Senior Litigation Attorney (10+ Years' Experience) – Complex Commercial & Aviation Litigation
Position Summary
The Senior Litigation Attorney will serve as a lead trial lawyer responsible for managing complex commercial and aviation litigation matters from inception through trial and appeal. This position requires a highly accomplished litigator with 10 or more years of complex commercial litigation experience, substantial first-chair or second-chair trial experience, and extensive practice in both state and federal courts.
The successful candidate will independently manage high-exposure litigation, develop case strategy, supervise associates and litigation support staff, take and defend depositions, argue dispositive motions, lead mediations, and serve as lead or co-lead trial counsel. Aviation litigation experience is highly desirable but not required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Litigation Leadership
- Serve as lead counsel on complex commercial litigation matters from pre-suit investigation through trial and appeal.
- Develop and execute comprehensive litigation strategies designed to achieve favorable client outcomes.
- Evaluate legal and factual issues, identify litigation risks, and formulate case strategy.
- Manage all phases of litigation while ensuring compliance with court deadlines and litigation budgets.
- Supervise litigation teams, including associates, paralegals, and outside vendors.
- Delegate assignments while providing mentoring and quality control over legal work product.
Motion Practice
Lead all aspects of motion practice, including drafting, reviewing, and arguing:
- Motions to dismiss
- Motions for summary judgment
- Daubert motions
- Motions in limine
- Discovery motions
- Motions to compel
- Protective orders
- Sanctions motions
- Emergency motions
- Appellate motions
Develop persuasive legal arguments supported by comprehensive legal research and strategic analysis.
Discovery
Direct all aspects of complex discovery, including:
- Developing overall discovery strategy.
- Drafting and reviewing written discovery.
- Managing large-scale document productions.
- Conducting privilege reviews and preparing privilege logs.
- Taking and defending fact witness and expert witness depositions.
- Preparing corporate representatives for Rule 30(b)(6) depositions.
- Managing electronic discovery and coordinating with e-discovery vendors.
- Preparing and arguing discovery-related motions.
Trial Practice
Serve as first and/or second chair trial counsel in complex litigation matters.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing trial strategy.
- Preparing witnesses and experts.
- Conducting direct and cross examinations.
- Preparing opening statements and closing arguments.
- Drafting jury instructions and verdict forms.
- Preparing trial exhibits and demonstratives.
- Managing courtroom presentation.
- Conducting evidentiary hearings.
- Participating in arbitrations and evidentiary proceedings.
Candidates should possess meaningful courtroom experience, including multiple jury and/or bench trials.
Court Appearances
Represent clients before state and federal courts by:
- Arguing dispositive motions.
- Conducting evidentiary hearings.
- Appearing at case management conferences.
- Handling status conferences.
- Arguing discovery disputes.
- Participating in appellate oral arguments, where applicable.
- Serving as lead counsel during trial proceedings.
Legal Research and Writing
The successful candidate must possess exceptional legal research, analytical, and persuasive writing skills.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting sophisticated legal research involving complex procedural and substantive legal issues.
- Drafting and reviewing:
- Complex dispositive motions
- Trial briefs
- Appellate briefs
- Legal memoranda
- Discovery motions
- Expert-related motions
- Jury instructions
- Trial memoranda
- Settlement memoranda
- Reviewing and editing work prepared by junior attorneys.
- Developing innovative legal arguments supported by controlling authority.
Client Representation
- Serve as the primary legal advisor for litigation clients.
- Provide strategic litigation advice throughout all phases of a case.
- Communicate case assessments, litigation risks, and settlement recommendations.
- Prepare clients for depositions, mediations, hearings, and trial.
- Manage client expectations while delivering exceptional legal representation.
Mentorship and Leadership
- Mentor junior associates and provide ongoing litigation training.
- Review and provide substantive feedback on pleadings, motions, and legal research.
- Assist with attorney development and litigation best practices.
