Overview

Moore SGD Law is a dynamic law firm offering a full range of legal services, uniquely positioned to help SMEs and other owner-managed businesses, families and individuals realise their ambitions.

With deep industry expertise and an innovative approach, we combine decades of experience across corporate and commercial, dispute resolution, employment, entertainment, immigration, media, music, private client, family and property law. Our team of over 35 legal professionals provides expert guidance, helping clients navigate their most complex challenges with tailored solutions. As part of the Moore Kingston Smith Group, a leading multi-disciplinary professional services firm, we’re able to offer unique opportunities for cross-discipline collaboration.

We have applied to the SRA for authorisation of a separate LLP, Moore SGD Law LLP, to provide legal services to our clients as part of the Moore Kingston Smith Group going forward.

Key Responsibilities

• Within our Private Client team, our integrated approach combines legal, tax and financial expertise with empathy and efficiency to address all aspects of estate administration, planning and asset protection. We ensure a seamless process, addressing whether the estate involves personal or business assets to provide peace of mind.
• We are looking for an experienced Director or Partner with proven expertise to join our Private Client Legal team, with the opportunity to bring your own contacts while working with Moore Kingston Smith colleagues across Financial Advisory and Private Client Tax teams to offer a holistic service and grow your own client base.
• A key element of this role is to lead the Private Client legal team, including management of team members to ensure development and growth, while also working with senior leaders within Moore SGD Law and the wider MKS teams, influencing and leading the continued development of our private client offering.

Key responsibilities

• Close supervision of junior members of the team
• Adherence to the firm’s “four-eyes” policy, reviewing with another senior member of the team draft documents and correspondence to clients and third parties
• Develop an internal network, particularly with the firm’s Private Client Tax and Financial Advisory teams
• Advise the firm’s Trust Corporation and trusts team on legal aspects of administering trusts and interpreting historic trust deeds
• Proactively manage the billing process by setting realistic fee estimates; managing invoices; reviewing aged WIP; collaborating with the credit control team to pursue outstanding invoices; and reviewing WIP provisions
• Regularly check the team’s probate pages to ensure compliance with SRA transparency rules
• Participate in business development activities, including preparing comments and articles for publications; speaking at events and creating videos for the firm’s website and social media on Private Client legal matters

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Ability to take instructions for, prepare and explain complex Wills, especially for high net worth clients with blended families and/or business assets
• Ability to draft and interpret various trust deeds, including discretionary trusts, age-contingent trusts, declarations of trust and bare trusts
• Ability to advise on the TRS
• Understanding of the probate process in England and Wales, including online and paper probate applications
• Understanding of capital and income treatment within an estate, tax treatment for CGT and income tax, and preparation of estate accounts
• Advising on whether it would be appropriate or tax-efficient for a beneficiary to vary, disclaim or gift an inheritance
• Awareness of probate processes in other jurisdictions (e.g., forced heirship rules) and enforceability of a UK Will
• Comprehensive understanding of inheritance tax regime and estate planning techniques, including lifetime gifts, trust transfers, FICs, GROB rules and reliefs such as BPR
• Understanding of powers of attorney (LPA variants, EPAs, general powers)
• Understanding of the MCA 2005 and its application to Wills and related cases
• Knowledge of the 1975 Act and rights under it for spouses or dependants

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Other

Industries

• Accounting