Stoel Rives LLP is seeking a litigation associate with at least seven years of experience to join its Litigation Practice Group in the Seattle office.
Our Litigation Team
Stoel Rives’ litigators are trial lawyers. We handle—and win—contentious, complex, and high-stakes disputes in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies across the country. We handle a wide variety of disputes, with an emphasis on environmental, antitrust, class action, intellectual property, and securities litigation, as well as white-collar criminal matters and internal investigations. We represent major companies, institutions, and individuals across a number of industries, including energy, healthcare, insurance, real estate, financial services, semiconductor, manufacturing, and consumer goods.
We have over 80 trial lawyers across nine offices. Our litigation group consistently has been recognized in the top tiers of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and Best Law Firms.
Responsibilities:
Lead motions practice: independently draft and argue dispositive and non-dispositive motions, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, Daubert motions, and complex discovery disputes.
Own deposition strategy and execution: take and defend key fact and expert depositions; design deposition plans; prepare witnesses (including executives and experts) with minimal partner oversight.
Direct all phases of discovery: manage end-to-end discovery strategy, including ESI protocols, vendor selection and oversight, custodial interviews, collection decisions, privilege analyses, and negotiations with opposing counsel and regulators.
Drive case strategy and execution: partner with clients and partners to formulate litigation strategy, assess risk, and align case tactics with business objectives; translate strategy into actionable workstreams.
Serve as primary day-to-day client contact: interface directly with clients, providing strategic advice, status updates, and budget management; build trusted client relationships.
Lead hearings and proceedings: appear independently at hearings, status conferences, mediations, and arbitrations; take a leadership role in trial preparation and, where appropriate, trial examination and courtroom advocacy.
Manage matters holistically: oversee case budgets, staffing, timelines, and deliverables across multiple matters; proactively identify and mitigate risks, inefficiencies, and cost drivers.
Supervise and develop junior team members: delegate effectively, provide substantive guidance and feedback, and mentor junior associates and paralegals; ensure quality control across all work product.
Coordinate cross-functional teams: lead collaboration with internal subject-matter experts (e.g., appellate, regulatory, investigations, white collar) and external stakeholders.
Contribute to practice development: support business development efforts through client relationship expansion, thought leadership, and participation in pitches and proposals.
Qualifications:
J.D. from an accredited law school; admitted and in good standing with the Washington bar (or eligible to obtain admission promptly).
7+ years of complex commercial litigation experience, preferably at an AmLaw 100 or 200 firm (or equivalent), with demonstrated progression toward independent matter management.
Experience in one or more specialized areas within litigation including real estate, construction, environmental, healthcare, and intellectual property litigation is a plus.
Proven ability to lead matters independently, including owning key strategic decisions, managing clients, and supervising teams with limited partner oversight.
Extensive experience in motions practice and depositions, including leading dispositive motions and taking/defending high-stakes fact and expert depositions.
Deep expertise in discovery management, including sophisticated ESI strategy, privilege issues, and vendor coordination in complex, document-intensive matters.
Strong command of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence, with experience across multiple jurisdictions; clerkship, trial, or arbitration experience strongly preferred.
Exceptional written and oral advocacy skills, with a record of producing high-quality, client-ready work product and effectively advocating in adversarial settings.
Demonstrated leadership and supervision skills, including mentoring junior lawyers, managing teams, and maintaining high standards across workflows.
Advanced case management capabilities, including budgeting, staffing, and handling competing priorities across multiple complex matters.
Technological proficiency with leading litigation and e-discovery platforms; ability to leverage technology to improve efficiency and outcomes.
Strong client-service orientation and business judgment, with the ability to anticipate client needs and deliver practical, strategic advice.
Hours Expectations & Compensation
The hours expectation for this position is 1,800 billable hours and an “all-in” hours expectation of 2,050 or 2,150, depending on seniority. The billable hours expectation includes up to 50 pro bono hours. All-in hours include the billable hours expectation as well as any additional billable hours, additional pro bono hours, and investment hours. Investment activities include business development, professional development, mentoring and coaching, recruiting, contributing to the firm’s workplace culture, and civic and community activities.
To be eligible for a bonus, associates must reach or exceed 1,850 billable hours (inclusive of up to 50 pro bono hours) and meet or exceed the all-in hours expectation.
The base compensation range for this position is $310,000+, inclusive of salaries in all listed markets. Base compensation presented to an individual candidate may vary based on skills, overall experience, and market location.
Developing & Retaining Talent
Stoel Rives places a high priority on attracting, developing, and retaining lawyers and business professionals.
We offer a variety of training programs and retreats addressing practice area topics and skills at all levels, as well as legal and professional skills generally. We have a coaching and mentoring program, and our new lawyer integration program provides new lawyers with the resources and information necessary to succeed after they join the firm. Finally, we have a core competency model which is a roadmap of the practical skills, abilities, and client service techniques needed for long-term success at the firm.
We value lawyers and business professionals who bring to the firm different backgrounds and experiences. Our people bring a variety of educational backgrounds, unique career experiences, bodies of knowledge, technical abilities, and community involvement. This variety makes us better at advising and serving our clients and it ensures a positive and supportive workplace for everyone.
We are proud participants in the ABA Well-Being Pledge, strongly believing that the well-being of our people is paramount to the success of the firm.
