Private Client Senior Associate

Harbottle & Lewis; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Harbottle & Lewis seeks a talented senior associate for its Private Client & Tax Group in London. The role offers a high‑quality, varied workload and a clear path for career progression within a collegiate, supportive environment.

You will advise on wills, trusts and wealth planning, inheritance tax and cross‑border matters, working with high‑net-worth clients and trustees to implement robust strategies and bespoke solutions.

Qualifications

• Excellent academic background and high-quality training.
• Experience at a firm with a strong private client practice preferred.
• Ability to work on challenging matters with a prestigious client base.

Responsibilities

• Draft wills and advise on wealth planning structures including trusts and foundations.
• Advise on inheritance tax, reliefs, exemptions, and double tax treaties.
• Coordinate cross-border succession planning with foreign counsel.
• Provide guidance on tax residency, domicile, and personal tax plans.
• Support trustees and beneficiaries, including restructuring projects.
• Advise on lasting powers of attorney.
• Assist with philanthropic initiatives and charitable law.

Skills

Tech proficiency

Commercial judgement

Problem solving

Independent

Proactive

People skills

Job description

The firm

We are a dynamic, multifaceted law firm that provides a wide range of legal services to a creative and entrepreneurial client base. We partner with the big and the small, from cutting edge startups to global corporations, early-stage entrepreneurs to established industry leaders, and household names to private individuals and their family offices. We are renowned for our sector specialisms which we combine with expertise across all the traditional practice areas to provide our clients with tailored solutions that truly add value.

We offer a collegiate, vibrant and supportive environment, a clear path for career progression and a strong platform from which to learn and grow. We look for high performing, committed and innovative people who aren't afraid to push themselves to be the best they can be. We take an active role in helping our people be at the top of their game. We believe our people make us stand out and we empower them to meet their ambitions. We invest time in developing their skills and knowledge and run several development and training programmes throughout the year, as well as encouraging and supporting personal involvement in other areas of expertise.

The Private Client & Tax Group

Our highly regarded Private Client & Tax Group is an integral part of the firm's broader Private Capital initiative and delivers a comprehensive range of services to a diverse and engaging client base.

Our clients include high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trustees, financial institutions, established businesses, and start-ups. Many have connections to the technology, finance, entertainment, media, and sports sectors. While our clients are both UK-based and international, we have expertise working with clients linked to the Middle East and the US.

The role

We are looking to recruit a talented and driven senior associate. The ideal candidate will have an excellent academic background, high-quality training, and, preferably, experience at a firm with a strong private client practice. This role offers the chance to work on challenging and rewarding matters with a diverse and prestigious client base, alongside a supportive and collaborative team.

You will be involved in a complex and varied workload.

Key responsibilities include:

• Drafting wills and advising on succession planning, including the creation and maintenance of wealth planning structures such as onshore and offshore trusts, foundations, family investment companies, and partnerships.
• Advising on inheritance tax, including reliefs, exemptions, double tax treaties, and strategic planning exercises.
• Providing guidance on cross-border succession planning, including conflict of law issues, and coordinating with foreign counsel to implement global strategies.
• Advising on tax residency and domicile matters, as well as income tax and capital gains tax principles, including the remittance basis of taxation, split-year treatment, overseas workday relief, and other personal tax concerns (e.g., double tax treaties).
• Supporting trustees and beneficiaries regarding their rights and responsibilities, including assisting with trust restructuring projects.
• Advising on legal issues arising from the loss of mental capacity, including preparing and registering lasting powers of attorney.
• Advising individuals and trustees on philanthropic initiatives and impact investing, as well as providing guidance on charitable law for charities.
• Assisting individuals and trustees with compliance matters, including reporting obligations, transparency, and anti-corruption regulations.
• Offering tax advice on the establishment, management, or unwinding of UK residential property holding structures, covering income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporate tax, ATED, and SDLT considerations.
• Addressing other general tax and private client matters as they arise.

The successful candidate will be:

• Technically proficient with excellent commercial judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Independent and proactive, with the ability to manage their own workload while recognising when to seek support or guidance.
• Personable and motivated, demonstrating confidence, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of initiative.