Commercial Litigation Associate

Leoforce; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Leoforce is seeking a Commercial Litigation Associate in a mid-level role based in San Diego. The position involves handling sophisticated business disputes, taking on meaningful responsibility, and learning directly from experienced litigators.

Candidates should have 3–6 years of general commercial litigation experience, a J.D. from an accredited law school, and strong research, writing, and advocacy skills. This is a high‑impact role with a national platform.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of general commercial litigation experience.
• Strong academic credentials.
• Experience handling sophisticated business or commercial disputes.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Experience with pleadings, discovery, motion practice, and depositions.
• Excellent analytical and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong client-service and communication abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong judgment and attention to detail.
• Active bar admission in the jurisdiction associated with the candidate's office.

Responsibilities

• Handle complex commercial and business litigation matters in federal and state courts.
• Conduct legal research and draft motions, briefs, memoranda, and other substantive legal documents.
• Draft and respond to complaints, answers, counterclaims, and other pleadings.
• Draft and respond to written discovery.
• Manage discovery disputes and related motion practice.
• Handle fact and expert discovery, including developing and implementing e‑discovery strategies.
• Take and defend depositions.
• Assist with case strategy, witness preparation, and trial preparation.

Skills

Legal research

Motions and briefs

Oral advocacy

Writing and editing

Client communication

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Commercial Litigation Associate

Experience:

Mid Level

Salary:

$260,000 - $300,000 per year

Job Details

• Sophisticated commercial litigation
• Work on complex business disputes involving sophisticated companies and significant commercial interests. The practice goes well beyond routine litigation and focuses on matters that require thoughtful strategy and strong advocacy.
• Meaningful responsibility
• Associates have the opportunity to take ownership of substantive pieces of cases, rather than being limited to research and document review. As experience grows, so does responsibility.
• Work directly with experienced litigators
• The team is led by accomplished trial lawyers who remain actively involved in their matters. Associates have the opportunity to learn directly from experienced practitioners and see how complex cases are developed and managed.
• Real litigation experience
• Gain hands‑on experience with pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, negotiations, arbitration, and trial preparation. The goal is to develop well‑rounded commercial litigators.
• Business‑focused advocacy
• The practice recognizes that litigation is ultimately about the client's business. Attorneys consider the commercial consequences of a dispute and develop strategies designed to achieve practical, effective outcomes.
• Lean, collaborative teams
• Matter teams are intentionally structured around the needs of each case, allowing associates to work closely with partners and take an active role in the litigation.
• Sophisticated clients and challenging matters
• Represent businesses and organizations in disputes where the legal and commercial stakes are significant, providing exposure to sophisticated clients and complex factual and legal issues.
• National platform
• Work within an AmLaw platform with the resources and capabilities to handle significant disputes across jurisdictions while maintaining a collaborative approach to individual matters.
• Build your litigation career
• For attorneys looking to become stronger commercial litigators, the practice provides opportunities to develop legal judgment, advocacy skills, client relationships, and courtroom experience over time.

A bit about us:

• We are a highly respected AmLaw firm with a sophisticated Commercial Litigation practice representing businesses and organizations in complex, high‑stakes disputes throughout the country.
• Our attorneys handle a broad range of business disputes in federal and state courts, as well as arbitration and other dispute‑resolution forums. The practice focuses on sophisticated commercial matters where litigation strategy must be closely aligned with the client's broader business objectives.
• The team represents clients in disputes involving contracts, business relationships, corporate governance, fiduciary duties, partnerships, financial matters, and other complex commercial issues. Attorneys are involved throughout the lifecycle of a dispute, from early case assessment and discovery through motion practice, negotiations, arbitration, and trial.
• The practice is led by experienced trial lawyers who remain closely involved in their matters while giving associates meaningful opportunities to contribute. Teams are intentionally structured to provide the right level of experience and efficiency for each matter, creating an environment where associates can gain substantive experience and develop as advocates.
• The approach is both aggressive and business‑minded. The goal is not simply to litigate for the sake of litigating, but to understand the client's commercial objectives and develop a strategy designed to achieve the most effective resolution.
• This is an opportunity for a commercial litigator to work on sophisticated business disputes alongside experienced practitioners while taking on meaningful responsibility and continuing to develop strong litigation and advocacy skills.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to work alongside experienced commercial litigators and trial lawyers on sophisticated matters in federal and state courts, arbitration proceedings, and other forums. Associates will have meaningful exposure to all phases of litigation and the opportunity to take increasing ownership of substantive casework.

Key Responsibilities

• Handle complex commercial and business litigation matters in federal and state courts
• Conduct legal research and draft motions, briefs, memoranda, and other substantive legal documents
• Draft and respond to complaints, answers, counterclaims, and other pleadings
• Draft and respond to written discovery
• Manage discovery disputes and related motion practice
• Handle fact and expert discovery, including developing and implementing e‑discovery strategies
• Take and defend depositions
• Assist with case strategy, witness preparation, and trial preparation
• Analyze complex factual and legal issues and develop practical litigation strategies
• Communicate with clients and work directly with partners on significant matters
• Participate in settlement negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and other dispute‑resolution proceedingsManage individual matters and assignments with increasing independence
• Balance multiple matters, deadlines, and competing priorities

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of general commercial litigation experience
• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Strong academic credentials
• Experience handling sophisticated business or commercial disputes
• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Experience with pleadings, discovery, motion practice, and depositions
• Excellent analytical and oral advocacy skills
• Strong client-service and communication abilities
• Ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Strong judgment and attention to detail
• Active bar admission in the jurisdiction associated with the candidate's office

Preferred Experience

• Experience at an AmLaw or nationally recognized law firm
• Federal court litigation experience
• Experience taking and defending depositions
• Significant discovery experience
• Complex business disputes
• Contract and business tort litigation
• Partnership or shareholder disputes
• Fiduciary duty matters
• Corporate or financial disputes
• Arbitration or mediation experience
• Judicial clerkship experience

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