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About Northern Trust

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Role/ Department: Senior Legal Counsel, Trust/Trust Counsel Practice Group

The candidate will be an attorney with broad experience in all areas of trusts, estates guardianship and transfer taxes. This position will report directly to the manager of the West Region Legal group.

The Key Responsibilities Of The Role Include

• Reviewing and analyzing will and trust agreements when the bank is named to serve in a fiduciary capacity in order to protect the bank, comply with the law, and satisfy client expectations;
• Reviewing and analyzing other legal documents such as post nuptial agreements, disclaimers, settlement agreements, consents, waivers, etc. and providing legal advice to internal partners regarding same;
• Providing legal counsel to management and business partners in our Wealth Management business on a broad range of trust and fiduciary matters, including review of trust documents, estate settlement matters, trust real estate matters, homestead issues, trust and estate litigation and complex trust/fiduciary legal issues;
• Serving as a resource and providing legal advice to internal partners in our Wealth Management business concerning on-going trust, estate and guardianship administration matters and questions that arise;
• Analyzing proposals to modify or terminate trusts in order to assess the legal risk and working in conjunction with the Chief Fiduciary Officer and the partners on same;
• Acting as legal advisor to various committees to advise on legal risk and compliance issues;
• Overseeing and monitoring of trust and estate litigation when Northern is acting in a fiduciary capacity and working with the internal and external litigation teams on matters when the bank is sued in its corporate capacity;
• Reviewing resignations, removals and signing off on distribution memos for account terminations;
• Promoting the bank by attending and speaking at industry and client conferences;
• Giving educational presentations to internal partners in Wealth Management; and
• Participating in local and state Bar meetings.

Skills/Qualifications

• Candidates should have at least 10 years of experience working in a major law firm or in-house practice in the trust and estate area;
• Knowledge of trust and estate law as well as estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax rules, is required to advise on legal risks and compliance issues.
• Strong analytical skills are required to review of will, trust and other fiduciary documents and related agreements.
• Experience in advising on trust and fiduciary matters is essential;
• Very high level of trust and estate knowledge and broad experience in all areas of trust, estates, guardianships and transfer taxes;
• Ability to handle a wide range of trust and fiduciary matters independently; using high quality legal analysis and practical judgment;
• Ability to spot issues and risk to the bank and develop appropriate solutions;
• Ability to make important decisions quickly and independently;
• Ability to multi-task and handle many matters at the same time;
• Ability to be responsive within short deadlines;
• Ability to work closely as a team member both within the Legal group and with business partners;
• Ability to develop good relationships and rapport with outside counsel;
• Good drafting and negotiation skills;
• Excellent communication skills;
• The candidate must be admitted to practice law (state of Bar admission will depend on geographic location);

The Successful Candidate Will Benefit From Having

• Knowledge and experience of non-U.S. international trust and fiduciary matters, estate tax and other relevant experience is a plus.

Working Model: Hybrid ()

We have a balanced hybrid working model to ensure you get the flexibility you need, and the successful candidate will spend their time between working in the office and working from home.

Salary Range

$158,010 - $213,325

Salary range is an estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package, including retirement and pension plan contributions, health and welfare benefits, paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life insurance, and other wellbeing benefits .

Working With Us

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com.

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.