Senior Counsel

Tyson & Mendes; Norwalk (CT); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Model

401(k) match

Student loan repayment assistance

Parental leave

Technology reimbursement

Job summary

Tyson & Mendes seeks a Senior Counsel in Connecticut to take meaningful ownership of cases, develop client relationships, and grow the office. The role offers autonomy with support from experienced trial lawyers and access to a national platform.

The ideal candidate has extensive Connecticut defense litigation experience, can work independently, and is excited by building a practice with strong leadership opportunities and room to lead matters.

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited school.
• Must be licensed to practice in Connecticut; New York bar is a plus.
• 8+ years of solid litigation experience with discovery and trial prep.
• Ability to manage full case handling independently.
• Strong communication and client-relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop case strategy and lead discovery, depositions and motions.
• Prepare matters for mediation and trial and communicate with clients and carriers.
• Mentor junior attorneys and lead teams in a growing practice.
• Develop client relationships and contribute to building the Connecticut presence.
• Collaborate with leading trial attorneys and leverage national resources.

Skills

Communication skills

Independent thinking

Leadership

Education

J.D. (ABA approved)

Tools

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Your Next Role Could Be Bigger Than Your Caseload

Senior Counsel | Connecticut

Please note: An active Connecticut Bar license is required. Admission in New York is highly valued but not required.

Tyson & Mendes is growing in Connecticut, and we are looking for an experienced trial attorney who wants the opportunity to do more than simply join an established practice.

This is an opportunity to help grow one.

Our Connecticut practice is expanding, creating an opportunity for the right Senior Counsel to take meaningful ownership of cases, develop client relationships, help strengthen our presence in the market, and grow into greater leadership as the office develops.

You will have the autonomy expected of an experienced attorney, along with the support of accomplished trial lawyers and the resources of a national litigation firm.

If you are an experienced Connecticut defense attorney who can independently manage complex litigation, has meaningful trial experience, and is excited by the opportunity to help build something, we would love to meet you.

Why This Opportunity?

Help Build Our Connecticut Practice

We are growing our presence in Connecticut, and the attorneys who join us during this stage will have an opportunity to contribute to what the office becomes.

For the right attorney, this means more than managing cases. It is an opportunity to become a trusted senior member of the practice, help develop teams and relationships, and position yourself for greater leadership as we continue to grow.

Practice With Independence

At the Senior Counsel level, we are looking for someone who knows how to run litigation.

You will be trusted to develop case strategy, manage discovery, take and defend depositions, handle substantive motion practice, communicate directly with clients and carriers, work with experts, evaluate exposure, and prepare matters for mediation and trial.

This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who appreciates autonomy, takes initiative, and does not need someone managing every step of the process.

Work Under Exceptional Trial Leadership

Our Connecticut attorneys are led by Danielle Pascale, New York and Connecticut Branch Office Managing Partner, an accomplished trial attorney who spent 21 years as a prosecutor before transitioning to civil defense. Her extensive courtroom experience includes trying numerous felony matters and leading highly complex investigations and prosecutions.

The Connecticut practice also falls within the Northeast Region led by Cathleen Kelly Rebar, Northeast Regional Managing Partner, who brings more than two decades of complex litigation and trial experience. Her career includes significant defense results in high exposure matters, prior service as an Assistant District Attorney and Deputy Attorney General, and leadership within private practice.

Together, they bring significant courtroom experience, strong leadership, and a deep understanding of complex litigation.

For an experienced attorney, that creates an attractive combination: room to lead your own matters with highly accomplished litigators behind you.

Bring Your Trial Experience

We are looking for an attorney who has actually been in the courtroom.

Trial experience is important for this position. You should be comfortable developing a matter with trial in mind and confident taking responsibility when a case needs to be tried.

Our practice involves sophisticated civil defense matters, and experience in insurance defense is strongly preferred. Relevant backgrounds may include general liability, premises liability, professional liability, products liability, medical malpractice, employment, toxic tort, or other complex civil defense litigation.

Connecticut litigation experience is particularly important because we need someone who understands the local courts, procedures, and practice environment and can contribute with a high degree of independence.

