Defend. Lead. Elevate Your Practice.
Active California Bar License Required
At Tyson & Mendes, we’re not just practicing insurance defense—we’re redefining it. As a national leader known for our innovative strategies and our mission to stop Nuclear Verdicts®, we handle high-exposure, complex litigation for top insurers and sophisticated clients across the country.
We are seeking a Senior Counsel to join our highly collaborative Fresno team, offering the opportunity to work on complex, high-impact cases including general liability, construction defect, toxic tort, and class action matters.
This is an ideal role for an experienced insurance defense attorney who wants challenging work, flexibility, and a team that truly partners together to win.
Why Tyson & Mendes?
Complex, High-Level Work
Handle sophisticated litigation, including class actions, construction defect, toxic tort, and high-exposure general liability matters.
Collaborative, Team-Driven Environment
Work alongside experienced trial attorneys in a culture that values partnership, strategy, and shared success—not silos.
Flexible Work Options
Choose the work style that fits you best:
Remote (with occasional in-person appearances)
Hybrid
In-office
Trial-Focused Growth & Leadership
Advance your career through hands-on trial opportunities, Trial Academy, and mentorship—while also mentoring junior attorneys.
Stability with National Reach
Join a growing, nationally recognized firm with a strong reputation and long-term career opportunities.
What you bring
You bring 8+ years of litigation experience, ideally in insurance defense or civil litigation, along with strong experience handling general liability matters such as construction defect, toxic tort, or other complex cases. You have a proven ability to manage cases independently while thinking strategically, and you demonstrate excellent writing, deposition, and advocacy skills. You thrive in a collaborative environment, enjoy mentoring others, and are committed to delivering exceptional client service in every aspect of your work.
Make Your MoveIf you’re ready to take on complex, high-impact work with a firm that values collaboration, flexibility, and trial excellence, Tyson & Mendes is the place for you.
Apply today and help shape the future of insurance defense.
- Develop a case theme that is more compelling than any plaintiff ploy for sympathy or anger
- Refuse to accept mediocrity, the average, the standard or the norm in anything
- Independently handle court appearances, depositions, briefs and trials
- Work as part of a team with all levels of experiences
- Routine communications with clients
- Cultivate relationships with the firm’s existing and future clients
- Provide leadership and direction with respect to less experienced attorneys
- JD from an ABA approved school
- Must be licensed in your state
- 8+ years of solid litigation experience, specifically with litigation support, deposition and trial preparation
- Ability to manage full case handling responsibilities, including all facets of discovery and trial
- Experience handling insurance defense matters preferred
- Experience with time management systems
- Proficiency in MS Suite, specifically Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Ability to think and act independently and with minimal supervision
- Outstanding listening, verbal and written communication skills
- Professional appearance and demeanor
Compensation Package
- The base salary for this position ranges from $160,000-190,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications
- Attorneys are eligible for an annual billable hours bonus ranging from $10,000 and then aggregating with $7,500 for every additional tier
- Comprehensive benefits coverage offered, including plans available at zero employee cost (average annual employer contribution for health/vision/dental/life coverage is $700-$1,700)
- Employees benefit from a 401(k) program that includes a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the following 4-5%
- Employees receive a monthly technology reimbursement of $60
- Student loan repayment assistance or 529 college savings plan (full-time attorneys after one year with the firm) $100-$200/month
- Paid parental leave at base pay
Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program through HealthAdvocate
- Comprehensive in-house training and leadership development opportunities
- Firm Provided CLE Programs and Paid Bar License Renewal Fees
- Flexible vacation policy for attorneys
- Defined pathway to partnership
- 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
- Flexible Work Model: Remote, hybrid, or onsite options available
Skills Required
- Active California Bar License
- JD from an ABA approved school
- 8+ years of litigation experience, including litigation support, deposition and trial preparation
- Ability to manage full case handling responsibilities, including discovery and trial
- Strong experience handling general liability matters (construction defect, toxic tort, class actions)
- Experience handling insurance defense matters
- Experience with time management systems
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Ability to think and act independently with minimal supervision
- Outstanding listening, verbal and written communication skills
- Professional appearance and demeanor
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
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