Litigation Partner, Bodily Injury Defense

Distinct | North America; Fort Lauderdale (FL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Distinct Recruitment is seeking a Bodily Injury Defense Partner in Fort Lauderdale to join an established insurance defense firm. You will lead significant PI and BI cases, set trial strategy from the first report, and supervise associates who develop into trial lawyers.

Florida Bar membership and a proven book of business are highly valued; a portable book is preferred but not required. The role offers a hybrid work model and a competitive compensation package.

Qualifications

• Active Florida Bar membership is required.
• Extensive experience in bodily injury/personal injury defense.

Responsibilities

• Lead a docket of significant BI/PI defense cases, including high-exposure claims.
• Serve as first chair for trials in Broward and South Florida.
• Develop case strategy from initial report, including expert selection and mediation.
• Supervise and mentor a team of associates to grow into trial lawyers.
• Manage client relationships with carriers and insureds, with potential to expand.

Skills

Insurance defense experience

Trial leadership

Partner-level leadership

Job description

Verdicts are the best marketing an insurance defense lawyer will ever have. Brochures don't move adjusters. Lunches help a little. What really builds a practice is a reputation for trying bodily injury cases well and calling the outcome accurately before trial. Partners with that reputation are valuable whether they arrive with a large portable book or none at all.

I'm Ryan Jaiswal at Distinct Recruitment, hiring a bodily injury defense partner for an insurance defense firm in Fort Lauderdale. A portable book is preferred, not required. It will shape the offer if you have one; it won't rule you out if you don't.

What you'd lead

• A docket of significant bodily injury and personal injury defense cases, including higher exposure claims
• First chair trials in Broward and across South Florida
• Case strategy from first report, including early evaluation, expert selection and mediation
• A team of associates you'd supervise, train and help develop into trial lawyers
• Client relationships with carriers and insureds, with room to build more

Who this is for

• Florida Bar members with extensive insurance defense experience
• Trial lawyers comfortable leading cases and teams
• Current partners, and senior counsel who are doing the work of a partner without the title
• A book of business is a plus, not a requirement

Terms

• Hybrid, with the office in Fort Lauderdale
• 1,950 billable hours a year
• $200,000+, negotiable depending on book and experience

Why it could be the right move

At a certain point in a defense career, the question changes from "can I do this work?" to "do I have enough say over how it's done?" Staffing, client development, which cases are tried and how associates are trained. A partner level move is the moment to get more say in all of it, and that's the conversation I'd like to have. For a trial lawyer who wants their name on the practice and not just the pleadings, that's the point.