Ground view of modern office buildings

> Vacancy detail

Partner

We are currently recruiting for a Partner to join our Geneva office!

View information

Type

Permanent - Full Time

Location

Genève

Job Role

Private Client and Tax

Closing Date

2022-12-15



Apply Now

Withersworldwide 

Established in 1896, our firm focusses on and helping successful entrepreneurs, families, family businesses, governments and institutions to negotiate the wide range of legal issues they face in their business and personal lives. 

Over time, we have gained valuable insights into the ways wealth and private capital can be generated, preserved, deployed and enhanced. 

We assist our clients in a variety of industry sectors including motorsport, luxury brands, sport, hotels and hospitality, technology, energy, art and cultural assets, life sciences, charities and philanthropy and financial services. With 17 offices our experience means we see the global picture.

We provide legal advice across a range of different practice areas including corporate tax and personal estate planning, corporate, banking and finance, access to capital (both private and public) both equity and debt, real estate, intellectual property, immigration, international trust structuring, philanthropy, luxury assets, international probate, public international law and international arbitration. 

Private client and tax division

Today, we are the only global law firm dedicated to the personal and private capital needs of high-net-worth individuals and families.

Many of our clients are international families with interests in a number of locations. In a fast-moving and increasingly compliance focused world, the need for integrated advice that reaches across borders has never been greater. With offices across Europe, the United States and Asia-Pacific we provide coverage that other law firms in this area cannot match. Our team of experienced private client solicitors continually look for opportunities to ensure we have a strong presence in the locations where our clients live, work and invest.

This practice generates approximately 55% of the partnership's revenues and is the largest in the world with over 300 people. We advise on domestic and international tax, estate planning, succession and mental capacity laws in Europe, the US and Asia, as well as facilitating our client's philanthropic endeavours. We have immigration teams in the major financial centres and are well placed to deal with tax investigation and litigation cases. Real estate is very important to our clients, and we have a specialist residential and rural team. 

Clients from every walk of life

Our clients have achieved success in many fields, from senior executives to multi-generational families, to owners, managers and investors in private capital and some of the world’s wealthiest people. In Europe we have represented 70% of The Sunday Times top 100 Rich List and in Asia we act for 35% of the Hong Kong Forbes Rich List.

We act not just as private client lawyers but trusted advisers, looking to build strong relationships with you and with other professionals advising you. This is one of the reasons we are proud to have been asked to represent families down the generations.

Our mission is to be recognised as the top, and only truly global, law firm offering integrated domestic and international private client and tax advice.

Accolades

The private client team is ranked top in our offices around the world by the leading legal directories and have won and been shortlisted for a number of well-recognised awards over the years.

"Judges commended Withers for their marked international focus and expertise. They also pointed to clear independent focus on Trust and Fiduciary business in Switzerland"

WealthBriefing Swiss Awards 2021

"They really have a good understanding of cross-border issues. Their office in Geneva is a great asset; they are very visible and interacting with everyone"

Chambers HNW Guide 2020

Who's Who Legal Switzerland 2021 – ranked individuals in Justine Markovitz and Jay Rubinstein.

Withers Geneva office 

Following client demand, we opened our Geneva office in 2005. Since then, we have focussed on working closely with our colleagues across the globe to provide integrated legal services that match the sophisticated needs of our global clients.

Our Geneva team provides US and UK cross-border international tax, structuring and succession advice. We work with individuals and institutions, using our expertise in common law and civil law to develop bespoke solutions for clients in what are often complex and sometimes highly sensitive situations. Where appropriate, we work closely with local experts in Switzerland and other jurisdictions where we are not admitted to practice. 

We handle a variety of trust and tax matters whose common characteristic is their multinational and cross-border nature. The core services of our team include:

  • International tax planning
  • Multi-jurisdictional estate, succession and governance planning
  • Trust and company planning
  • Planning with family businesses
  • Establishment and maintenance of Family Offices
  • UK taxation and disclosure advice
  • US taxation and disclosure advice

Recent legal and financial trends have resulted in a major increase in work. This includes a greater sensitivity about international compliance, increased governmental exchange of information and a focus on economic substance in the offshore jurisdictions. Consequently, the office is working flat-out and has from time to time needed to draft in lawyers from other offices to handle heavy workloads. The office itself is very profitable and projects similar revenues in the short and medium term. Interestingly, there are few local competitors. 

The position: partner - Geneva

Withers LLP seeks to recruit a partner or senior associate with partnership ambitions to expand its Private Client practice with considerable focus on Geneva and its environs but extending beyond Switzerland to the continent and beyond.

The Geneva office includes a core of 2 partners, 1 special counsel, 4 associates and 2 paralegals who have committed to developing the practice.  In addition, the Geneva office is well supported by the close interface and in-depth resources of the global practice in Europe, the Far East and the United States.

We are looking for an individual with a breadth of experience advising private clients. The candidate should have the ability to leverage a successful practice through existing relationships as well as referrals from within Withers. At the same time, it is expected that the candidate remains available to serve as a mentor to associates in the Geneva office and to interface with and serve as a resource to the firm's Private Client, Tax, Corporate and other practices.

Such an individual’s activity might encompass: 

  • structuring individuals’ and families’ business affairs, investments and private wealth
  • advising on or co-ordinating multi-jurisdictional tax advice
  • estate planning
  • establishing and advising family offices

The Opportunity

  • To join a highly successful, highly profitable and collegiate firm which is dedicated to the business, personal and philanthropic interests of successful people, their families and their advisers
  • Leverage off Withers’ strong Trust & Estate, Corporate, Tax practices and client base
  • Take a major role in driving the evolution of a high-profile Private Client and Tax Practice in Geneva
  • Devise and implement a co-ordinated and well-resourced marketing and business development programme
  • Contribute to the recruitment, training and development of associates for the Practice.

Key Candidate Criteria

  • A Partner or senior associate with the ambition to join a well-established practice group and be instrumental in its growth.
  • Currently working in a well rated law firm encompassing, but not necessarily limited to, Private Client and Tax matters.
  • Broad, first-class experience of complex cross-border strategic planning, voluntary compliance and remedial involuntary compliance matters.
  • A number of strong client relationships – demonstrating both business development and client management skills.  Relevant individuals should be strong technical lawyers capable of advising clients of various sizes.
  • Prepared to commit to residence in Switzerland for three years.
  • Fluency in English is a pre-requisite; competency in other languages (French, German) a distinct plus.

 

For further information, please contact the recruitment team (recruitment@withersworldwide.com).

 

Vacancy opening date: 15 November 2022

Vacancy closing date: 15 December 2022

 

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withersworldwide endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withersworldwide operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement

It is the policy of Withersworldwide to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.



Apply Now

Job alerts

Be the first to know when a new position becomes available with instant alerts to your phone

Sign up now

Already applied?

Go to the candidate portal to continue your application.

Candidate Centre