Associate, Litigation

White & Case; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 235,000 - 365,000; Full time

Job summary

White & Case LLP in Los Angeles seeks associates with 2-5 years of Commercial Litigation experience to join our Los Angeles office. Strong academic credentials and exceptional writing, research, and analytical skills are essential.

You will handle pleadings, discovery, and client communications with opportunities to lead on matters from day one, under partner supervision, while collaborating across teams.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of Litigation/law firm experience, with a focus on civil litigation.
• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Outstanding communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategy for matters ranging from complex commercial litigation and regulatory investigations.
• Advise multinational clients in litigation across diverse industries.
• Draft briefs, pleadings, memoranda, and witness outlines.
• Lead discovery and deposition preparation, and support client communications.
• Conduct legal research and analyze evidence to develop facts and strategy.

Skills

Legal writing

Legal research

Oral advocacy

Analytical thinking

Team player

Client service

Communication

Good judgment

Self-starter

Education

Bar admission

Juris Doctor

Job description

Position Summary

We are currently looking for associates with 2-5 years of Commercial Litigation experience to join our Los Angeles office.

As well as excellent academic credentials, you should possess strong legal writing, research, and analytical skills. You should also excel in oral communication and advocacy. You should demonstrate the analytical rigor to grasp the legal intricacies of complex, cross-border disputes, the competitive spirit needed to thrive in adversarial matters, and an enthusiasm for the challenge of constructing legal arguments.

Committed and cooperative, you should enjoy working within large and small teams, and be willing to do what it takes to contribute to your team’s and client’s success. This collaborative mindset should be balanced by the independence of thought and action—to proactively anticipate colleagues’ and clients’ needs, and to develop original solutions to their problems.

As an associate, you will be given responsibility for a wide range of important tasks for our firm’s clients. Responsibilities vary from matter to matter, but generally speaking, we seek an associate with the experience, intelligence, and proactive drive to serve as a lead associate on matters from day one who is also committed to continually improving their skillset. The ideal candidate will research and draft critical briefs, pleadings, and analyses; develop and execute successful discovery strategies; and play an important role in communications with clients, depositions, expert witness preparation, and court hearings and trials, among other tasks. We are looking for a go-getter who can succeed within the context of a team of lawyers and support staff, and interact professionally with clients.

Our Practice Area

We represent clients in all stages of litigation, before trial, appellate, regulatory, and alternative dispute resolution tribunals. Renowned for the global breadth and local depth of our experience, we are trusted advisors to the world’s leading financial institutions and largest corporations in industries such as consumer goods, food and beverage, and technology. As well as guiding clients through their most complex and significant litigation challenges, we also help them steer clear of disputes and lead their responses to regulatory investigations.

Working in the Litigation group of our Los Angeles Office provides the benefits of a truly global law firm with cutting‑edge, cross‑office, bet‑the‑company matters, while also obtaining significant and early responsibility on leanly staffed matters. The work can be demanding but is always rewarding—offering excellent opportunities for learning and development. We foster a collegial working environment where partners are friendly and accessible, and colleagues are supportive and open to questions. Your professional development will also be enhanced by regular interaction with colleagues across the firm’s global network, with specialist knowledge of practice areas such as Antitrust/Competition, International Arbitration, and Intellectual Property.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Develop strategy for matters ranging from complex commercial litigation, class actions, business‑tort litigation, arbitration‑related litigation, and regulatory investigations.
• Advise clients, including multinational companies, public and private companies, funds, firms, partnerships and individuals in all types of litigation across a broad variety of industries.
• Draft briefs, pleadings, memoranda, correspondence, examination outlines, and other documents for matters.
• Play a key role in document and deposition discovery, trial preparation, and trial.
• Conduct legal research.
• Participate in and conduct witness interviews, client meetings, and negotiations.
• Analyze evidence to develop facts and strategy.
• Communicate with clients (via telephone, e‑mail and in‑person).
• Provide direct assistance to partners and senior lawyers on matters arising in the course of day‑to‑day provision of legal services to leading clients.
• Supervise junior lawyers and support staff.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of Litigation/law firm experience, with a focus on civil litigation.
• Strong academic record and intellectual curiosity, creative thinker.
• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Commercial and business awareness.
• Keen eye for detail with an ability to see the bigger picture.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure, including when juggling multiple projects with tight deadlines.
• Strong professional presence.
• Client service focus.
• Team player.
• Strong judgment.
• Proactive, resourceful, takes initiative and a self‑starter.
• Fluency in English.
• Admitted to the bar and in good standing.

Location & Reporting

• This is a Litigation role based in Los Angeles, with potential for international travel.
• This role reports to Bryan Merryman.

Salary Range: $US235,000 - $US365,000

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact [e-mail].

Benefits at White & Case

White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at‑will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.