Commercial & Business Litigation · 4–5 Years of Experience · California Bar Admission
Many mid-level litigation associates at sprawling global firms find themselves trapped under layers of senior staffing, limited to document review or endless discovery cycles. This position, with a premier California-founded business law firm, offers the exact antidote: sophisticated, high-stakes commercial litigation paired with a transparent, entrepreneurial track where you are expected to take the second chair.
The practice handles high-value commercial and business disputes, offering immediate, substantive experience across the entire lifecycle of a case. Rather than being siloed into a single phase of litigation, you will actively draft pleadings and high-level briefs, lead state and federal discovery strategies, and handle correspondence directly with corporate clients. Crucially, the firm's lean staffing model means a 4th or 5th-year associate will gain meaningful, hands-on experience taking and defending depositions, presenting oral arguments in court, and actively preparing for complex trials and arbitrations.
This role is specifically tailored for a 4th or 5th-year litigation associate who has mastered the foundational mechanics of drafting and written discovery, and is now eager to transition into stand-up advocacy. If you are currently at a mega-firm looking for greater autonomy and a shorter line of sight to partnership, or at a boutique seeking a more dominant West Coast business platform, this position bridges that gap perfectly.
The firm stands out for its unique blend of top-tier institutional resources and a genuine, collaborative culture that lacks the rigid bureaucracy of traditional Big Law. Known for its strong entrepreneurial spirit, the firm actively encourages and supports associates who want to build their own professional networks and client bases early in their careers. It is an environment built on mutual respect and light oversight, where exceptional work product is met with increased autonomy.
Operating out of Century City means being positioned at the absolute epicenter of Southern California's corporate, entertainment, and real estate deal flow. You get all the prestige and high-end complexity of a major metropolitan practice, but within a highly professional, walking-friendly business district that avoids downtown logistics.
The anticipated initial annual base salary range for this full-time role is $285,000 to $325,000, unbundled from strict lockstep scales to reward individual skill, experience, and efficiency.
The firm also provides a comprehensive, competitive benefits package, including:
If you are ready to move out of the back room and take a visible, high-impact role on complex business disputes, let's have a preliminary, confidential conversation.
Contact us to discuss how this position aligns with your long-term career trajectory. Your inquiry is entirely confidential, and your details will never be disclosed to the hiring firm without your explicit permission.