Assistant Trust Counsel

About the Role:

This position reports to Trust Counsel acting as a trust/estate administration and estate planning legal resource for trust company associates as well as firm financial advisors. Assistant Trust Counsel provides guidance and reviews legal issues for Trust Officers and may serve as a member of internal committees. Assistant Trust Counsel may also work with trust company clients as they revise estate plan(s) based on modified needs of client or changes in market(s) or trust and tax law.

This position is based either in our downtown Louisville, KY, Cincinnati, OH or Lexington, KY office. It offers a hybrid schedule of 4 days in office and 1 day remote.

The Impact You’ll Make:

• Serve as a key legal resource for trust company associates and firm financial advisors by providing guidance on trust and estate administration, reviewing legal issues, and participating in internal committees

• Ensure compliance with trust company policies and procedures by reviewing account openings and closings as well as estate planning and legal documents

• Communicate complex legal and tax matters to clients, trust company associates, and financial advisors

• Support the estate settlement team in resolving matters related to the settlement of estates involving Baird Trust

• Prepare internal legal documents such as Release and Indemnification Agreements,  Refunding Agreements, promissory notes, etc.

• Review income, gift, and estate tax returns relevant to trust company accounts

• Serve as a consultant for trust and estate planning content in marketing materials

• Educate firm associates and trust company clients on current fiduciary issues and strategies

• Understand tax and planning issues related to retirement assets

• Analyze non-standard investment assets, such as real estate, oil & mineral interests, and family limited partnerships, from an administration perspective

What You’ll Bring to Baird:

• Proficiency in interpreting and applying state and federal statutes and applicable tax rules and regulations in a multi-jurisdictional setting

• Understanding of estate planning concepts, charitable giving, estate, gift, and generation skipping taxes, state inheritance taxation, and income taxation of trusts, estates, and charitable entities a plus

• Familiarity with the Uniform Principal and Income Act and the Uniform Trust Code a plus

• Ability to provide appropriate recommendations for resolving complex fiduciary-related issues a plus

• Excellent project management skills for successfully completing long and short-term projects

• Strong active listening and problem-solving skills to effectively analyze, research, and resolve inquiries in a timely manner

• Solution-oriented mindset with strong organizational and time management skills to prioritize workflow and meet deadlines

Education/Previous Experience:

• Four-year undergraduate degree and a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree

• LLM (Taxation or Estate Planning) is a plus but not required

• Three to six years of experience in trust and estate administration/planning related legal work is preferred

Licenses/Certifications:

• Admitted to State Bar Association

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Baird is committed to diversity and provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, military service, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.