Litigation Attorney

State Bar of Texas; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Watts Law Firm, P.C. seeks an experienced Attorney with a strong background in commercial and intellectual property litigation to join the team in Houston.

The candidate will develop litigation strategy, conduct discovery, and serve as lead trial counsel across state and federal court matters. The role requires exceptional legal research and writing, a robust courtroom presence, and the ability to explain complex issues to clients, judges, and juries.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school is required.
• Demonstrated first-chair trial experience in complex civil or IP litigation.
• Strong research and writing abilities essential for pleadings, motions, and briefs.
• Excellent oral advocacy skills and courtroom presence expected.
• Ability to communicate complex legal and technical issues clearly to clients, judges, and juries.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex commercial litigation matters including intellectual property from inception through resolution.
• Serve as first-chair trial counsel and lead defense in hearings and trials.
• Develop and execute litigation and trial strategies tailored to each case.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests, responses, and other litigation documents.
• Prepare and argue dispositive motions and other pretrial and posttrial motions.
• Conduct and defend depositions of parties, witnesses, and experts.
• Attend hearings, conferences, mediations, arbitrations, and trials.
• Communicate case strategy and status with clients; coordinate with experts and co-counsel.
• Stay current on civil procedure in state and federal courts.

Skills

First-chair trial experience

IP litigation knowledge

Legal research & writing

Oral advocacy

Client communication

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Watts Law Firm, P.C. is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Attorney with a strong background in commercial litigation including intellectual property litigation to join our team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing litigation strategy, conducting discovery, taking and defending depositions, handling hearings and motions, and serving as lead trial counsel. The position requires exceptional legal research and writing abilities, strong courtroom oral advocacy skill, sound judgment, and the ability to effectively analyze and communicate complex legal and technical issues to clients, judges, and juries.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage complex commercial litigation matters including patent, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property from inception through resolution.
• Serve as first-chair trial counsel.
• Develop and execute litigation and trial strategies tailored to each case.
• Research and draft pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests, responses, and other litigation documents.
• Prepare and argue dispositive motions and other substantive pretrial and posttrial motions.
• Conduct and defend depositions of parties, fact witnesses, corporate representatives, and experts.
• Attend hearings, conferences, mediations, arbitrations, and trials.
• Communicate directly with clients regarding case strategy, case status updates, risks, and potential outcomes.
• Work closely with experts, consultants, co-counsel, and other professionals as necessary.
• Stay current on procedural and substrative law in civil litigation in both state and federal court.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Texas and in good standing.
• Demonstrated first-chair trial experience in complex civil litigation.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state litigation procedures.
• Exceptional legal research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong courtroom presence and trial advocacy skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys, staff, experts, and clients.

Preferred Qualifications

• A member of law review.
• Top 1/3 in their class or equivalent track record of success.
• Experience handling intellectual property matters in federal court; patent infringement and validity in federal court and the patent office and trademark infringement and other related claims.
• Experience in one or more practice areas listed in the summary
• Federal and state appellate experience is a plus.
• Admission to additional federal district courts is a plus.