Private Wealth Services Counsel Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Private Wealth Services Counsel Attorney
Locations: Richmond, VA | Charlottesville, VA
Compensation: Competitive, based on experience

Direct Counsel is seeking a Private Wealth Services Counsel to join the Tax & Employee Benefits Practice of a leading Am Law firm . This opportunity is ideal for an attorney with 10+ years of trusts and estates experience who is looking to advise high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, fiduciaries, and closely held businesses on sophisticated estate planning, wealth preservation, and fiduciary matters.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in advanced estate planning, transfer tax planning, trust and estate administration, and fiduciary counseling, and enjoys building long-term client relationships while serving as a trusted advisor on complex wealth planning strategies.

Responsibilities

• Advise high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and closely held businesses on sophisticated estate and wealth transfer planning.
• Design and implement estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer (GST), and succession planning strategies.
• Counsel clients on trust and estate administration, fiduciary responsibilities, and wealth preservation matters.
• Advise trustees, executors, and fiduciaries on trust administration, governance, and fiduciary obligations.
• Draft and review wills, trusts, family limited partnership documents, and other sophisticated estate planning instruments.
• Provide guidance on transfer tax planning, charitable planning, business succession planning, and closely held business structures.
• Collaborate with attorneys across tax, corporate, employee benefits, and other practice groups to deliver comprehensive planning solutions.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while providing practical, strategic legal advice tailored to clients' long-term objectives.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school with strong academic credentials.
• 10+ years of experience in trusts and estates or private wealth planning at a law firm.
• Significant experience with sophisticated estate planning, transfer tax planning, trust and estate administration, and fiduciary counseling.
• Strong understanding of estate tax, gift tax, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax issues.
• Excellent drafting, analytical, communication, and client relationship management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to advise high-net-worth clients on complex wealth planning strategies.
• Active membership in the Virginia Bar.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience, including performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement benefits, paid time off, and firm-sponsored wellness programs.
• Opportunity to join a nationally recognized private wealth practice offering sophisticated client work, meaningful leadership opportunities, professional development, and a collaborative environment focused on long-term client relationships and practice growth.