Senior Counsel

Tyson & Mendes LLP; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Paid parental leave

Flexible work model: remote, hybrid, |

Office-based flexibility

Job summary

Tyson & Mendes LLP is seeking experienced litigators for our Northern California team, based in Novato. You will own cases, develop strategy, manage client relationships, and handle discovery, depositions, and trials with support from senior trial lawyers.

We value autonomy within a collaborative culture. California bar admission is required, with 8+ years of substantial litigation experience and a demonstrated ability to lead matters from start to finish.

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-approved law school and licensed in California.
• 8+ years of solid litigation experience, including discovery and trial preparation.
• Proficiency with MS Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to think and act independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop a compelling case theme and strategy.
• Independently handle court appearances, depositions, briefs and trials.
• Work as part of a team with attorneys of varying experience levels.
• Maintain routine client communications and cultivate relationships.
• Provide leadership and direction to less experienced attorneys.

Skills

Independent thinking

Communication

Time management

Ownership mindset

Education

JD from ABA-approved school

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Your Experience Should Open Doors, not Put You in a Box.

Please note: An active California Bar license is required.

At this stage in your career, you know what kind of lawyer you are. You also know the difference between simply managing a caseload and being somewhere you can continue to grow, take ownership, try cases, and make an impact.

Tyson & Mendes is growing our Northern California team, and we’re looking for experienced litigators who want meaningful responsibility and the freedom to practice with confidence, while still having experienced trial lawyers and a highly collaborative team behind them.

Based out of our Novato office and serving matters throughout Northern California and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, our attorneys handle substantive insurance defense and civil litigation with real opportunities to develop cases from beginning to end.

If you’re a proactive litigator who takes ownership, communicates well, and wants your performance (not simply your years in practice) to determine what comes next, this may be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Why Northern California?

Own Your Cases
Senior attorneys here aren't waiting for someone else to move a case forward. You'll be trusted to develop strategy, manage client relationships, handle discovery and motion practice, take and defend depositions, prepare matters for trial, and make the decisions that move your cases toward the best possible outcome.

Get Closer to the Courtroom
This is a true litigation practice. Our Northern California attorneys handle matters with meaningful trial exposure, and several of our experienced attorneys regularly take cases to verdict. If you want to continue developing as a trial lawyer, or simply want to work alongside attorneys who actually try cases; you'll find those opportunities here.

Experience a Meritocracy, Not a Waiting Game
We don't believe your next opportunity should be determined solely by how long you've occupied a particular title. Tyson & Mendes rewards contribution, performance, initiative, and leadership. Attorneys who distinguish themselves have advocates who notice and opportunities to continue advancing.

Collaborate Without Losing Your Autonomy
Our Northern California attorneys operate as a highly collaborative group. Teams share knowledge, resources, and even attorneys when it makes sense, creating exposure to different lawyers, matters, and approaches. At the same time, experienced attorneys who prefer consistency within their team can build that rhythm as well.

Flexibility With a Real Office to Come Home To
Our Novato office offers genuine flexibility. Some attorneys enjoy being in regularly, others work hybrid schedules, and our broader support structure accommodates remote work. Attorneys who consistently come in at least twice a week can establish a permanent office space. The goal isn't facetime: it's giving experienced attorneys an environment where they can do their best work.

The Kind of Attorney Who Thrives Here

You're experienced enough to know that autonomy comes with accountability.

You take ownership of your cases and your client relationships. You follow up without being chased. You communicate proactively. You understand the realities of a busy litigation practice and can think, do, and bill, while maintaining excellent work product and client service.

Insurance defense experience is highly valued, but we also recognize that great litigators come from different backgrounds. Attorneys with substantive civil litigation, plaintiff-side, criminal, construction, professional liability, or other complex litigation experience may bring skills that translate well to our practice.

We're less interested in pedigree than we are in grit, judgment, initiative, and performance. We want people who have challenged themselves, learned from experience, and are still interested in becoming better lawyers.

Support When You Need It. Trust When You've Earned It.

Our attorneys are busy, practicing litigators, so this isn't an environment built around unnecessary meetings or constant oversight.

Instead, you'll find experienced attorneys who are highly responsive when you reach out, willing to share their knowledge, and invested in helping colleagues succeed. The attorneys who get the most from this environment are the ones who engage: ask questions, seek feedback, participate, and build relationships across the office.

Monthly office meetings, team meetings, social events, and informal traditions give attorneys opportunities to connect beyond their individual caseloads.

Serious Litigation. People Who Don't Take Themselves Too Seriously.

You can be an excellent trial lawyer without making the practice of law unnecessarily rigid.

Our Northern California team includes accomplished attorneys who work hard, collaborate closely, and still enjoy the people they work with. There's room for personality here and an appreciation for attorneys who can handle serious matters without taking themselves too seriously.

What matters is that you show up for your clients, your cases, and your colleagues.

Make Your Experience Count

If you're looking for a place where you'll be trusted to practice, challenged to keep growing, and recognized for what you contribute, we'd like to meet you.

Bring your experience. Bring your grit. Bring your personality.

Join Tyson & Mendes in Northern California and see where your experience can take you next.

RESPONSITBILITIES

• 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 the State of California
• 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 $160,000-$190,000 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 .