Admission in both Connecticut and New York would be particularly valuable as our Northeast practice continues to grow, but dual admission is not required.

Who Will Thrive Here?

You are experienced, self directed, and comfortable taking ownership.

You do not wait for someone else to determine what happens next on your cases. You think strategically, communicate proactively, follow through, and understand how to build trust with clients.

You also understand that independence and collaboration are not opposites. You are comfortable leading your own matters while sharing ideas, supporting colleagues, mentoring more junior attorneys, and asking for another perspective when it will make the strategy stronger.

Most importantly, you are interested in what comes next.

Maybe that means developing a team. Maybe it means expanding client relationships. Maybe it means taking on greater leadership as our Connecticut presence grows.

We want someone who sees that opportunity and wants to be part of it.

National Resources. Local Opportunity.

Joining a growing office does not mean building without support.

You will have the resources, technology, training, litigation support, and national platform of Tyson & Mendes behind you while working within a Northeast practice led by experienced trial attorneys.

That gives you the ability to make an impact locally while being connected to something much larger.

Come Help Us Build What’s Next in Connecticut

You have already proven that you can practice law.

Now you may be looking for an opportunity to lead, build, and have a greater impact on what comes next.

If you are an experienced Connecticut trial attorney who values independence, wants to work with excellent leadership, and is excited by the opportunity to help grow a practice, we would like to talk with you.

Join Tyson & Mendes in Connecticut and help us build what comes next.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop a case theme that is more compelling than any plaintiff ploy for sympathy or anger
• Refuse to accept mediocrity, the average, the standard or the norm in anything
• Independently handle court appearances, depositions, briefs and trials
• Work as part of a team with all levels of experiences
• Routine communications with clients
• Cultivate relationships with the firm’s existing and future clients
• Provide leadership and direction with respect to less experienced attorneys

REQUIREMENTS

• JD from an ABA approved school
• Must be licensed in your state
• 8+ years of solid litigation experience, specifically with litigation support, deposition and trial preparation
• Ability to manage full case handling responsibilities, including all facets of discovery and trial
• Experience with time management systems
• Proficiency in MS Suite, specifically Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Ability to think and act independently and with minimal supervision
• Outstanding listening, verbal and written communication skills
• Professional appearance and demeanor

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

• The base salary for this position ranges from $150,000 - 200,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications
• Attorneys are eligible for an annual billable hours bonus ranging from $10,000 and then aggregating with $7,500 for every additional tier
• Comprehensive benefits coverage offered, including plans available at zero employee cost (average annual employer contribution for health/vision/dental/life coverage is $700-$1,700)
• Employees benefit from a 401(k) program that includes a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the following 4-5%
• Student loan repayment assistance or 529 college savings plan (full-time attorneys after one year with the firm)$100-$200/month
• Paid parental leave at base pay
• Employees receive a monthly technology reimbursement of $60

BENEFITS

• Employee Assistance Program throughHealthAdvocate
• Comprehensive in-house training and leadership development opportunities
• Firm Provided CLE Programs and Paid Bar License Renewal Fees
• Flexible vacation policy for attorneys
• Defined pathway to partnership
• Internal diversity and inclusion programs, such as the Women’s Initiative and Young Professionals Initiative
• Firm-wide charitable giving program
• Numerous social and off-site events each year to enrich your relationships with your colleagues
• Flexible Work Model: Remote, hybrid, or onsite options available

We’re one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the country—known for breaking the mold of the traditional law firm. Our dynamic, diverse team of trial attorneys delivers exceptional results, from landmark cases like Howell v. Hamilton Meats to numerous defense verdicts across the nation.

But we don’t stop at great legal work—we invest in our people. With specialized training in our proven defense methods, clear paths to leadership, and robust professional development, we empower attorneys to grow their careers, build their personal brands, and become leaders in the field.

OK, now for the legal copy (we are a law firm, after all). It is Tyson & Mendes’ policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. By the way, if you read all of this, congratulations – we can already tell your attention to detail is exceptional.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS/EMPLOYEES OF TYSON & MENDES: Please take notice that the Firm collects certain information about you. For more information on the Firm’s policies, please refer to the document provided here .