Commercial Litigation Associate
About the role
We are a highly respected AmLaw firm with a sophisticated Commercial Litigation practice representing businesses and organizations in complex, high-stakes disputes throughout the country. Our attorneys handle a broad range of business disputes in federal and state courts, as well as arbitration and other dispute-resolution forums. The practice focuses on sophisticated commercial matters where litigation strategy must be closely aligned with the client's broader business objectives. The team represents clients in disputes involving contracts, business relationships, corporate governance, fiduciary duties, partnerships, financial matters, and other complex commercial issues. Attorneys are involved throughout the lifecycle of a dispute, from early case assessment and discovery through motion practice, negotiations, arbitration, and trial. The practice is led by experienced trial lawyers who remain closely involved in their matters while giving associates meaningful opportunities to contribute. Teams are intentionally structured to provide the right level of experience and efficiency for each matter, creating an environment where associates can gain substantive experience and develop as advocates. The approach is both aggressive and business-minded. The goal is not simply to litigate for the sake of litigating, but to understand the client's commercial objectives and develop a strategy designed to achieve the most effective resolution. This is an opportunity for a commercial litigator to work on sophisticated business disputes alongside experienced practitioners while taking on meaningful responsibility and continuing to develop strong litigation and advocacy skills.
Responsibilities
- Handle complex commercial and business litigation matters in federal and state courts
- Conduct legal research and draft motions, briefs, memoranda, and other substantive legal documents
- Draft and respond to complaints, answers, counterclaims, and other pleadings
- Draft and respond to written discovery
- Manage discovery disputes and related motion practice
- Handle fact and expert discovery, including developing and implementing e-discovery strategies
- Take and defend depositions
- Assist with case strategy, witness preparation, and trial preparation
- Analyze complex factual and legal issues and develop practical litigation strategies
- Communicate with clients and work directly with partners on significant matters
- Participate in settlement negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and other dispute-resolution proceedings
- Manage individual matters and assignments with increasing independence
- Balance multiple matters, deadlines, and competing priorities
Qualifications
- 3–6 years of general commercial litigation experience
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Strong academic credentials
- Experience handling sophisticated business or commercial disputes
- Strong legal research and writing skills
- Experience with pleadings, discovery, motion practice, and depositions
- Excellent analytical and oral advocacy skills
- Strong client-service and communication abilities
- Ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Strong judgment and attention to detail
- Active bar admission in the jurisdiction associated with the candidate's office
Preferred Experience
- Experience at an AmLaw or nationally recognized law firm
- Federal court litigation experience
- Experience taking and defending depositions
- Significant discovery experience
- Complex business disputes
- Contract and business tort litigation
- Partnership or shareholder disputes
- Fiduciary duty matters
- Corporate or financial disputes
- Arbitration or mediation experience
- Judicial clerkship experience
Pay
Salary: $260,000 - $300,000 per year