Senior Counsel – Law & Motion & Appellate Advocacy
Shape the Law. Defend. Win.
California Bar License Required
At Tyson & Mendes, we are redefining insurance defense and trial advocacy, leading the industry with exceptional legal strategy and innovative defense techniques. Our commitment to stopping Nuclear Verdicts® and delivering winning appellate strategies makes us the go-to trial firm for top insurers and Fortune 500 companies. We foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning, where attorneys refine their craft and drive impactful legal outcomes.
Now Offering a Limited-Time Sign-On Bonus!
Tyson & Mendes is offering a retention-based sign-on bonus for California- and New York-barred attorneys hired between April and August 2025. This exclusive bonus program is available to attorneys supporting any California office or our New York office and is designed to reward long-term commitment and engagement. Offers must be accepted by July 31, 2025, with a start date no later than August. Don’t miss this unique opportunity in the insurance defense market!
Why Tyson & Mendes?
✔ Lead the Charge – Work on high-stakes, precedent-setting motions and appeals that shape the future of insurance defense litigation.
✔ Career Growth – Enhance your expertise with mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities.
✔ Stability & Expansion – Join a rapidly growing, nationally recognized firm that prioritizes long-term career success.
✔ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Be part of a firm that values diverse perspectives and equitable opportunities in the legal profession.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Law & Motion Attorney with a strong background in appellate advocacy to join our elite litigation team. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of procedural and substantive legal issues, excels at dispositive motions and appeals, and is a persuasive legal writer and strategist. This is an opportunity to work on complex, high-profile insurance defense cases, crafting the legal arguments that influence trial and appellate outcomes.
What You’ll Do:
- Draft and argue dispositive motions, including motions for summary judgment, demurrers, and motions to dismiss.
- Handle appellate matters, from briefing to oral arguments, in both state and federal courts.
- Conduct high-level legal research and analysis to develop innovative defense strategies.
- Collaborate with trial teams to shape case strategy, ensuring strong legal positioning at every stage.
- Stay ahead of legal trends, influencing the development of new case law in insurance defense.
Work Where You Thrive
Remote – Work from home with availability for in-person court appearances.
Hybrid – Split time between remote and office work.
In-Office – Join a dynamic, high-energy litigation team environment.
Who You Are
8+ years of experience in law & motion and appellate litigation.
Exceptional research, analytical, and persuasive writing skills.
Proven track record of winning dispositive motions and appellate cases.
Deep knowledge of procedural and substantive law in insurance defense and civil litigation.
Strategic thinker and meticulous legal analyst, ready to drive winning results.
Join a firm that’s shaping the future of insurance defense litigation. Apply today!
Key Responsibilities:
- Law & Motion Practice: Prepare, draft, and argue a variety of motions, including motions to dismiss, summary judgments, and other pre-trial and post-trial motions.
- Appellate Briefs and Oral Arguments: Manage appellate cases from inception to resolution, including designating the record, drafting appellate briefs, preparing petitions, and presenting oral arguments when necessary.
- Legal Research and Writing: Conduct thorough legal research on relevant case law, statutes, and procedural rules to support motion practice and appellate work.
- Case Analysis and Strategy: Collaborate with the litigation team to develop case strategies, identify key legal arguments, and prepare oppositions to motions filed by opposing counsel.
- Collaboration with Clients and Colleagues: Work closely with colleagues to provide status updates, discuss case developments, and make recommendations based on legal findings.
- Maintain Deadlines and Case Management: Ensure all court and case deadlines are met by effectively managing case files, schedules, and electronic records.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- Active license to practice law in [relevant state], with eligibility to practice in federal courts preferred.
- 3-5+ years of experience in insurance defense, law and motion, or appellate practice.
- Proven success in drafting and arguing motions, particularly dispositive motions.
- Demonstrated experience managing appellate cases, including brief writing and oral arguments.
- Strong legal research skills and proficiency with platforms like Westlaw or LexisNexis.
- Exceptional writing skills, with a keen attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and communicate effectively with team members.
- Familiarity with e-discovery tools and procedures.
- Previous experience working in insurance defense or a related field.
- Guaranteed bonus structure for attorneys and paralegals
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans (some at no cost to the employee)
- Student loan repayment assistance OR 529 college savings program for attorneys
- 401K matching
- Paid parental leave
- Flexible vacation policy for attorneys
- Internal education and leadership development programs
- Pathway to partnership for attorneys
- Internal diversity and inclusion programs, such as the Women’s Initiative and Young Professionals Initiative
- Firm-wide charitable giving program
- Numerous social and off-site events each year to enrich your relationships with your colleagues
- Employee Assistance Program through HealthAdvocate
- Access to Maven resources for new parents through Blue Shield
Similar Jobs
What We Do
Tyson & Mendes’ goal is to achieve justice for all through innovation, collaboration, and outstanding service. Founded in 2002 by principal trial attorneys Robert Tyson and Patrick Mendes, we are an AV-rated litigation firm of more than 200 attorneys across the U.S. specializing in defending insurers, corporations, and insureds in civil litigation. Tyson & Mendes represents clients throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. In addition to these states, our attorneys also serve clients in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. We have handled some of the most contentious cases that have helped define insurance defense litigation, and we have earned our reputation for targeting the threat of and putting a stop to Nuclear Verdicts® – runaway jury verdicts in excess of $10 million. Our trial-only subsidiary firm, TM HALO®, is wholly dedicated to stemming the tide of Nuclear Verdicts®. Comprised of Tyson & Mendes’ elite defense attorneys with decades of courtroom experience, TM HALO lawyers parachute in to handle the thorniest, highest stakes cases and prevent Nuclear Verdicts®. Back at home, we are ensuring all of our attorneys have the tools they need to achieve exceptional results and protect our clients from unfounded damages awards. We are committed to ongoing education and development. Through comprehensive programs like our TM University and the Tyson & Mendes Trial Academy, Tyson & Mendes attorneys receive in-depth training on the proven defense methods outlined in Managing Partner Robert Tyson’s best-selling book, “Nuclear Verdicts®: Defending Justice for All,” which is the first playbook for the defense on how to avoid runaway jury verdicts
