Legal Manager, Trustees and Estates at Custodian Investment Plc

Job Summary

• We are seeking a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer with trusteeship experience to provide legal advice, compliance oversight, and strategic guidance on trust administration, fiduciary responsibilities, and regulatory compliance. This role requires a deep understanding of trust law, estate planning, asset management, and the regulatory environment for trusts. The successful candidate will collaborate with stakeholders to ensure sound fiduciary practices, manage complex trust structures, and offer legal insights on trust formation, administration, and termination.

Job Details

Key Responsibilities:

Trust Administration and Compliance:

• Oversee the legal and regulatory compliance of trust structures, ensuring adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
• Advise trustees on fiduciary duties, risk management, and liability mitigation in managing trust assets.
• Prepare, review, and interpret trust deeds, governing documents, agreements, and related legal documents.

Legal Advisory and Drafting:

• Provide legal counsel on trust formation, administration, and dissolution, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
• Draft and review trust agreements, wills, power of attorney documents, and other estate planning documents.
• Collaborate with financial and tax advisors to integrate legal strategies within trust administration and estate planning.

Risk Assessment and Management:

• Conduct risk assessments on trust assets and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Advise trustees on potential conflicts of interest, trustee succession, and beneficiary disputes.
• Support compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for trust administration.

Stakeholder Communication and Representation:

• Act as a liaison between the trust, its beneficiaries, and other stakeholders, providing clear explanations of trustee obligations and trust structure.
• Represent trustees and beneficiaries in legal proceedings as required, including court appearances, dispute resolution, and mediation.
• Facilitate regular updates and reporting to stakeholders, including annual reviews, audits, and beneficiary updates.

Research and Continuous Improvement:

• Stay current with legislative and regulatory changes affecting trust law, estate planning, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Proactively propose process improvements and best practices in trust administration to enhance compliance and operational efficiency.
• Provide training to internal teams and trustees on trust law, fiduciary duties, and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

Qualifications and Skills:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) and completion of Bar qualifications. Master’s degree in law or specialization in Trust and Estates Law is a plus.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of [9-13 years] of experience as a practicing lawyer, with at least [3 years] in trust law, estate planning, or related areas.
• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of trust structures, estate planning, regulatory compliance, and fiduciary duties.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• Other Requirements: Sound understanding of AML, KYC, and tax regulations impacting trusts; experience with relevant software or systems for trust administration is an advantage.

Work Environment:

• Fully onsite with occasional travel to client locations or court appearances as needed.