Brown Brothers Harriman

Counsel - Trust & Estates

Brown Brothers Harriman$170K — $220K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • JD with active bar admission and 10+ years of relevant experience
  • In-depth knowledge of trust and estate law with practical expertise in complex fiduciary matters
  • Experience with the administration of complex trusts and knowledge of investment structures
  • Familiarity with state and federal banking regulations governing fiduciary practices
  • Proven analytical skills for applying legal principles to business challenges and crafting innovative solutions
  • Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, with strong drafting and project management capabilities.

Responsibilities

  • Advise trust companies on business acceptance and fiduciary administration processes
  • Review and negotiate a variety of legal instruments related to trust and estate matters
  • Collaborate with Trust Officers and other stakeholders on complex trust administration issues
  • Monitor legal and regulatory changes, providing practical guidance and insights
  • Serve as legal advisor to Trust Company Boards and during regulatory audits
  • Conduct presentations for internal meetings and represent the firm in external professional groups.

Benefits

  • Full-time, exempt position with a hybrid work model
  • Collaborative, close-knit team environment
  • Access to senior management and high-level projects
  • Potential for career advancement into lead responsibility
  • Comprehensive rewards package supporting employee well-being and professional development.
Full Job Description
The Opportunity

A rare opportunity for an accomplished trusts and estates attorney to become the legal voice behind a premier private wealth franchise. As Counsel, you will be the day-to-day coverage attorney for our two National Trust Companies and our Cayman Trust Company within our Capital Partners line of business — advising senior management, shaping policy, negotiating agreements, and guiding the administration of our most complex fiduciary matters. Substantive, sophisticated work with a genuine seat at the table.

What You'll Do
  • Advise our trust companies on business acceptance and all aspects of fiduciary administration, from review of governing instruments to advising on policies, procedures, operations and workflows.
  • Review and negotiate a broad range of instruments including trust agreements, Wills, entity formation documents, release and account settlement agreements, engagement letters, intercompany agreements and vendor contracts entered into in a fiduciary capacity.
  • Partner with Trust Officers, Office Heads, Wealth Planners, Relationship Managers and external counsel on complex trust and estate administration matters, and serve as subject matter expert to internal counsel covering litigation and other areas.
  • Track legal and regulatory developments and translate them into practical guidance, memoranda, and multistate law reviews.
  • Serve as legal advisor to Trust Company Boards, Committees, and key projects, and provide counsel during audits and regulatory examinations.
  • Present at firmwide Legal Developments Meetings and Trust Officer training, and represent the firm in bar association and industry groups.
What You'll Bring
  • JD and active bar admission in good standing, with 10+ years of relevant experience.
  • Deep command of trust and estate law and the practical application of trust and estate document provisions; knowledge of one or more state-specific trust and estate laws preferred.
  • Practical experience in the administration of complex trusts and estates, including knowledge of investment structures.
  • Fluency in the rules, regulations, and best practices governing trust, estate, and entity administration, including state and federal banking requirements.
  • A track record of applying legal principles to complex fact patterns and developing creative solutions to complex business problems.
  • Outstanding written and oral communication, strong drafting and project management skills, and the presence to work effectively with senior internal and external constituencies.
Why This Role Stands Out
  • Breadth and ownership. Daily coverage attorney for three trust companies, spanning advisory, transactional, regulatory, and dispute work.
  • Independent judgment with strategic support. Reporting to Fiduciary Counsel, you will exercise substantial autonomy, direct access to senior management and boards, and firmwide visibility, with the expectation that the role will grow into lead responsibility over the next few years.
  • A collaborative bench. A small, close-knit team working shoulder to shoulder with Compliance, Risk, and client-facing colleagues.
The Details

Full-time, exempt individual contributor role. Hybrid, with a minimum of three days per week in the office. Occasional domestic and overnight travel required.

Salary Range

NY: $170,000 - $220,000 base salary + annual bonus target

BBH and its affiliates' compensation program includes base salary, discretionary bonuses, and profit-sharing. The anticipated base salary range(s) shown above are only for the indicated location(s) and may differ in other locations due to cost of living and labor considerations. Base salaries may vary based on factors such as skill, experience and qualification for the role. BBH's total rewards package recognizes your contributions with more than just a paycheck—providing you with benefits that enhance your experience at BBH from long-term savings, healthcare, and income protection to professional development opportunities and time off, our programs support your overall well-being. 


 

We value diverse experiences. We value diverse experiences and transferrable skillsets. If your career hasn’t followed a traditional path, includes alternative experiences, or doesn’t meet every qualification or skill listed in the job description, please do go ahead and apply.

About Brown Brothers Harriman

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH) is the oldest and largest private bank in the United States. Founded in 1818, BBH has been a leader in the financial industry for over 200 years. The company provides a wide range of financial services to individuals, families, and institutions, including wealth management, investment management, and private banking. BBH has offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and manages over $1.6 trillion in assets.
Learn more about Brown Brothers Harriman
Size
7,000 employees
Industry

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