Family Office & Private Client Senior Solicitor

Job description

As a national practice Family Office & Private Client (FOPC) sits within KPMG’s tax and legal service line and consists of 162 team members across the UK.  In London the team is led by 6 Partners and 6 Directors and includes 5 practising private client lawyers (“FOPC Legal”).

The national FOPC team focusses on five core areas:

1. Transactions and Entrepreneurial Shareholders;
2. Ultra High Net Worth Individuals;
3. International;
4. Partnerships;
5. Investigations and Enquiries.

We work with a variety of high-net-worth individuals – from stakeholders in privately owned and entrepreneurial businesses, executives of multi-national firms, landed estates and senior members of private equity firms; who may be tax resident and/or domiciled in a range of jurisdictions. We also specialise in providing advice to Family Offices, Trusts and Estates, and Partnerships. 

The Role

FOPC Legal is an integral part of the wider FOPC practice.   To support further growth, we are looking to hire a senior private client solicitor to join the team as a Senior Manager.

The individual would be expected to lead the delivery of a quality output to our clients and participate in winning new clients by bringing new offerings to the market. Their client base would include a portfolio of high-net-worth clients, entrepreneurs, shareholders and international individuals.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with portfolio clients and identifying leads for new work.
• Building and expanding internal and external networks to generate new opportunities by focusing specifically on allocated clients and targets.
• Assisting in the management of the FOPC Legal team and taking responsibility for the coaching and development of other team members.
• Building a strong relationship with Corporate Finance colleagues to deliver legal advice to shareholders going through a transaction.
• Project managing the delivery of complex tax and legal advice and the subsequent implementation of that advice.
• Controlling the financial aspect of an assignment by evidencing strong WIP management and billing controls.

The individual

The individual should be:

• an entrepreneurial self-starter who is excited by the opportunity to provide legal services as part of a Big 4 fully multi-disciplinary practice;
• able to understand the legal solution for clients within the wider commercial picture;
• technically able, with an easy familiarity with relevant tax and trust law issues commensurate with their experience;
• a proactive and resilient problem solver;
• a team player who enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines;
• a relationship builder who would like the opportunity to develop these skills further both within the KPMG network and externally.

Specific skills and experience:

• A UK qualified solicitor coming from a firm with a strong private client practice.
• Strong academic and personal skills are essential.

• Conscientious with good attention to detail.

• Able to demonstrate experience in/exposure to:
  • drafting and advising on wills and trusts in UK and international context;
  • international succession law;
  • international wealth structures such as Private Trust Companies, Purpose Trusts and Foundations
  • mental capacity planning and powers of attorney;
  • probate and estate planning with associated UK tax considerations;
  • Domestic and international personal tax knowledge/experience. 

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively with team members and to develop client relationships.
• An interest in completing or having completed the STEP qualification and Advanced STEP Certificates would be beneficial.