Junior US Tax Lawyer – Private Wealth

The Role Mishcon de Reya LLP is an international law firm, and our Hong Kong office is growing its US tax practice. We are seeking a Junior US Tax Lawyer to join our Private Wealth team in Hong Kong. Working closely with US qualified partners and senior lawyers, you will assist in the preparation and delivery of advice to high-net-worth individuals, fiduciaries and family offices on a diverse set of US tax and succession planning matters including, but not limited to, US expatriation, Voluntary Disclosure programs and pre-immigration planning. This role is ideal for those who have relevant exposure to US tax analyses and estate planning with a strong interest in developing a technical cross-border private client skill set that is focused on the intersection of Asia-US connections. Duties And Responsibilities
• Assist partners and senior lawyers with US federal income, estate and gift tax advice for private clients with cross-border assets, interests and family connections.
• Support the establishment and operation of cross-border trust, estate and succession planning, including matters involving US settlors, beneficiaries and fiduciaries, and foreign grantor trust structures.
• Carry out legal research and prepare clear, accurate draft memoranda, client advice, correspondence and supporting documents for review.
• Assist with drafting and reviewing international estate plans, including trust instruments, wills and related wealth planning documentation under appropriate supervision.
• Support in the preparation of advice on pre-immigration to the US, expatriation from the US, and the US tax implications of investment and wealth holding structures, particularly structures that hold US real estate.
• Assist in identifying US federal tax and information-reporting obligations and coordinate with clients' accountants and other advisers on implementation and compliance matters.
• Liaise with colleagues across offices and with external legal, tax and fiduciary advisers to support coordinated advice across jurisdictions.
• Proactively assist with matter management, maintain accurate records, monitor deadlines and handle confidential client information with discretion.
• Keep up to date with relevant US tax and private wealth developments and contribute to know-how, client briefings and business development materials. Skills/Experience
• Admission to practise in a US jurisdiction, with good professional standing. A preference for holding admission to practice in New York or California.
• At least 2 years of relevant US tax experience, including experience on private client matters.
• A strong foundation in US federal taxation and an understanding of its application to individuals, trusts and estates in a cross-border context.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complicated concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• Relevant exposure to trusts, estate and succession planning, and international wealth planning for private clients.
• Strong legal research, analytical and drafting skills, with a close attention to detail.
• A client-focused approach, sound judgement and a high level of discretion when handling sensitive personal and financial information.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and a collaborative approach to working across teams and jurisdictions.
• Exposure to foreign grantor trusts, pre-immigration or expatriation planning, or US tax reporting for international private clients.
• A genuine interest in building a long-term career in US tax and international private wealth. Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested. About The Mishcon De Reya Group The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1400 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services. Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association with Karas So LLP ). The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply.
The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution. The Mishcon de Reya Group includes consultancy businesses MDR Discover , MDR Mayfair (in London, Singapore and Dubai), MDR ONE , and MDRi (in Hong Kong). The Group also includes MDR Lab , which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership. In 2024, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business. We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.