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RDV Corporation · 1 day ago

Trusts and Estates Counsel

Grand Rapids, MI

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

7+ years exp

RDV Corporation is seeking a Trusts and Estates Counsel to join their high-performing legal team that supports a sophisticated family office. This role involves designing, implementing, and overseeing estate plans and trusts while providing legal counsel on various matters typical of an in-house family office legal department.

Financial Services

Hiring Manager

Amy Ziel SPHR

Responsibilities

Design and implement comprehensive estate plans, in collaboration with family office leadership, tailored to the long-term financial and personal objectives of affiliated individuals

Ensure estate plans are proactively maintained and updated to reflect evolving needs of each individual

Oversee and direct outside legal counsel and work with the Associate Director of Trusts and Estates in the review and revision of estate planning documents

Provide strategic legal oversight for the governance and operations of a Private Trust Company

Administer family trusts in conjunction with the Associate Director of Trusts and Estates and other advisors, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and alignment with fiduciary obligations

Collaborate with internal teams to enhance and improve trust reporting and communication with beneficiaries

Draft shareholder and ownership agreements aligned with long-term governance and succession planning objectives

Provide legal counsel on a wide array of matters typical of an in-house family office legal department, including corporate, real estate, employment, litigation management, and personal legal affairs, as needed

Qualification

TrustsEstates lawEstateGift tax lawsLegalTax mattersPrivate foundationsCharitable trustsDonor-advised fundsJudgmentDiscretionAnalytical skillsInterpersonal skillsCommunication skillsAttention to detailMentoringCollaborative mindset

Required

J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school

Minimum of 7 years with 10+ years of experience preferred in trusts and estates law, preferably with exposure to family office environments

Deep expertise in estate and gift tax laws, including generation-skipping transfer tax and valuation issues

Proficiency in legal and tax matters related to private foundations, charitable trusts, and donor-advised funds

Exceptional judgment, discretion, and integrity in handling sensitive and confidential matters

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across disciplines and with affiliated individuals, advisors, and external counsel

Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary legal team, contributing to a collaborative and collegial environment

Flexibility and enthusiasm for engaging in legal matters beyond trusts and estates, with a service-oriented mindset and willingness to support colleagues on time-sensitive and high-priority issues

Intellectual agility and curiosity, with a commitment to continuous learning and professional development across diverse legal domains

Proven track record of managing complex legal issues with a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach aligned with the values and objectives of a family office

Experience mentoring junior financial or legal professionals, fostering growth and knowledge-sharing within the team

Strong attention to detail and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex legal and financial information