Senior Defense Attorney
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Defense Attorney based in the United States.
This is a senior legal role focused on defending insured clients and supporting complex insurance litigation across assigned jurisdictions. You will manage cases from initial assignment through resolution while maintaining high standards of legal ethics and professional practice. The role combines courtroom advocacy, legal research, case strategy, and close collaboration with claims and legal teams. You will handle both tort and negligence matters as well as insurance coverage disputes involving personal and commercial lines. You will also contribute to quality assurance, office operations, and the development of less experienced legal professionals. This fully remote opportunity offers meaningful autonomy while requiring travel throughout assigned territories and occasional overnight stays.
Accountabilities
- Defend insured clients and the organization in pending litigation throughout assigned states, including state and federal court proceedings and travel as required.
- Handle tort, negligence, insurance coverage, personal lines, and commercial lines matters while developing effective litigation strategies and advocating for clients.
- Communicate promptly and effectively with claims legal personnel regarding assigned litigation files, case developments, strategy, and resolution.
- Maintain accurate, organized, and professional litigation files in accordance with established house counsel protocols and records-retention requirements.
- Participate in quality assurance reviews of litigation files and legal office procedures to promote consistency, efficiency, and high-quality work.
- Support office leadership with recurring management reports, operational activities, and day-to-day administrative processes.
- Assist with training and mentoring less experienced associate defense attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries.
- Identify opportunities to improve legal operations and adapt processes to the evolving requirements of a trial and litigation environment.
- Use digital case-management platforms, secure AI-enabled tools, and virtual collaboration technologies within a paperless legal environment.
- Active membership in the Ohio Bar and at least 5 years of experience practicing insurance defense litigation.
- Demonstrated ability to litigate and defend clients in both state and federal courts.
- Strong experience handling tort and negligence actions as well as insurance coverage disputes across assigned jurisdictions.
- Experience with both personal and commercial insurance lines, including commercial liability matters and defense of commercial clients preferred.
- Comprehensive knowledge of claim valuation, including bodily injury and commercial claims, along with strong knowledge of tort and negligence law, civil procedure, insurance contracts, and policy interpretation.
- Familiarity with the civil litigation market in Northeast and North Central Ohio.
- Strong analytical, organizational, legal research, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated initiative, sound professional judgment, adaptability, and the ability to work independently in a demanding litigation environment.
- Valid Ohio driver's license and willingness to travel throughout Northeast and North Central Ohio, other areas of Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania as required.
- Pennsylvania Bar admission, or the ability to obtain admission in Pennsylvania in the future, is preferred.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and comparable legal and communication technologies.
- Experience with Litify or other legal case-management systems and secure AI tools is advantageous.
- Must maintain compliance with applicable State Bar ethical standards and continuing legal education requirements.
- Fully remote work environment with flexibility in working arrangements and hours, depending on role requirements.
- Competitive compensation and traditional employee benefits.
- Cultural appreciation holiday and additional time-off options.
- Family formation benefits and compassionate care leave.
- Expanded categories of bereavement leave.
- Opportunities for professional development, mentoring, and continued legal education.
- Inclusive workplace culture that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences.
- Opportunities to participate in employee resource groups and professional development initiatives.
- Access to modern digital legal tools and a paperless working environment.