Estate Planning Attorney

NW Recruiting Partners; Washington; On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

NW Recruiting Partners is assisting a Seattle-area law firm in hiring a Senior Estate Planning Attorney on a clear partnership track. The incoming attorney will manage an existing portfolio while gradually taking ownership of key client and referral relationships.

The practice serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and Pacific Northwest business owners, handling Washington and federal estate tax planning, multigenerational wealth transfer, gifting, and trust administration.

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney with 5+ years of experience in sophisticated estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate, and tax planning.
• Experience advising high-net-worth individuals and families on complex Washington and federal estate tax matters.
• Strong technical knowledge of estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.
• LL.M. in Taxation or CPA designation is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Advise high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners on sophisticated estate- and tax-planning matters.
• Develop and implement estate plans involving trusts, lifetime gifting, charitable giving, and multigenerational wealth transfer.
• Counsel clients regarding Washington estate tax and federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax considerations.
• Advise closely held and family-owned businesses on ownership and succession planning.
• Handle or oversee probate, trust administration, and estate administration matters.
• Work closely with senior attorneys to transition established clients, active matters, and professional referral relationships.
• Manage an existing portfolio of estate planning work while developing an independent book of business.

Skills

Estate planning

Tax planning

Client relations

Business development

Leadership mindset

Job description

Join an established Seattle law firm as a Senior Estate Planning Attorney on a clear partnership track, with sophisticated existing work, a planned transition of long-standing client relationships, and manageable annual billable target.

This is more than an opportunity to join an estate planning practice—it is an opportunity to help lead its next chapter. The firm is preparing for the succession of two senior attorneys and is seeking an experienced estate planner who can step into an established portfolio while gradually assuming ownership of key client and referral relationships.

The practice serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and Pacific Northwest business owners, with estates generally ranging from $5 million to $50 million. The work includes sophisticated Washington and federal estate tax planning, multigenerational wealth transfer, gifting strategies, business succession, probate, and trust administration.

The firm was founded by entrepreneurial attorneys who wanted greater autonomy. Attorneys have the freedom to manage their practices, establish billing rates, develop direct client relationships, and determine how aggressively they want to grow—all while benefiting from an established platform, experienced support team, and strong internal referral network.

The incoming attorney will receive an existing base of sophisticated work while building an independently valuable practice. Over time, this individual will have the opportunity to lead the estate planning group and pursue partnership and firm ownership.

• Advise high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners on sophisticated estate and tax-planning matters.
• Develop and implement estate plans involving trusts, lifetime gifting, charitable giving, and multigenerational wealth transfer.
• Counsel clients regarding Washington estate tax and federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax considerations.
• Advise closely held and family-owned businesses on ownership and succession planning.
• Handle or oversee probate, trust administration, and estate administration matters.
• Work closely with senior attorneys to transition established clients, active matters, and professional referral relationships.
• Manage an existing portfolio of estate planning work while developing an independent book of business.
• Cultivate relationships with CPAs, financial advisors, attorneys, and other professional referral sources.
• Collaborate with attorneys across the firm to identify cross-practice opportunities and provide comprehensive client service.
• Help shape the continued development and long-term direction of the estate planning practice.
• Licensed attorney with 5+ years of experience in sophisticated estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate, and tax planning.
• Experience advising high-net-worth individuals and families on complex Washington and federal estate tax matters.
• Strong technical knowledge of estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ambition to grow and ultimately lead an estate planning practice.
• Desire to nurture existing client relationships while developing new business and expanding a professional referral network.
• Ability to independently manage sophisticated matters and serve as a trusted advisor to clients.
• LL.M. in Taxation or CPA designation is preferred but not required.

This position offers a meaningful path to partnership and practice leadership. The incoming attorney will work alongside senior estate planning attorneys as established clients, active matters, and referral relationships are transitioned. Over time, the attorney will have the opportunity to assume ownership of key client relationships, expand the practice, and help shape its long-term direction.