Private Client Services | Trusts & Estates Attorney

Williams Parker•Sarasota, FL

15h

About The Position

Williams Parker is seeking a Private Client Services | Trusts & Estates Attorney with approximately 8-10 years of private practice experience to join one of Florida’s largest and most respected Trusts & Estates practices. This opportunity is intended for an accomplished attorney whose practice includes sophisticated estate planning, wealth transfer planning, taxable estates, transfer tax matters, and trust administration for high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, business owners, and fiduciaries. The successful candidate will assume significant responsibility for complex planning and administration matters while serving clients whose goals often span generations. For more than a century, Williams Parker has served as a trusted advisor to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions, building an enduring legacy through sophisticated counsel, exceptional service, and meaningful community stewardship. Attorneys join a distinguished platform defined by long-standing client relationships, collaborative practitioners, and work of genuine complexity and lasting impact. A portable book of business is not required; however, candidates must bring the technical mastery, professional maturity, and sound judgment necessary to assume near partner-level responsibilities with limited supervision.

Requirements

Approximately 8–10 years of private practice experience with a substantial focus on trusts and estates, estate and gift tax planning, wealth transfer strategies, trust administration, and related private client services matters.
Demonstrated success advising high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, business owners, and fiduciaries on sophisticated estate planning, wealth preservation, succession planning, and trust and estate administration matters.
Significant experience serving as the primary drafting or handling attorney on complex taxable estate matters, including Forms 706 and 709, related audits, and estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer tax, and fiduciary income tax issues.
Proven experience designing and implementing sophisticated strategies involving irrevocable trusts, SLATs, GRATs, QPRTs, family limited partnerships, charitable planning vehicles, private foundations, and related structures.
Exceptional judgment, analytical ability, attention to detail, and commitment to providing thoughtful, discreet, responsive, and practical counsel tailored to each client’s circumstances and long-term objectives.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to make complex legal and tax concepts understandable and to work effectively with clients, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, family offices, and professional staff.
Professional maturity, disciplined matter management, and the ability to exercise independent judgment while managing multiple sophisticated engagements with limited supervision.
Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school and membership in The Florida Bar in good standing, eligibility for admission, or willingness to sit for the Florida Bar Examination in the near future.

Nice To Haves

Florida Bar Board Certification in Wills, Trusts & Estates or a related specialty is preferred.
An LL.M. in Taxation or CPA license is strongly preferred, although comparable substantive experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Preserve wealth, advance legacies, and guide consequential decisions.
Counsel high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, business owners, and fiduciaries on sophisticated estate planning, wealth preservation, succession planning, and trust administration matters.
Architect sophisticated estate and wealth transfer strategies.
Design and implement complex plans utilizing wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, charitable planning vehicles, family business succession structures, SLATs, GRATs, QPRTs, family limited partnerships, private foundations, and other advanced wealth transfer techniques.
Navigate complex transfer tax matters with precision.
Advise clients on estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning and reporting, including federal estate and gift tax returns, Forms 706 and 709, and related matters.
Translate complex objectives into carefully crafted planning instruments.
Prepare and review wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care advance directives, and related documents with the technical rigor and attention to detail required for sophisticated private client engagements.
Unite legal, financial, and personal perspectives.
Collaborate with accountants, financial advisors, family offices, other professional advisors, and attorneys across the Firm to develop integrated solutions responsive to each client’s family, business, and legacy objectives.
Become an enduring trusted advisor.
Cultivate lasting relationships through discernment, attentiveness, technical excellence, responsive counsel, and an exceptional commitment to client service.