Trust & Estate Associate

Key Skills and Experience

• Has a minimum of 3+ years practicing in a law firm Trusts & Estates group
• Is admitted to and in good standing with the California Bar
• Is highly skilled in foundational (revocable) estate planning for clients and immediately able to expertly handle this planning from start to finish including the initial interview, plan design and drafting, review and discussion with the client, execution, and follow up
• Has proven ability to stay on top of a busy practice – including time recording, proactive deadline and matter management, and taking ownership of assigned projects – and doesn’t require supervision in these areas
• Is energized by participating on a dynamic team and demonstrates a genuine interest in contributing to the team’s success as a whole, including through mentorship of junior team members and development and refinement of team processes
• Inspires the confidence of clients, intermediaries and referral sources (internal and external) who trust that they are in good hands
• Can independently run a post-mortem trust administration, expertly advising fiduciaries to keep them ahead of milestones, avoiding pitfalls and surprises, and efficiently shepherding distribution to assets to beneficiaries
• Is highly resourceful, composed and empathetic
• Possesses solid gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax skills, and is ready to:
  • engage with ultra-high net worth clients to design and implement complex estate freeze and charitable planning with technical precision
  • prepare and review estate and gift tax returns
• Takes a practical approach to solving client problems, and is nimble in employing tools to implement these solutions
• Never stops learning and seeking to develop skills, knowledge and understanding to better serve clients
• Has a stellar reputation and is ready to contribute to growing the reputation and brand of Withers Bergman LLP as the law firm for successful people through activities such as bar service, speaking and writing, and community engagement