Litigation Associate

SkyWater Search Partners; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 235,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

SkyWater Search Partners seeks a Litigation Associate for its San Francisco office, focusing on complex litigation and white collar investigations. The ideal candidate has a J.D. and 4–6 years of relevant experience with California Bar membership.

The role involves a variety of responsibilities, from handling civil litigation phases to direct client counseling and managing discovery. Attractive compensation ranges between $235,000–$260,000 based on experience.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of litigation and/or white collar experience at a law firm.
• California Bar membership in good standing.
• Experience with depositions and court proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Handle all phases of civil litigation, mediation, and arbitration.
• Represent clients in white collar criminal defense matters.
• Draft pleadings, motions, and conduct legal research.

Skills

Litigation

Negotiation

Legal research

Client counseling

Crisis response

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

An international law firm with a global dispute resolution practice spanning Europe, Asia Pacific, the US, and the Caribbean is seeking a Litigation Associate for its San Francisco office. The firm represents high-net-worth individuals, corporate entities, and governments in complex, cross-border disputes across commercial litigation, white collar investigations, asset recovery, board and shareholder disputes, international arbitration, and related practice areas.

Responsibilities

• Handle all phases of general civil litigation, complex commercial litigation, mediation, and arbitration
• Represent individual clients in white collar criminal defense matters, including federal criminal investigations and regulatory enforcement actions
• Provide direct client counseling and strategic advice, particularly in reputation management and crisis response
• Draft pleadings, motions, and memoranda of law; conduct legal research
• Manage discovery, including drafting/responding to requests and negotiating with opposing counsel
• Take and defend depositions, handle court appearances, and develop case strategy with the team
• Conduct internal investigations involving whistleblower claims, cybersecurity breaches, and regulatory scrutiny
• Contribute to business development efforts, including writing, networking, and relationship-building with referral sources

Qualifications

• J.D. required, strong academic credentials
• 4–6 years of litigation and/or white collar experience at a law firm
• California Bar membership in good standing
• Demonstrated experience with depositions, court proceedings, and sophisticated disputes
• Excellent drafting, research, negotiation, and communication skills
• Exposure to federal and state white collar investigations
• Experience representing individuals in litigation, particularly tech-sector clients (preferred)
• Prior individual white collar defense experience (preferred)
• Direct client advising experience (preferred)
• Former law clerk experience (preferred)
• Strong project management skills and intellectual curiosity

Compensation

$235,000–$260,000 (California range; actual offer based on experience and other permitted factors)