Defense Litigation Associate

Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha’s New York roots reach back to 1856 and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal.

Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. The firm’s practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates.

The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts, Newark, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

Location: New York, NY office preferred. Open to the following Harris Beach Murtha Offices: Albany, Uniondale, White Plains, NY; Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, CT; Boston, MA (Hybrid remote opportunity)

Description: We are seeking an associate to join our nationally-recognized Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation team, with a focus on NYS Labor Law and personal injury litigation practice. Given the broad reach of our practice, this role will involve working collaboratively with colleagues in all of our offices as well as our local counsel throughout the country.

Responsibilities

• Research Labor Law and personal injury issues, and collaborate with senior attorneys to devise related defense strategies
• Take and defend depositions
• Manage discovery and e-discovery
• Draft reports, legal memoranda, pleadings, discovery demands/responses, motions, briefs, etc.
• Participate in trial/ADR planning and preparation
• Represent clients at courtroom conferences and motion appearances
• Manage day-to-day aspects of Labor Law and personal injury files, under supervision
• The firm requires a minimum of 1900 billable hours annually
  
  

Qualifications

• 3 years of general liability lit igation experience
• Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school
• Admission to New York required
• Admission to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and/or New Jersey admission (or ability to waive into NJ) preferred
• Experience before NYS courts required; federal experience a plus
• Strong deposition, motion, pleading and e-discovery experience required
• Familiarity with Zoom, MS Teams, and other video conferencing platforms to participate in depositions, court conferences, and meetings
• Must have ability to travel for in person depositions and court conferences, including overnight, as needed
• Excellent research skills, writing skills and verbal communication required
• Must be able to function effectively in a fast-paced, team oriented environment
• Demonstrated high level organizational skills for prioritizing workload
• Demonstrated ability to absorb, process and understand, new information rapidly
• Must be able to manage competing priorities
• Maintains high standards of performance
• Exhibit conscientiousness, dedication, self-discipline, and a sense of responsibility
• Must have a professional, cooperative, positive and flexible attitude
• Military experience welcome
  
  

Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position and geographic locations.

Albany: $125,000 - $175,000

Uniondale & White Plains: $130,000 - 175,000

New York City: $135,000 - 175,000

Harris Beach Murtha is committed to an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from diverse candidates with varied background and skills. Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The firm’s policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach Murtha complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non-discrimination provisions including non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.

Apply Now