- Foster collaboration and maintain the firm's standards of excellence in litigation.
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Active membership in good standing with the applicable state bar (Florida Bar admission preferred).
- 10 or more years of complex commercial litigation experience.
- Experience handling complex business disputes.
- Significant experience litigating in both state and federal courts.
- Demonstrated first-chair or second-chair trial experience.
- Extensive experience taking and defending depositions.
- Proven success arguing substantive motions.
- Experience managing complex, high-value litigation matters.
- Exceptional legal writing and oral advocacy skills.
- Ability to independently manage a sophisticated litigation practice.
Preferred Qualifications
- Aviation litigation experience.
- Federal appellate experience.
- Experience representing aviation companies, insurers, manufacturers, or operators.
Required Skills
Trial Advocacy
- First and/or second-chair trial experience.
- Jury trial experience.
- Bench trial experience.
- Evidentiary hearing experience.
- Courtroom advocacy.
- Witness examination.
- Expert witness examination.
- Trial strategy development.
Litigation Skills
- Complex commercial litigation.
- Case strategy development.
- High-stakes motion practice.
- Deposition strategy and execution.
- Discovery management.
- Settlement negotiation.
- Mediation advocacy.
- Appellate issue preservation.
- Litigation risk assessment.
- Strategic decision-making.
Legal Research and Writing
- Exceptional legal research abilities.
- Superior persuasive legal writing.
- Advanced analytical reasoning.
- Ability to synthesize complex legal issues.
- Drafting of sophisticated litigation documents requiring minimal revision.
- Strong command of federal and state procedural rules.
Leadership Skills
- Litigation team leadership.
- Mentorship and coaching.
- Case management.
- Strategic planning.
- Delegation and supervision.
- Client relationship management.
- Professional judgment and decision-making.
Technology Skills
Experience with:
- Westlaw, LexisNexis, or Fastcase.
- Microsoft Office Suite.
- Adobe Acrobat Pro.
- State and federal electronic filing systems.
- Litigation case management software.
- Electronic discovery platforms and document review tools.
- Trial presentation software (TrialDirector, Sanction, or similar preferred).
Professional Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Outstanding courtroom presence.
- Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking.
- Superior written and oral advocacy.
- Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
- Sound legal judgment.
- Ability to remain composed under pressure.
- Excellent organizational and case management skills.
- High ethical standards and professionalism.
- Commitment to delivering outstanding client service.
Performance Expectations
Within the first year, the Senior Litigation Attorney should:
- Independently lead complex litigation matters from inception through trial.
- Successfully manage high-exposure commercial litigation cases.
- Serve as lead counsel in hearings, depositions, mediations, and trials.
- Produce sophisticated legal work product with minimal oversight.
- Mentor junior attorneys and contribute to the professional development of the litigation team.
- Develop litigation strategies that achieve favorable client outcomes.
- Enhance the firm's reputation through exceptional advocacy, professionalism, and client service.
Ideal Candidate Profile ("Avatar")
The ideal Senior Litigation Attorney is a seasoned trial lawyer with 10+ years of complex commercial litigation experience who thrives in high-stakes, intellectually challenging disputes. They have extensive experience serving as lead counsel in state and federal courts, possess a proven record of successfully trying cases to verdict, and are recognized for exceptional courtroom advocacy, strategic judgment, and persuasive legal writing.
This attorney is equally comfortable arguing dispositive motions, conducting complex depositions, negotiating favorable settlements, and leading trial teams. They mentor junior attorneys, maintain the highest standards of professionalism, and inspire confidence in clients, judges, and colleagues alike.
The ideal candidate is proactive, decisive, and business-minded, approaching every case with a strategic focus on achieving the client's objectives efficiently and effectively. While aviation litigation experience is a significant advantage, the firm seeks an accomplished commercial litigator with the intellectual curiosity and aptitude to excel in a sophisticated aviation litigation practice.
Pay: $180,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: Remote
