Defense Litigation Associate Attorney - Asbestos

About the role

Harris Beach Murtha is seeking an associate to join its growing Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation team, with a particular focus on our national asbestos defense practice. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with experienced attorneys across multiple offices, engage in high-level litigation strategy, and take on meaningful responsibility representing defendants in a variety of industries in state and federal courts nationwide. The work is collaborative, fast-paced, and provides hands-on experience managing complex toxic tort matters.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with experienced attorneys across multiple offices
• Engage in high-level litigation strategy
• Take and defend depositions of plaintiffs and fact witnesses
• Research legal, procedural, and scientific issues, and collaborate with senior attorneys on strategy
• Draft responsive pleadings, memoranda, briefs, and significant motions including motions for summary judgment and discovery motions
• Prepare reports to clients, including deposition reports, litigation status reports and case analysis reports
• Represent clients at courtroom appearances, including oral argument of motions and discovery conferences (both in-person and virtually)

Requirements

• Experience Level: 2+ years of asbestos defense litigation required
• Admission to the New York AND New Jersey bars (required)
• Juris Doctor from ABA-accredited law school
• Familiarity with Zoom, MS Teams, and other video platforms for depositions, court conferences, and hearings
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• The ability to function effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly absorb and analyze new information
• A high level of professionalism, conscientiousness, and responsibility
• A positive, flexible, and cooperative attitude
• Military experience welcome

Benefits

The firm requires a minimum of 1900 billable hours annually. The work environment and expectations are described above.

Pay

Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position and geographic locations.

• Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester (Pittsford), Syracuse: $125,000 - $185,000
• Long Island (Uniondale) and White Plains: $140,000 - $185,000
• NYC: $145,000 - $185,000

Schedule

A hybrid work opportunity in one (or several) of Harris Beach Murtha's New York offices.

Qualifications

Minimum annual billable requirement of 1900 hours.

Skills

The firm requires the following skills:

• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• The ability to function effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly absorb and analyze new information
• A high level of professionalism, conscientiousness, and responsibility
• A positive, flexible, and cooperative attitude
• Military experience welcome

Benefits

The firm is committed to an inclusive environment and welcomes applications from diverse candidates with varied backgrounds and skills, including military experience. Harris Beach Murtha is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Location

Any Harris Beach Murtha office in New York State (Hybrid opportunity).

Contact Information

Harris Beach Murtha is not accepting candidate submissions from recruiting agencies for this position during the first two weeks after posting. Following this period, agencies with an active fee agreement with the firm may reach out to our internal recruitment team at resumes@harrisbeachmurtha.com to inquire about potential collaboration for this position.