Senior Counsel (Insurance Defense)

Location: Dallas, Texas; remote, hybrid, or onsite work options may be available based on position requirements, team needs, and performance. An active Texas Bar license is required.

Base salary: $150,000–$200,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. Attorneys may also receive an annual billable-hours bonus starting at $10,000, with $7,500 for each additional tier.

Company

Tyson & Mendes is a national civil defense law firm handling complex litigation and investing in trial training, leadership development, and attorney advancement.

What you will do

• Independently manage complex insurance defense matters from inception through resolution, including discovery, depositions, motions, court appearances, and trials.
• Develop compelling case themes, defense strategies, and approaches for high-exposure litigation.
• Evaluate exposure, advise clients, negotiate settlements, and maintain routine communications with clients and insurance carriers.
• Cultivate relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Work collaboratively with attorneys at all experience levels and provide leadership and direction to less experienced attorneys.

Requirements

• Active Texas Bar license in good standing; the position also requires licensure in the applicable state.
• 8+ years of insurance defense litigation experience, including litigation support, depositions, and trial preparation.
• JD from an ABA-approved law school.
• Significant experience in general liability, premises liability, transportation, products liability, construction, or complex casualty litigation.
• Ability to independently manage full case handling responsibilities, including all facets of discovery and trial, with minimal supervision.
• Experience conducting depositions, drafting and arguing substantive motions, developing litigation strategies, evaluating exposure, advising clients, negotiating settlements, and managing insurance carrier relationships.
• Strong legal writing, analytical, listening, verbal, written communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Professional appearance and demeanor, with a collaborative leadership mindset and commitment to client service, accountability, and continued growth.

Nice to have

• Trial experience and confidence taking an active role in courtroom proceedings.
• Experience handling insurance defense matters.
• Interest in mentoring attorneys and contributing to team development.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid, remote, or onsite work options may be available according to position requirements, team needs, and performance.
• Comprehensive health, vision, dental, and life benefits, including plans available at zero employee cost.
• 401(k) program with a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the following 4–5%.
• Paid parental leave, flexible vacation policy, monthly $60 technology reimbursement, and student loan repayment assistance or a 529 college savings plan for eligible full-time attorneys after one year.
• In-house training, leadership development, firm-provided CLE programs, paid bar license renewal fees, diversity and inclusion programs, and a defined pathway to partnership.

Hiring process

• Apply directly to Tyson & Mendes; recruiters and agencies are not accepted.