Sr. Trial Attorney

About the Role

This position is for a highly skilled and experienced litigation professional responsible for independently handling complex commercial, construction defect, insurance defense, and subrogation matters through all phases of litigation. Serving as lead counsel or as a key member of a trial team, the Senior Trial Attorney demonstrates exceptional trial advocacy, strategic judgment, and proactive case management while delivering high-quality legal services aligned with client expectations and organizational standards.

The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in insurance defense and subrogation litigation, coupled with a strong background in commercial and construction defect claims. This individual serves as a trusted advisor to clients and claims professionals, provides strategic case assessments, and contributes to the development of junior attorneys and legal staff.

This is a hybrid role based out of our San Antonio, TX or Irving, TX offices, requiring you to come into the office 3 days a week. On occasion, applications from candidates working remotely, who are licensed and residing in South Texas, who bring critical industry skills and relevant experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a complex caseload of commercial litigation, construction defect, insurance defense, and subrogation matters from inception through trial or resolution.
• Serve as lead trial counsel and demonstrate advanced trial advocacy skills in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, mediations, and administrative proceedings.
• Develop and execute litigation strategies involving liability, damages, coverage issues, risk transfer, indemnity, contractual disputes, construction defect claims, and subrogation recovery actions.
• Provide timely, factually and legally supported evaluations regarding liability exposure, damages, settlement authority, recovery potential, and trial strategy.
• Proactively manage cases in accordance with Nationwide Trial Division methodologies, client expectations, and claims objectives while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Maintain expertise in developments affecting commercial litigation, construction defect law, insurance defense, subrogation, and related legal disciplines.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with claims professionals, clients, experts, and business partners to support positive litigation outcomes.
• Collaborate effectively with support staff and leverage technology to maximize case management efficiency and litigation effectiveness.
• Mentor and develop junior attorneys and legal staff while serving as a role model for professionalism, collaboration, and legal excellence.
• Support business development initiatives and strengthen the Trial Division's reputation through exceptional client service and legal performance.
• Demonstrate the requisite trial advocacy skills independently as lead counsel, or as part of a team, with efficiency, proactive case management, and high-quality work product.
• Provide factually, legally, and analytically sound opinions on case valuations that are promptly updated and communicated to clients and claims.
• Independently establish and maintain strong professional relationships with key associates within the Office of the Chief Legal Officer, claims partners, and colleagues in the legal and insurance industries.
• Utilize relationships to build and improve the Trial Division’s reputation and expand case referral opportunities.
• Communicate in a highly effective manner, consistently and proactively identifying, understanding, and meeting client, claims, and internal communication expectations.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of 15+ years of civil litigation experience.
• Extensive experience in insurance defense and subrogation litigation.
• Significant experience handling complex commercial litigation and construction defect matters.
• Demonstrated success independently managing high-exposure litigation through discovery, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, settlement negotiations, and trial.
• Experience representing insurance carriers, insureds, self-insured entities, contractors, subcontractors, developers, property owners, and commercial clients is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license in the state in which the position is located.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of commercial litigation, construction defect law, insurance defense practices, subrogation recovery, and civil litigation procedures.
• Advanced trial advocacy and courtroom presentation skills.
• Exceptional analytical, legal research, writing, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of insurance coverage issues, claims handling practices, liability analysis, and recovery strategies.
• Proven ability to evaluate and manage complex, high-exposure litigation matters with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively advise clients, claims partners, and senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Proficiency with litigation technology, electronic discovery platforms, case management systems, and electronic filing procedures.
• Commitment to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and client service.

Pay

The national salary range for this role is $138,000.00–$243,000.00. The expected starting salary range is $138,000.00–$206,000.00. Placement within the actual starting salary range will be determined by skills, education, training, credentials, experience, scope, complexity, and location of the role, as well as the cost of labor in the market. If applicable, sales incentives based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range.