Senior Litigation Defense Attorney

At a Glance

Position Senior Litigation Defense Attorney

Practice Area Civil litigation defense — independent, full-lifecycle case management

Firm National civil litigation defense firm, est. 1994; 170+ attorneys, 8 offices, 37 practice areas

Location California — Los Angeles, Costa Mesa (Orange County), or San Francisco

Work Policy Hybrid — remote work flexibility for a portion of the workweek

Experience Level 5+ years of civil litigation experience

Case Ownership Independently manage defense cases from inception through trial with minimal supervision

Compensation $140,000 – $190,000 base + performance bonus program

Benefits Medical, dental, vision, disability, life, FSA, 401K — plus pet insurance and a referral program.

Bar Admission Licensed to practice in the State of California, in good standing.

About the Firm

Our client is a national civil litigation defense firm that stands out from the rest — every case and client matters. Established in 1994 with just sixteen attorneys and two practice areas, the firm has expanded over three decades into a top-tier full-service platform with more than 170 attorneys across eight offices — including major economic hubs like Los Angeles and New York — and 37 practice areas.

What makes the firm different is the pairing of traditional values — respect for leadership, hard work, and integrity — with modern, cost-effective, collaborative, and flexible case management. Under its team approach, each client is assigned a lean, carefully chosen group of attorneys matched to their specific needs. The result is a reputation for excellence that opens doors to challenging, high-profile defense work across the litigation spectrum.

Professional Development

The firm invests heavily in its attorneys' growth. Its distinctive in-house training academy offers tailored education and development programming, and attorneys have the opportunity to mediate, arbitrate, and try cases while learning directly from the firm's experienced, ABOTA-member trial lawyers.

About the Role

The firm is seeking a Senior Litigation Defense Attorney with 5+ years of civil litigation experience to join one of its California offices — Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, or San Francisco — and independently manage defense cases from inception through trial with minimal supervision. This is a role for a litigator ready to run their own files at a senior level: owning strategy, discovery, motion practice, depositions, and client counseling while leading a team of associates, paralegals, and legal assistants — all with the resources and trial bench of a national defense platform behind them in a diverse, inclusive, and flexible work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze, assess, and execute litigation strategies through all stages of litigation — from inception through trial

• Conduct examinations under oath (EUOs), take depositions, and propound and respond to written discovery

• Develop and deliver arguments and represent clients in complex litigation matters

• Maintain proactive communication with clients offering detailed liability and damage analyses

• Represent clients in litigation proceedings including hearings motions depositions and mediations

• Lead a team of associates paralegals and legal assistants

• Review pleadings motions and other legal documents

• Develop legal strategies to resolve cases favorably and cost-effectively for clients.