Insurance Defense Managing Attorney

Overview

This role involves managing and defending civil litigation arising from P&C Agribusiness operations. The position does not involve Workers’ Compensation litigation.

The attorney may work remotely anywhere in California, but must be available to attend hearings and depositions as needed on an in-person basis.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage all phases of insurance defense matters, including:
  • Factual and expert investigation
  • Pleadings and discovery
  • Motion practice and expert discovery
  • Mediation and settlement negotiations
  • Trial preparation and trial
• Handle a portfolio of litigated and non-litigated matters with varying levels of complexity and exposure, delivering high-quality legal work, sound judgment, and practical strategic advice.
• Develop and execute case strategies aligned with legal, financial, and business considerations for each matter.
• Provide timely, analytically sound evaluations of liability, damages, litigation exposure, settlement opportunities, and case value; promptly communicate material changes to legal, claims, and business partners.
• Prepare and present persuasive written and oral advocacy before courts, mediators, arbitrators, opposing counsel, and other stakeholders.

Strategic Legal Partnership

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to claims professionals, business leaders, and other internal stakeholders regarding litigation strategy, risk assessment, case resolution, and related legal issues.
• Partner with claims leadership to identify litigation trends, emerging risks, and opportunities to improve claim and litigation outcomes.
• Communicate professionally and effectively across formats, including client meetings, claims file conferences, written reporting, negotiations, and court proceedings.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant case law, procedural rules, technology, local requirements, and legal and insurance industry developments affecting liability litigation.

In-House Defense Capability Development

• Contribute to the assessment, development, and expansion of in-house insurance defense capabilities while maintaining an active litigation portfolio.
• Provide informed recommendations regarding case selection, operating practices, workload considerations, legal service delivery, and opportunities to increase effective in-house handling.
• Lead, influence, or materially contribute to initiatives that strengthen litigation, practice management, process improvement, and legal service delivery.
• Share expertise, mentor others, and promote consistent litigation management practices, sound legal judgment, and effective collaboration across legal and claims functions.
• Demonstrate judgment and business acumen to balance legal excellence, case outcomes, operational efficiency, and the long-term development of the in-house defense model.

Professional Effectiveness

• Use technology and collaborate with legal support staff to promote efficient case management, productivity, and high-quality work product.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with colleagues, claims professionals, business partners, opposing counsel, courts, experts, and external service providers.
• Apply logical and analytical thinking to define problems, collect and assess relevant information, establish facts, and draw well-supported conclusions.
• Respond constructively to direction and feedback, maintain a professional and appropriate demeanor, and work productively and harmoniously with others.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Education

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school (Required)

Requirements

• Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California (Required)
• 10+ years progressively responsible experience handling civil insurance defense litigation, including substantial responsibility for case strategy, litigation management, and client counseling. An equivalent combination of relevant training and experience may be considered. (Required)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working closely with in-house insurance legal and claims teams in complex or high-exposure liability matters.
• Experience leading, influencing, or materially contributing to significant litigation, operational, practice-management, process-improvement, or organizational initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing legal processes, improving service delivery models, mentoring attorneys or claims professionals, or implementing litigation management best practices.
• Experience managing/supervising attorneys.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Independent management experience for complex personal injury, automobile liability, premises liability, or comparable civil defense matters through significant phases of litigation, including trial preparation and trial.
• Ability to evaluate litigation risk, formulate legal strategy, provide practical business-focused advice, and communicate effectively with insurance claims and legal stakeholders.
• Leadership demonstrated through formal leadership responsibilities or through leading matters, mentoring others, influencing strategy, improving legal processes, or driving practice/operational initiatives.
• Exceptional legal analysis, written and oral advocacy, negotiation, organization, relationship-management, and professional judgment.
• Understanding of the legal, operational, and financial factors influencing insurance litigation, claim resolution, and decisions regarding in-house versus external handling.
• Proven ability to build credibility and productive relationships across legal, claims, and business functions.
• Interest and aptitude for evaluating, developing, and expanding in-house legal capabilities while continuing to personally manage an active litigation portfolio.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay

• Expected salary range: $207,178.86 - $240,856.09
• Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience, geographic location, and other job-related factors as permitted by law.
• Qualifications may warrant placement in a different job level.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D and Disability Insurance
• 401(k), Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Education and Training Reimbursement
• Paid Leave: 3 weeks/year Vacation, 2 weeks/year Sick Leave
• 10 paid Company Holidays, 2 Personal Days, 2 Floating Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Location

• Remote within California, with availability to attend hearings and depositions as needed on an in-person basis.

Equal Opportunity

Equal opportunity employer. Considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. In compliance with California law, considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act (AB 1008). Also follows the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance regarding inquiries into criminal history.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and need assistance accessing the career center or applying due to your disability, request an accommodation from Human Resources.