Associate Attorney - Bequest Management / Trust & Estates Attorney

Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick’s Bequest Management Practice (CCK Bequest) represents national nonprofit organizations in protecting, realizing, and maximizing charitable gifts made through estates, trusts, and payable-on-death accounts. We work directly with executors, trustees, and attorneys to resolve issues, advance matters, and ensure our clients receive the gifts to which they are entitled.

CCK Bequest is seeking an attorney with two to three years of trusts and estates litigation experience to join our team. This attorney will primarily represent nonprofit organizations in disputes arising from their status as beneficiaries of wills, trusts, and other planned gifts.

Working closely with senior attorneys, the attorney will assist in managing high-value matters and active disputes, from initial case assessment and document review through informal resolution, discovery, motion practice, mediation, hearings, and final resolution. The role will also involve overseeing local counsel when appropriate.

This position requires strong research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills, as well as the ability to advise nonprofit clients on estate and trust administration issues that may create or affect litigation risk. A practical, solutions-oriented mindset is essential.

What You’ll Do:

• Represent national nonprofit organizations in probate and trust disputes, including:

-Will and trust contests;

-Breach of fiduciary duty claims;

-Fiduciary removal, surcharge, and related proceedings; and

-Other contested matters affecting charitable gifts and beneficiary interests.

• Draft and review pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests and responses, mediation submissions, settlement documents, and related litigation materials.
• Conduct legal research and analyze issues involving probate procedure, trust administration, fiduciary duties, donor intent, and charitable beneficiary rights.
• Manage local counsel.
• Assist with document collection, review, analysis, production, and preparation for depositions, hearings, and mediations.
• Develop case assessments and contribute to litigation and resolution strategies.
• Appear in probate court for hearings, case management conferences, status conferences, and related proceedings.
• Represent clients in mediations, settlement conferences, and negotiations.
• Evaluate fiduciary conduct, accountings, proposed distributions, fees, expenses, and other matters affecting clients’ interests.
• Communicate with clients directly regarding case developments, litigation risks, strategic options, and recommended next steps.
• Coordinate with fiduciaries, opposing counsel, local counsel, and other participants in contested estate and trust matters.
• Manage court filings, discovery obligations, hearing dates, statutes of limitation, and other deadlines across an active caseload.
• Maintain accurate and organized matter records while protecting confidential and privileged information.