Construction & Complex Liability Litigation Attorney

Wilson Elser•Los Angeles, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Wilson Elser is seeking a Construction & Complex Liability Litigation Attorney for their Los Angeles or Orange County office. This position can be structured at the Associate or Senior Attorney level, depending on experience, and is suitable for candidates with 3+ years of litigation experience or more senior attorneys comfortable managing complex matters independently. The role focuses on defending clients in complex liability matters, including construction defect, premises liability, catastrophic injury, general liability, and other complex civil litigation. The attorney will join a team representing developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, property owners, businesses, and other insured and self-insured clients. The ideal candidate will possess strong litigation experience, excellent analytical and writing skills, and the ability to manage cases from inception to resolution. Senior candidates are expected to lead case strategy, client communication, discovery, depositions, motion practice, mediations, and overall case management. Early-career candidates should have a solid litigation foundation and a desire to develop within a busy defense practice. This position offers a flexible hybrid working arrangement.

Requirements

JD from an ABA-accredited law school
Admitted to practice in California
3+ years of litigation experience required
Defense litigation experience strongly preferred
Candidates with construction defect, general liability, premises liability, catastrophic injury, transportation, or related complex litigation experience are encouraged to apply
Experience drafting discovery, pleadings, dispositive motions, and pretrial motions required
Experience handling court appearances, depositions, mediations, and expert discovery preferred
Experience cross-examining plaintiffs, fact witnesses, and/or experts preferred
Trial or second-chair trial experience a plus
Superior analytical, writing, and communication skills
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines
Ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative team environment

Nice To Haves

Trial or second-chair trial experience a plus

Responsibilities

Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memoranda, discovery, and other legal documents
Handle court appearances, depositions, mediations, and other litigation events
Manage a litigation caseload as part of a collaborative team, with level of independence based on experience
Develop case strategy, evaluate liability and damages, and work toward efficient resolution of matters
Communicate with clients, carriers, experts, opposing counsel, and witnesses
Prepare status reports, case evaluations, and other client-facing updates
Collaborate with attorneys across offices and practice areas, contributing to a cohesive and supportive team environment
For senior candidates, independently manage complex matters and help mentor more junior attorneys, as appropriate