About the Role
Contentious Trusts & Probate Senior Associate / Partner | Remote-First Leadership Role Picture this: you're leading a small, highly skilled contentious probate team from home, working on complex trusts, estates, and will disputes, shaping a practice that's consistently ranked in the Legal 500. The caseload is challenging, high-value, and genuinely manageable. You have the autonomy to do it properly. And you can live anywhere across Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, London, or surrounding areas. You'll visit the Brighton office approximately once or twice per fortnight for strategy, team meetings, and client work.The rest? Remote, flexible, focused on leading and growing the practice from wherever works best for you. This nationally recognised firm has built its reputation on smart, commercially minded dispute work. Quality comes before volume. Your expertise is genuinely valued. Partnership is a real prospect for the right candidate. If you're ready to lead a contentious trusts and probate practice with genuine impact and genuine flexibility, this is rare. The Opportunity You'll take the reins of the Sussex Contentious Trusts & Probate team, overseeing a small group of experienced lawyers while remaining hands-on on the highest-quality work:Lead and mentor a small team of experienced contentious private client lawyers (mostly remote with structured office time)Manage complex, high-value matters: will challenges, trust disputes, probate litigation, estate disputesHandle a substantial personal caseload of challenging, sophisticated contentious workBuild and deepen client relationships rooted in trust and commercial understandingShape team strategy and growth as the practice's senior leaderWork from home with flexibility to structure your own time, visiting Brighton office approximately once or twice per fortnightPartnership is a genuine prospect for the right candidate. This is leadership with real scope and real progression. The Firm A nationally recognised, client-focused firm built on smart, commercially minded dispute work. Long-standing UK and international relationships. Modern, collaborative, and supportive culture where quality comes before volume. They understand that leading a contentious trusts team doesn't require you to be in the office every day. Strategic oversight, case management, mentorship, and client relationship building can happen remotely. Office attendance is about collaboration, client meetings, team connection, and partnership culture, not presenteeism. The Role in PracticeWork from home across Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, London, or surrounding areasVisit Brighton office approximately once or twice per fortnight for:Team meetings and strategy sessionsClient meetings and relationship buildingOffice-based collaboration and mentorshipPartnership culture and social connectionLead remotely: manage the team, drive strategy, develop junior lawyers, shape practice directionFlexible schedule: structure your own time around office attendance and client needsTechnology-enabled: proper systems, support, and tools to lead effectively from homeThis isn't about being disconnected. It's about working smarter, remote for focus and case management, office time for connection and leadership. About YouSenior Associate or Partner-level contentious private client lawyer8+ years PQE with strong trusts, probate, and estate litigation experienceACTAPS or working towards would be advantageous Experienced in supervising and developing a small teamCommercially aware, personable, and confident with clients at all levelsReady to take ownership and lead a practice within a respected Legal 500 firmComfortable leading a team remotely with periodic office attendanceBased (or willing to relocate to) within reasonable distance of Brighton for fortnightly visitsWhat's On OfferSalary up to £100,000, depending on experience and track recordRemote-first working: work from home with flexibility to visit Brighton office approximately once or twice per fortnightLeadership of a small, high-performing team of experienced contentious lawyersHands-on, high-quality work in a sustainable and structured environmentClear route to partnership and long-term progressionFlexible, modern, and supportive culture that genuinely values work-life balanceReal autonomy to shape how the team and practice developsLegal 500-ranked firm with stellar reputation for contentious workWhy This Works This firm has built something genuinely valuable, a respected contentious trusts and probate practice with a loyal client base and Legal 500 recognition. Now they want leadership that can scale it and shape its future. Remote-first working means you get the lifestyle flexibility without sacrificing the opportunity to lead a thriving, high-profile practice. You'll visit the office for what matters: strategy, team development, client relationships, partnership culture. The day-to-day? Remote, focused, genuinely efficient. The fact that candidates can live across the South East (Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, London, or surrounding areas) reflects that they understand modern working. You're leading a team and managing high-value litigation, not warming an office chair. The contentious trusts and probate space is intellectually demanding. Having the flexibility to work from home, with proper support, mentorship, and office time for collaboration, means you can do your best work without the commute grind. If you're ready to lead a contentious trusts and probate practice that's already performing well, genuinely valued, and intellectually challenging, with the flexibility to do it from home and the prospect of partnership, this is genuinely rare. Apply now for a confidential conversation.