Our mission statement speaks of the “internationally successful”, but this is more than just a euphemism for wealth. Our clients have passion, take business risks, and are as demanding of themselves as they are of us. The complexity, cross-cultural integration and high value of their commercial and personal affairs create a constant intellectual challenge, which further enhances the sheer fun of working closely with people who are energetic and used to making things happen.
Variety is the key to the private client world, with clients who may need anything from a simple will to a complex offshore trust structure, a sophisticated capital market transaction, or resolution of a dispute. This means that, as a trainee, you will be involved in a broad mix of work, for clients including CEOs of public companies, sports and media personalities, entrepreneurs and major international figures and families.
With the largest private client team in the world we act for entrepreneurs, landed estates, trustees, executors, and wealthy individuals based in the UK and overseas. We also act for those who advise private clients such as investment banks, private banks and trust companies.
To reflect the varied demands made of us by our private clients, the department has been split into two separate practice groups: EST (Estates, Succession and Trust) and Wealth Planning which is, itself, split into three teams FAB (Families and Business), FITT (Funds, Investments, Tax and Trusts) and International.
Our private client history and reputation has left its mark throughout the firm. The employment group is one of the few City practices which acts not only for corporate employers but also a significant number of employees, particularly bankers and senior executives. Our corporate group acts for many owner-managed businesses, dealing directly with the people who established and built-up and still own the venture. Our litigation group acts in many trust and contentious probate disputes and is heavily involved in protecting the reputation of our more newsworthy clients. Our property team is involved in buying and selling some of the most sought after houses and estates in the country.
We genuinely believe that many trainees who apply to be corporate lawyers would relish the unique experience offered by our private client practice. It allows you to be involved in intellectually challenging, international, high value work with a far greater level of responsibility and client contact than is offered to trainees and junior solicitors by large corporate practices.
Because of our unrivalled reputation in the private client field, we occasionally attract candidates who don’t realise there is another – very significant – side to our practice. In fact, this breadth of practice is one of the elements of a training contract with us that is the most attractive, particularly for candidates who are hoping for some flexibility during the early stages in their career. There are very few firms that can offer you, on one hand, private client and family experience and, on the other, banking, corporate, charities, IP, commercial property, commercial litigation and more.
We are rated by the Legal 500 for our work in mergers and acquisitions, financial services, hotels, investment funds, sponsorship and partnerships. We have particular expertise in AIM listings, IPOs and fundraising. As Withers was one of the first LLPs under the English legislation, we have also established a niche in advising on LLP conversions, often to fellow firms of solicitors.
Of course, the two parts of the firm are not entirely separate; the launch of our Wealth Planning FITT group was, in part, designed to combine the talents of our corporate and our tax lawyers when dealing with clients such as hedge funds, private equity houses and asset managers.
One of the commercial areas of our practice we are most proud and excited about is our work with luxury brands on issues as varied as commercial contracts, counterfeiting and raising funds. This practice ranges from hotels and clubs such as Soho House, through Formula 1 teams such as Renault to fashion clients including Cath Kidson, John Galliano, Julien MacDonald, Lulu Guinness, Max Mara, Moschino, Temperley, Vera Wang, Valentino and Vivienne Westwood.
We also have a number of special interest groups which require cross Practice group collaboration or geographical focus in regions. Our special interest groups include Hotels, Landed Estates, Brands, Charities and Philanthropy, Arts and Cultural assets, Family offices. We also have a special interest in Latin America, the far east, Continental Europe and Russia.