Trust, Estate, and Inheritance Dispute (TEID) Overview The team undertakes work including but not limited to advising on all types of trust and probate disputes, removal of executors and trustees, contentious trust and estate administrations, construction and rectification of wills and trusts, variations of trust by court application, stress testing wills and trust structures, fiduciary negligence, charities, and other probate court matters. The team excels at resolving private wealth disputes, including taking matters to trial or through appeal, and are creative, collaborative, and hard working.
The Role This role can sit in Los Angeles or San Diego. Withers is seeking a highly motivated associate to join its Trust, Estate, and Inheritance Dispute (TEID) team. This role is ideal for a self-starter with strong academic credentials and a solid litigation foundation who is eager to build a career in trust and estate litigation. The successful candidate will develop technical expertise while supporting sophisticated matters for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients across California.
- Responsibilities will include range of trust, estate, and inheritance litigation matters for high-net-worth individuals, families, charities, and corporate trustees.
- Matters include will and trust contests, accounting disputes, breach of duty actions, elder abuse and conservatorship disputes, document interpretation matters, and other contested probate and fiduciary-related matters.
- All aspects of trust and probate disputes work, including initial case review and strategy, liaising with the client and counsel and other team members, drafting correspondence, preparing for and attending hearings, trials, and mediations.
- The role may also include contentious trust administration, non-contentious probate court filings, and non-probate litigation related to the holdings of our successful families or family offices.
- The role will also involve contributing to the team's profile and undertaking business development activities for example writing articles/posts, attending events/conferences and building networks with private wealth contacts/intermediaries including peer firms and counsel.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.
Key Skills and Experience - Between 2 - 4 years of directly applicable litigation experience, including researching, drafting, and discovery is required;
- Experience in probate court and/or working on matters in involving estate, trust, accounting, or wealth planning issues is preferred;
- Admitted to and in good standing with the California Bar;
- Able to work as an integrated member of the TEID and private client teams, with a strong commitment to collaboration and client service;
- Able to participate in client meetings and interface with clients;
- Able to participate in development of case strategy;
- Willing to work on urgent matters or trials that may occasionally involve evening or weekend work;
- Willing to work in the office three days a week and as needed for client service, but also adept at working remotely with team members in other offices;
- Willing to commit to a five-star firm culture that values client service, striving for better, teamwork, accountability, and respect; and
- Play an active role in client and business development initiatives both internally and externally .
For California, the expected salary range for this position is between $185,000 - $230,000. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.
