Mid-level Business & Commercial Disputes Associate – California and Seattle

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

Job summary

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP seeks a mid-level Business & Commercial Disputes Associate with 3–5 years of experience to join our Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle office. The ideal candidate handles sophisticated commercial litigation, has strong research, writing and analytical skills, and is ready to take meaningful responsibility while working with partners, clients and case teams.

We offer hybrid work flexibility and a collaborative, global platform, supporting growth across

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.
• Admission to the California or Washington Bar as applicable.
• 3–5 years of commercial litigation experience at a law firm of comparable caliber.
• Experience with a broad range of commercial disputes, including contract disputes, business torts, partnership or shareholder disputes, fiduciary duty claims, or similar complex business litigation matters.
• Demonstrated ability to handle substantive litigation responsibilities with increasing independence, judgment, and ownership.
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills, including significant motion drafting and legal research experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with sound judgment.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and workstreams efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team.

Responsibilities

• Drafting substantive motions, briefs, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, and other sophisticated litigation work product
• Conducting legal research and developing thoughtful, practical litigation strategies
• Managing written discovery, document production, and other aspects of fact and expert discovery
• Analyzing complex factual and legal issues and presenting recommendations clearly and persuasively
• Supporting the development of case strategy and preparing for significant case events and proceedings
• Managing significant components of matters with appropriate partner supervision
• Coordinating effectively with clients, opposing counsel, experts, and other members of the case team
• Experience taking depositions and appearing in court for conferences or on discovery matters is a plus
• Contributing to a collaborative and collegial team environment

Skills

Legal research

Written advocacy

Oral advocacy

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Bar admission California or Washington

Job description

Data Privacy: BCLP complies with applicable data privacy laws. For details of your privacy rights (including the right to object, where applicable, to our processing of your Personal Information), please see our Privacy Notice . In particular:

• The BCLP Firm to which you are applying is responsible (i.e., it is the ‘Data Controller’) for the personal information it collects from you (see our Legal Notices for further details).
• Your personal information will be used for your recruitment and potential advancement in the organization, and also to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. It will also be used for those other relevant purposes in our Privacy Notice, such as equal opportunities monitoring and reporting where legally permitted; and for the improvement of our recruitment and other business processes.
• We undertake pre-hiring checks of Partners and staff (including social media, regulatory and criminal records checks where legally permitted). We use external providers, and also undertake certain verifications ourselves. If you do not provide your personal information (or your consent to the checks where applicable), we will not be able to recruit you.
• We will share certain personal information with our international offices and select third parties, subject to appropriate safeguards.

If you have any questions or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please send a written and dated request to [e-mail].

Position(s) I am Applying for

Mid-level Business & Commercial Disputes Associate – California and Seattle

At BCLP, we’ve built our firm on the foundations of thinking differently. Curious, inquisitive and unbound by tradition, we’re building change within our sector and beyond.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP is seeking a highly qualified associate with 3–5 years of experience to join its Business & Commercial Disputes practice in our Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle office.

The ideal candidate will have experience handling sophisticated commercial litigation matters and a strong foundation in complex business disputes. We are seeking an associate with excellent research, writing, and analytical skills who is prepared to take meaningful responsibility for matters and work collaboratively with partners, clients, and case teams.

You’ll be responsible for

• Drafting substantive motions, briefs, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, and other sophisticated litigation work product
• Conducting legal research and developing thoughtful, practical litigation strategies
• Managing written discovery, document production, and other aspects of fact and expert discovery
• Analyzing complex factual and legal issues and presenting recommendations clearly and persuasively
• Supporting the development of case strategy and preparing for significant case events and proceedings
• Managing significant components of matters with appropriate partner supervision
• Coordinating effectively with clients, opposing counsel, experts, and other members of the case team
• Experience taking depositions and appearing in court for conferences or on discovery matters is a plus
• Contributing to a collaborative and collegial team environment

Skills and experience required

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
• Admission to the California or Washington Bar as applicable
• 3–5 years of commercial litigation experience at a law firm of comparable caliber
• Experience with a broad range of commercial disputes, including contract disputes, business torts, partnership or shareholder disputes, fiduciary duty claims, or similar complex business litigation matters
• Demonstrated ability to handle substantive litigation responsibilities with increasing independence, judgment, and ownership
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills, including significant motion drafting and legal research experience
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with sound judgment
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and workstreams efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team

Why BCLP?

• We staff matters leanly, giving associates meaningful responsibility for cases, client interactions, and litigation strategy.
• Work with a global team of experienced lawyers in a collaborative, inclusive environment.
• Engage with high-profile clients across sectors including financial services, telecommunications, media, real estate, and healthcare.
• Be part of a firm recognized for its commitment to diversity, innovation, and professional development.
• Robust training and development programs.
• Hybrid work flexibility.

With more than 1,100 lawyers in 31 offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP is a fully integrated global law firm that provides clients with connected legal advice, wherever and whenever they need it. The firm is known for its relationship-driven, collaborative culture, diverse legal experience and industry-shaping innovation and offers clients one of the most active M&A, real estate, financial services, litigation and corporate risk practices in the world.

BCLP offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage, life insurance, and retirement plans. We also provide eligible employees with flexible time off plans including paid Parental leave, Paid Time Off (PTO), and paid holidays.

At BCLP we understand the value of a workforce with diverse perspectives and experiences, and we believe people perform at their best when they can truly be themselves at work. We aim to create an inclusive environment where all our employees are valued, motivated and able to be themselves. In order to provide the best possible service to our robust client base, we are committed to recruiting, retaining, rewarding and developing our people with regard to their abilities and contributions and without reference to their background, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, political belief, disability or any other applicable protected characteristic.

• Signee to the United Nations’ Global LGBTQ* Standard of Conduct for Business
• Named by Stonewall as a “Top Global Employer 2025”
• BCLP has received a top score in the HRCF’s Corporate Equality Index for 19 years. On the 2023-2024 index we scored 95%.

BCLP is an equal employment opportunity employer. The Firm strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, military status, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation or medical conditions related thereto), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. The Firm also strictly prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any protected class or status. The Firm complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting applications for employment, including consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on BCLP. Please inform the Firm's personnel representative if you need an accommodation to assist in completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Pursuant to the California and Washington pay transparency laws, BCLP is posting a reasonable estimate of a compensation range for an Associate with three to five years of experience. At the time of posting, the estimated range is $220,000 to $290,000. Actual compensation will be influenced by various factors, including, but not limited to, the level of relevant experience, skill sets, training, licensure and certifications, market data, and other job-related factors permitted by law. The range is based on a full-time work schedule.

Agencies:

Please note that BCLP does not accept opportunistic or unsolicited resumes submitted directly to hiring managers, partners or other employees. Candidate submissions will only be accepted from agencies that have agreed terms of business with the Recruitment Team and are submitted via the approved recruitment portal.

Any resumes submitted outside of this process will be treated as unsolicited, and BCLP reserves the right to engage such candidates without any obligation to the submitting agency, including the payment of any fees.