Insurance Defense Managing Attorney

Overview

This role supports the legal team responsible for managing and defending civil litigation arising from the organization’s P&C (Agribusiness) operations. The position will NOT be involved in Workers' Compensation litigation.

Work is remote from anywhere in California, with the requirement to be available to attend hearings and depositions as needed on an in-person basis.

Responsibilities

Litigation Leadership and Case Management

• Independently manage all phases of insurance defense matters, including factual and expert investigation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, expert discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, trial preparation, and trial.
• Handle a portfolio of litigated and non-litigated matters with varying levels of complexity and exposure while 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 on 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 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 on case selection, operating practices, workload considerations, legal service delivery, and opportunities to increase effective in-house handling.
• Lead, influence, or materially contribute to litigation, practice-management, process-improvement, or organizational initiatives that strengthen legal service delivery.
• Share expertise, mentor others, and promote consistent litigation management practices 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.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school (Required)
• 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)
• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex personal injury, automobile liability, premises liability, or comparable civil defense matters through significant phases of litigation, including trial preparation and trial.

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.

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
• Must be available to attend hearings and depositions as needed on an in-person basis.