Senior Counsel – Law & Motion & Appellate Advocacy
Shape the Law. Defend. Win.
California Bar License Required
At Tyson & Mendes, we’re leading the charge in insurance defense with bold trial strategies and a national reputation for stopping Nuclear Verdicts®. Our Law & Motion and Appellate Team plays a critical role in crafting the legal arguments that define trial outcomes and shape appellate case law. We’re looking for a seasoned legal writer and strategist to join our team and help drive the future of defense litigation.
Why Tyson & Mendes?
- Strategic Litigation at the Highest Level – Work on high-stakes motions and appeals that influence precedent, shape trial outcomes, and drive national conversations in insurance defense.
- Elevate Your Expertise – Access mentoring, leadership opportunities, and ongoing legal training to sharpen your skills and grow your career.
- Long-Term Stability, National Impact – Be part of a rapidly expanding, financially strong law firm with the resources to support complex litigation.
- Inclusive, Purpose-Driven Culture – Join a firm that values diverse perspectives, equity in leadership, and a collaborative team-first mindset.
What You’ll Do
- Draft and argue dispositive motions, including motions for summary judgment, demurrers, and motions to dismiss
- Handle appellate matters from start to finish—including research, briefing, and oral argument—in state and federal courts
- Conduct in-depth legal research and analysis to develop creative, cutting-edge defense strategies
- Collaborate with trial teams to ensure legal positioning is strong at every stage of litigation
- Monitor emerging case law and legal trends to influence the development of insurance defense precedent
Who You Are
You are a persuasive legal writer, deep thinker, and litigation strategist with at least eight years of experience in law & motion and appellate practice. You bring a mastery of procedural and substantive law, especially within insurance defense and complex civil litigation. You thrive on high-stakes work, have a proven track record of winning dispositive motions and appeals, and are passionate about influencing legal outcomes through precision and clarity. You’re ready to help shape the law—one motion at a time.
Make Your Move. Be part of something bigger—join Tyson & Mendes and help shape the future of insurance defense. Apply today. We’re ready for your best.
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
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- Active license to practice law in California, 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
Benefits
- 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
About Tyson & Mendes
Click here to learn more about the Tyson & Mendes Office! (944) The Tyson & Mendes Office - YouTube
We’re one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the country—known for breaking the mold of the traditional law firm. Our dynamic, diverse team of trial attorneys delivers exceptional results, from landmark cases like Howell v. Hamilton Meats to numerous defense verdicts across the nation.
But we don’t stop at great legal work—we invest in our people. With specialized training in our proven defense methods, clear paths to leadership, and robust professional development, we empower attorneys to grow their careers, build their personal brands, and become leaders in the field.
Follow along with the firm on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit www.tysonmendes.com.
Equal Opportunity Employer Notice
OK, now for the legal copy (we are a law firm, after all). It is Tyson & Mendes’ policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. By the way, if you read all of this, congratulations – we can already tell your attention to detail is exceptional.
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS/EMPLOYEES OF TYSON & MENDES: Please take notice that the Firm collects certain information about you. For more information on the Firm’s policies, please refer to the document provided here.
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Top Skills
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
