Defense Litigation Associate Attorney - Mass Torts (Asbestos)

Murtha Cullina LLP; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with profit sharing

Paid leave programs

Job summary

Harris Beach Murtha is seeking an associate to join its Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation team, focusing on national asbestos defense. Work with senior attorneys across offices on high-level litigation strategy and complex toxic tort matters. Requires New York and New Jersey bar admission and a JD from an ABA-accredited school.

Hybrid work opportunity with a minimum 1900 billable hours annually and opportunities to draft significant motions and appear in court across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Admit to New York and New Jersey bars (required).
• Juris Doctor (JD) from ABA-accredited law school.
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Take and defend depositions of plaintiffs and fact witnesses.
• Research legal, procedural, and scientific issues and help set strategy.
• Draft pleadings, memoranda, briefs, and major motions including SJ and discovery motions.
• Prepare client reports: deposition, status, and case analyses.
• Represent clients at court appearances and hearings (in-person or virtual).

Skills

Deposition handling

Legal research

Legal drafting

Litigation strategy

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Zoom

MS Teams

Job description

Location

Any Harris Beach Murtha office in New York State (Hybrid)

Experience Level

2+ years of asbestos defense litigation required

About the Role

Harris Beach Murtha is seeking an associate to join its growing Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation team, with a particular focus on our national asbestos defense practice. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with experienced attorneys across multiple offices, engage in high-level litigation strategy, and take on meaningful responsibility representing defendants in a variety of industries in state and federal courts nationwide. The work is collaborative, fast‑paced, and provides hands‑on experience managing complex toxic tort matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Take and defend depositions of plaintiffs and fact witnesses
• Research legal, procedural, and scientific issues, and collaborate with senior attorneys on strategy
• Draft responsive pleadings, memoranda, briefs, and significant motions including motions for summary judgment and discovery motions
• Prepare reports to clients, including deposition reports, litigation status reports and case analysis reports
• Represent clients at courtroom appearances, including oral argument of motions and discovery conferences (both in‑person and virtually)

The firm requires a minimum of 1900 billable hours annually

Work Environment and Expectations

A hybrid work opportunity in one (or several) of Harris Beach Murtha's New York offices Minimum annual billable requirement of 1900 hours Engagement in sophisticated, high‑stakes litigation on behalf of long‑standing clients

Additional Requirements

• Admission to the New York AND New Jersey bars (required)
• Juris Doctor from ABA‑accredited law school
• Familiarity with Zoom, MS Teams, and other video platforms for depositions, court conferences, and hearings
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• The ability to function effectively in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly absorb and analyze new information
• A high level of professionalism, conscientiousness, and responsibility
• A positive, flexible, and cooperative attitude
• Military experience welcome

Salary

Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position and geographic locations. Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester (Pittsford), Syracuse: $125,000 - $185,000Long Island (Uniondale) and White Plains: $140,000 - $185,000NYC: $145,000 - $185,000

Benefits

Harris Beach Murtha offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports both professional and personal well‑being.

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurances; health savings and flexible spending account options; life and disability insurances; retirement plan including 401(k) and profit sharing; paid leave programs; employee assistance resources; commuter and parking benefits where applicable; and professional development opportunities.

Eligibility for benefits is subject to applicable plan terms and firm policies.

Equal Opportunity

Harris Beach Murtha is committed to an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from diverse candidates with varied background and skills, including military experience. Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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