Private Client Associate

Senior Associate – Private Client (Tax, Trusts & Estate Planning)

Reading / London | Hybrid Working | Up to £85,000 pa + Bonus & Benefits

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Private Client Solicitor to join a highly regarded and growing Private Wealth team within a leading Thames Valley law firm.

This is a senior role for a technically strong solicitor who enjoys working on sophisticated, high-value matters and wants to be part of a team handling some of the most complex private client work in the region.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Partner leading the Private Wealth team, acting as a key support and trusted second-in-command. The focus of the role is on delivering exceptional technical advice across complex tax, trusts and estate planning matters, rather than being heavily focused on business development.

The Opportunity

The team has grown significantly in recent years, with a particular focus on expanding its High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth offering. This role has been created for someone who wants to work on challenging, sophisticated matters including:

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• Complex estate and tax planning for HNW and UHNW individuals International and cross-border estates
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• Multi-jurisdictional planning structures
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• Family wealth preservation and succession planning
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• Trust creation, administration and restructuring
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• Business succession planning for entrepreneurial families
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• Advice around Business Property Relief, Capital Gains Tax and the transfer of business assets
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• The interaction between personal wealth, corporate structures and family businesses
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About the team

You will join an established Private Wealth team within a well-regarded law firm recognised in leading legal directories.

The Partner you will work alongside has a strong background advising sophisticated private clients, having previously worked at highly regarded City firms including a top 20 UK International practise in London.

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible for:

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• Advising HNW and UHNW individuals, business owners and internationally mobile clients
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• Drafting complex wills, LPAs, trust documentation and related private client instruments
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• Advising on inheritance tax planning and succession strategies
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• Managing complex estates with domestic and international elements
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• Supporting family businesses with succession and governance planning
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• Advising on tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies
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• Working alongside corporate and commercial teams on business restructuring and exit planning
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• Supervising and supporting junior members of the team
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• Maintaining strong client relationships and delivering commercially focused advice
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The Ideal Candidate

You will ideally have:

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• Strong technical expertise across wills, trusts, tax and estate planning
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• Experience handling complex HNW/UHNW client matters
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• Exposure to cross-border or international private client work
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• Experience advising business owners and families on succession planning
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• A strong understanding of Business Property Relief and wider tax planning
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Package & Benefits

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• Salary: Up to £85,000 (DOE)
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• Annual bonus opportunity of up to 30% of salary based on performance against targets
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• Hybrid working – typically 2 days per week in the office and 3 days from home
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• Flexibility to split office time between Reading and London
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• 28 days holiday Pension scheme
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• Life assurance (5x final salary)
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• Private medical insurance
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• Birthday day off
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• Weekly wellbeing hour
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• Charity volunteering allowance
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• Cycle to work scheme
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• Dog-friendly office
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• Social events
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• Season ticket travel loan
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• Option to purchase additional holiday
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This is an excellent opportunity for a Private Client Solicitor looking to work on genuinely complex, high-value matters with the support of an ambitious and growing Private Wealth team.

For further information or a confidential discussion, please get in touch.