Stevens & Bolton - Senior / Managing Associate - Tax & Trusts

If you have excellent private client experience within a quality practice and are looking to progress your career within an ambitious yet supportive environment, then our growing and in-demand Private Client team might be a good fit for you.

About us

Stevens & Bolton offers excellence beyond the City not only in terms of the work it carries out, but also for the opportunities it offers its lawyers. The Private Client team is central to the firm’s current and future business and comprises 26 specialists including eight partners and an in-house accounting and trust management function.

Our clients

We act for a broad spectrum of national and international clients. Many are affluent families based in Surrey and the South East, but our client base also includes Sunday Times Rich List individuals, globally wealthy families, trustees, family offices, professional sportspeople, landowners, business owners and entrepreneurs. The work we do for them is equally diverse, and we pride ourselves in being able to offer a comprehensive service to our clients, working seamlessly with our Corporate, Commercial, Family and Real Estate teams. Our in-house trust company is frequently appointed as an independent trustee in contentious and high value situations and works in conjunction with our market leading Private Wealth Disputes team.

About you

Continued growth of the team means an opportunity has arisen for a mid-senior level practitioner with particular experience in estate planning and tax advisory work. You will be used to advising multi-generational families on succession issues, trustees on tax efficient administration and restructurings, entrepreneurs on planning for business exits and capable of applying your private client knowledge in all the situations which a full service law firm can demand. 

As a lawyer you will have a proven track record of delivering high-quality advice to private clients and their other advisers, built upon a strong academic background. You may have focussed on domestic work, but experience of international matters for non-UK resident or domiciled individuals will be a significant advantage. 

As an individual you will be a strong team player with excellent inter-personal skills. Coupled with your pro-active approach you will be able to demonstrate an ability to build long-term relationships with clients and intermediaries, to become a ‘trusted adviser’. An existing network of contacts is a definite advantage, but otherwise an appetite for business development generally will be needed.  Any relevant professional qualifications such as STEP or ATT will be welcome but are not essential.

What we can offer you

You will be part of a highly respected team, which is top ranked in both Chambers High Net Worth and, The Legal 500. You will be working at one of only a few firms to be listed in the London section of The Legal 500 without a London presence. Many of our partners and associates have backgrounds in the City, and so you will enjoy excellent supervision and training but within a friendly, collegiate environment. We have a dedicated Knowledge Support Lawyer, and you will have superb, dedicated secretarial support.

We will expect you to be organised and capable of managing your own workload from the outset, with a proactive approach and a desire to progress both yourself and the wider team. In return, you can expect exposure to high calibre work whilst working alongside a talented, ambitious group of lawyers where you will be encouraged to further grow your practice and enhance your professional skills.

We offer all of this in the context of a competitive salary and bonus scheme. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including a contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, and 25 days holiday with the option to buy and sell days. In addition, you will have access to a range of other benefits which include a cycle to work scheme, dental insurance, discounted shopping and membership to a critical illness scheme. With our flexible hybrid approach, you will have the opportunity to balance your time between working remotely and from our newly refurbished and innovative offices, which are easily accessible in the centre of Guildford (where we provide parking) but within striking distance of the beautiful Surrey countryside.

Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career

Stevens & Bolton is a leading independent UK law firm located in Guildford, supporting clients across the world. With over 270 people, approximately 160 lawyers, many of whom chose to join us from City law firms.

Our vision is to be one of the UK’s most successful law firms, offering excellence beyond the city, a supportive culture and the best client experience. We take great pride in being named "Law Firm of the Year: The Independents" at The Lawyer Awards 2020 and receiving commendation in 2023.

At Stevens & Bolton, we pledge to make a positive difference for our clients and colleagues alike. For our colleagues, this means providing support in their daily work and fostering their career growth. You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment. We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.

Diversity and inclusion lie at the core of our values. Our inclusive culture encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. In 2020 we were shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards.

We are committed to an agile working model that provides flexibility and benefits everyone's lives. Our newly refurbished office in Guildford offers a modern and adaptable working environment - a central hub where collaboration, teamwork, and socialising thrive. Furthermore, we equip our people with the necessary IT infrastructure and support to seamlessly work from home.