Contentious Trusts Associate - International Law Firm

About the Firm

An international firm with a reputation for excellence in litigation is seeking an Associate to join its market-leading Contentious Trusts team in London. The firm is one of the largest litigation-only practices in the UK, employing over 450 professionals, including more than 90 partners. It acts for corporate and individual clients in complex, high-value disputes and is consistently top-ranked by leading legal directories.

As a litigation-only practice, the firm is home to many of the UK’s foremost lawyers, known for their innovative approach and exceptional client service. The firm has extensive experience in structuring creative costs arrangements that enable clients to manage risk and litigate confidently. With disputes often involving multiple jurisdictions, the firm maintains strong partnerships with leading international law firms to provide seamless global representation.

The Contentious Trusts Team

The contentious trusts team is recognised for its depth of expertise in trust litigation. Its work includes:

• Applications by trustees for directions or variations of trust terms.
• Blessing applications and challenges by beneficiaries.
• Disputes involving creditors, protectors, and third parties.
• Contentious trust restructuring, disclosure, and confidentiality issues.

The team frequently collaborates with the family practice, particularly in cases involving divorce, succession, and asset protection.

Recent matters have included:

• Representing clients in multi-jurisdictional trust disputes across Bermuda, Hong Kong, and the Bahamas.
• Acting for beneficiaries and trustees in high-value family trust disputes spanning jurisdictions such as Jersey, Guernsey, Liechtenstein, and the Isle of Man.
• Advising on governance, validity, and restructuring of offshore trusts.
• Handling disputes involving luxury assets, including art, real estate, and private aircraft.

The team is regularly instructed on some of the most complex and high-profile trust cases globally, often involving substantial assets and intricate cross-border considerations.

The Role

The firm is seeking an Associate to support its growing Contentious Trusts practice in London. The successful candidate will work closely with leading partners and senior lawyers on high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advising trustees, beneficiaries, protectors, and related parties on contentious trust matters
• Assisting with complex international disputes and coordinating with overseas counsel
• Drafting pleadings, applications, and correspondence in high-stakes litigation
• Managing disclosure, confidentiality, and privilege issues
• Supporting the team in hearings, including those before offshore courts and the Privy Council
• Building strong client relationships and contributing to business development initiatives

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• A strong academic background and excellent technical knowledge of private client disputes.
• Post-qualification experience (PQE) in contentious trusts, ideally gained within a top-tier litigation, private wealth, or offshore practice.
• Proven experience handling multi-jurisdictional, high-value trust disputes.
• Outstanding drafting, analytical, and communication skills.
• A collaborative approach and commitment to professional excellence.

Careers and Culture

The firm is committed to recruiting and developing exceptional lawyers. Associates are provided with the resources, training, and mentoring needed to excel, with clear pathways for progression. Many current partners began their careers at the firm, reflecting its emphasis on internal growth and long-term development.

Core values - teamwork, innovation, manners, and excellence, underpin the firm’s culture. It offers a respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment, recognised among the best employers in the UK legal sector.

Benefits

• Employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• Private medical and dental insurance for employees and dependants.
• Enhanced parental and family leave policies, including neonatal and carer’s leave.
• Enhanced pension contributions and life assurance.
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing initiatives.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Season ticket loan, cycle-to-work scheme, and gym discounts.
• Birthday leave and milestone gifts.