Trusts Estates Partner Southeast Michigan

100KCrossing; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

Warner Norcross + Judd seeks an experienced Partner to join its Trusts + Estates Practice Group in Southeast Michigan (Detroit, Macomb, or Bloomfield Hills). You will collaborate with 30+ attorneys in a premier private client group to advise high net worth individuals and fiduciaries on complex estate planning, trust administration, and tax strategies.

The role emphasizes leadership, mentoring, and business development, with opportunities to shape a broad practice within a top regional firm.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in estate planning, trust and estate settlement, and related tax matters.
• Licensed to practice law in Michigan and in good standing.
• 7–10+ years of experience in estate planning, trust and related tax/corporate matters, preferably in a law firm.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive estate plans tailored to clients' needs and goals.
• Advise on tax implications and strategies to minimize liabilities (gift and estate tax planning).
• Handle probate processes, including court proceedings and asset distribution.
• Manage and administer trusts, ensuring compliance with laws and trust documents.
• Identify and pursue business development opportunities with prospective clients.

Skills

Estate planning

Trust law

Probate law

Communication

Analytical thinking

Drafting documents

Mentoring junior attorneys

Confidentiality

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA accredited)

Job description

About the Position

is seeking an experienced Partner with a portable book of business to join our Trusts + Estates Practice Group in one of our Southeast Michigan offices (Detroit, Macomb, or Bloomfield Hills). is proud to have one of Michigan's premier Trusts + Estates practices. In this role, you'll work alongside more than 30 attorneys and paralegals in one of the largest and most sophisticated private client groups in the state. Our team advises individuals, families, business owners and fiduciaries on complex estate planning, trust administration, wealth preservation, business succession and probate litigation, offering associates the opportunity to build a broad practice while collaborating with experienced, nationally recognized attorneys.

About the Opportunity

Responsibilities

• Developing comprehensive estate plans tailored to clients' specific needs and goals
• Advising clients regarding the tax implications of estate planning and the ability to minimize tax liabilities for clients through strategies like gift and estate tax planning
• Handling the probate process, including court proceedings, asset valuation, debt settlement, and distribution of assets
• Managing and administering trusts, ensuring they operate in compliance with applicable laws and the trust agreement
• Identifying and pursuing business development opportunities with prospective clients

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in estate planning, tax law, probate law, and trust law
• Experience helping high net worth families and individuals with their estate planning and management needs
• Estate and gift tax complex planning - CRUTS, SLATS, GRATS, FLPs, QPRTs, IDGTs, ILITs
• Experience in Succession planning, fiduciary accounting, will + trust contest, family settlement agreements, and tax preparation
• Excellent communication skills to explain complex legal concepts to clients in a clear and understandable manner
• Able to actively listen to clients’ concerns and goals and then provide legal advice that aligns with their wishes
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess complex financial and legal situations and devise appropriate solutions
• Precision in drafting legal documents to ensure they accurately reflect clients' intentions and comply with relevant laws
• Handles sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion and professionalism
• Experience mentoring junior attorneys

About You

• Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in the state of Michigan
• 7-10+ years of experience in estate planning, trust and estate settlement, and related tax and corporate matters, preferably in a law firm setting

About Warner

By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd builds a better partnership with its clients. Warner is a full-service corporate law firm with 230+ attorneys practicing in nine offices throughout Michigan: Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Macomb, Midland and Muskegon. To learn more, visit ****or connect with us on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Our Culture

Warner's cultural motto is "Fun, Pride + Profit...in that Order". We believe that if you have fun at work, take pride in the accomplishments of you and your colleagues, that profit will naturally follow.

We build A Better Partnership through:

• Teamwork - Warner's lockstep compensation model encourages teamwork, and distinguishes us from our competitors. Partner and associate salaries are set based upon seniority, not total hours worked, encouraging client legal projects to be routed to the most knowledgeable person in the firm. Our team approach to compensation yields better legal representation for our clients and lays the foundation for a fun culture without internal financial competition. We have a team atmosphere where people like working together and supporting each other.
• Diversity - A diverse group of 30 firm members serve on Warner's DEI Action Committee and contribute over 2000 collective hours annually to drive diversity, equity and inclusion through initiatives such as firm-wide town hall meetings, employee resource groups and hiring processes. Warner's DEIAC focuses on Warner's "one firm" approach that embraces everyone in our firm. We celebrate differences with the same energy we honor our commonalities. When all firm members feel safe being their authentic selves and all barriers to opportunity are eliminated, it's a better partnership for everyone.
• Balance - Our culture of balanced personal and professional lifestyle allows us to maintain a 94% attorney retention rate. Attorneys throughout Michigan, the region and beyond are choosing Warner as their forever home - and because of our dedicated focus on living balanced lives, our attorneys' families are fully supporting these important decisions.
• Community - Warner's time-honored community engagement initiatives include financial contributions to 150+ nonprofits, scholarships and paid time off for all firm members to engage in community initiatives that are meaningful to them.

Closing Statement

Warner hires top talent at every point in our organization. We are seeking dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds who strive to support the firm and its goals. Our collegial culture attracts people with diverse skills and backgrounds who are dedicated to teamwork and client service.