealth of experience advising on all the issues clients may have to face in relation to both wealth management and other events of life.

We are looking for a bright, enthusiastic and motivated solicitor with a proven aptitude for private client work and between 5-6 years' post qualification experience to join our highly successful team.

The successful candidate will be expected to work across all areas of private client work, covering both UK and international work, although with a focus on the following areas:

• Advising on complex estate planning for clients with a wide range of assets (both in the UK and outside the UK) including drafting wills and documents for lifetime gifting;
• Dealing with the administration of high-value and complex estates (including advising on inheritance tax reliefs and dealing with cross-border estates);
• Preparing lasting Powers of Attorney and Advance Decisions and advising on capacity matters;
• Advising on UK trust structures and drafting trust documents for creation and restructuring;
• Taxation of trusts (predominantly onshore)

The successful candidate will have:

• very good private client experience in particular with high net worth and ultra high net worth clients and clients with complex property and business interests;
• proven experience of advising executors or administrators of estates and of project-managing multi-faceted probates;
• excellent client facing skills and the ability to nurture existing clients and third party relationships with clients’ other advisers;
• the ability to help develop new business and assist in networking events;
• experience in working across different teams within a firm, including working with some or all of property, corporate and litigation colleagues;
• excellent organisational skills, the ability to deal effectively with multiple matters at any one time and prioritise work, keeping to strict timescales where required; and
• technical proficiency and good IT skills.

• An ability to deal calmly and with authority commensurate with experience and to work to tight deadlines is essential;
• An enthusiasm for teamwork, dealing with people, and an ability to assume responsibility and manage a varied and often demanding workload will also be a key requirement;
• A desire to become involved in marketing and business development initiatives across the firm and develop cross-firm relationships to deliver excellent service to clients; and
• The candidate will be expected quickly to become an integral part of an established and highly regarded team.  The team is focussed on delivering intelligent and excellent client service, combined with a real sense of fun and a commitment to making our work environment rewarding and fulfilling for us all.  The candidate will have a desire to work within and promote that positive team culture. 

Minimum 2.1 degree and a training contract in a mid-sized or city firm and experience from a leading private client practice preferred

We are open to discussing working flexibly. This role is suitable for individuals looking to work full time or 0.8 FTE across any working pattern. Flexible working patterns will be considered within the firm’s agile working framework.

The hours of work for this opportunity are 09:30am-5:30pm but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to client demand.

Farrer & Co conducts a pre-employment screening which consists of a Criminal History Background and Credit Check for successful candidates.