Sr. Trial Attorney

If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

The Senior Trial Attorney is a highly skilled and experienced litigation professional responsible for independently handling complex commercial, construction defect, insurance defense, and subrogation matter's through all phases of litigation. Serving as lead counsel or as a key member of a trial team, this position demonstrates exceptional trial advocacy, strategic judgment, and proactive case management while consistently delivering high-quality legal services aligned with client expectations and organizational standards.

The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in insurance defense and subrogation litigation, coupled with a strong background in commercial and construction defect claims. This individual serves as a trusted advisor to clients and claims professionals, provides strategic case assessments, and contributes to the development of junior attorneys and legal staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently manage a complex caseload of commercial litigation, construction defect, insurance defense, and subrogation matters from inception through trial or resolution.
• Serve as lead trial counsel and demonstrate advanced trial advocacy skills in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, mediations, and administrative proceedings.
• Develop and execute litigation strategies involving liability, damages, coverage issues, risk transfer, indemnity, contractual disputes, construction defect claims, and subrogation recovery actions.
• Provide timely, factually and legally supported evaluations regarding liability exposure, damages, settlement authority, recovery potential, and trial strategy.
• Proactively manage cases in accordance with Nationwide Trial Division methodologies, client expectations, and claims objectives while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Maintain expertise in developments affecting commercial litigation, construction defect law, insurance defense, subrogation, and related legal disciplines.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with claims professionals, clients, experts, and business partners to support positive litigation outcomes.
• Collaborate effectively with support staff and leverage technology to maximize case management efficiency and litigation effectiveness.
• Mentor and develop junior attorneys and legal staff while serving as a role model for professionalism, collaboration, and legal excellence.
• Support business development initiatives and strengthen the Trial Division's reputation through exceptional client service and legal performance.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience
• Minimum of 15+ years of civil litigation experience required.
• Extensive experience in insurance defense and subrogation litigation is required.
• Significant experience handling complex commercial litigation and construction defect matters.
• Demonstrated success independently managing high-exposure litigation through discovery, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, settlement negotiations, and trial.
• Experience representing insurance carriers, insureds, self-insured entities, contractors, subcontractors, developers, property owners, and commercial clients is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Extensive knowledge of commercial litigation, construction defect law, insurance defense practices, subrogation recovery, and civil litigation procedures.
• Advanced trial advocacy and courtroom presentation skills.
• Exceptional analytical, legal research, writing, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of insurance coverage issues, claims handling practices, liability analysis, and recovery strategies.
• Proven ability to evaluate and manage complex, high-exposure litigation matters with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively advise clients, claims partners, and senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Proficiency with litigation technology, electronic discovery platforms, case management systems, and electronic filing procedures.
• Commitment to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and client service.
• It is our intention to fill this role based out of our San Antonio, TX or Irving, TX offices and t his is a hybrid role requiring you to come into the office 3 days a week.
• However, on occasion, applications from candidates working remotely, who are licensed and residing in South Texas, who bring critical industry skills and relevant experience may be considered.
• Job Description Summary
• Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support the mission of a Fortune 100 insurance company’ to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care? If you possess the academic credentials, strong analytical skills and legal acumen needed for successful litigation work, our team may be the place for you!
• Nationwide Trial Division is a national team with approximately 40 offices through six regions across the United States. Our Senior Trial Attorneys are seasoned litigation attorneys with significant civil litigation experience in property and casualty insurance defense or subrogation. As a Senior Trial Attorney, you’ll represent clients under both commercial and personal lines insurance policies independently as lead counsel, as well as be part of a larger team as needed. Caseloads are typically including a mix of cases varying in complexity, severity, product lines, and specialized concentrations, throughout all courts and agencies in the assigned jurisdiction(s). You’ll be expected to maintain a highly productive case volume that reflects our collective commitment to innovative thinking, effective collaboration, embracing technology and a highly organized and proactive approach to case management.
• Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates the requisite trial advocacy skills independently as lead counsel, or as part of a team, demonstrates efficiency, proactive case management, work ethic, and work product quality to accurately and effectively handle all matters in accordance with Nationwide Trial Division (NTD) standard methodology guidelines, as well as claims and client expectations.
• Requires minimal managerial oversight and guidance from the Managing Trial Attorney and NTD Leadership in all aspects of core duties and job responsibilities.
• Adept at effectively utilizing technology and collaboratively working with support staff to ensure efficient case management and efficiency.
• Demonstrates consistent awareness of changes to the law, technology, local rules and other procedural requirements, or other aspects of the legal and insurance industries likely to impact liability and recovery litigation strategies in the jurisdictions in which he/she practices.
• Possesses and consistently performs with the subject matter expertise and trial advocacy skills required and specified for all NTD concentrations held. Demonstrates the ability and willingness to develop and learn additional or new NTD concentrations as may be required based on NTD business needs and as specified by NTD Leadership.
• Provides factually, legally and analytically sound opinions consistently on case valuations that are promptly updated and timely communicated to the client and claims.
• Independently establishes and maintains strong professional relationships with key associates within Office of the Chief Legal Officer and claims partners at the senior director level and below, as well as with colleagues within the legal and insurance industries within those jurisdictions and communities in which he/she practices.
• Utilizes relationships to build and improve NTD’s reputation and expand case referral opportunities within the enterprise.
• Communicates in a highly effective manner, consistently and proactively identifying, understanding and meeting client, claims and internal NTD communication expectations (both written and verbal), as well as those commonly expected within the jurisdictions and communities in which he/she practices.
• Serves as a mentor for junior attorneys and NTD staff providing guidance and training, as well as serving as role model in terms of engagement, coaching and feedback, efficiency, attitude and collaboration.
• May perform other responsibilities as assigned.
• Reporting Relationships: Reports to Managing Trial Attorney
• Typical Skills and Experiences: Education: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• License/Certification/Designation: Maintains an active license in the state in which the position is located.
• Experience: Typically, more than eight years of relevant civil litigation experience in property and casualty insurance defense or subrogation.
• Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Has significant litigation experience in property and casualty insurance defense or subrogation. Engages in complex legal practices and procedures throughout all court and agencies in the assigned jurisdiction. Highly effective and professional written and verbal communication skills. Highly collaborative, capable to work with staff and other attorneys on-site and remotely, as well as serving as a role model and mentor to other associates within the office. Significant negotiation skills. Ability to process information efficiently and effectively. Excellent analytical and legal skills. Resourceful, creative problem solver. Computer savvy with a solid understanding of basic software and use of same. Capable of adapting to changes in the law and changes to technology in the law and court systems (e.g. electronic filings, etc.) Strong time management and organization skills. Decision making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations. Ability to initiate, prioritize and coordinate complex projects and cases. Leadership skills used in direct and/or indirect influencing such as motivating, problem solving, business strengthening and development with colleagues, clients and claims partners. Stays in sync with the private practice of law policy and the ethical rules of the state where the position is located. Must also acknowledge and follow all corporate and NTD policies and procedures.
• Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.
• Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.
• Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide values.
• Job Conditions: Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)
• Working Conditions: Generally, a normal office environment, but depending on the needs of the office the position may be staffed working from home. Frequent travel. Occasional overnight travel. Extended hours are often necessary to meet the demands of the profession. Must have a valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record in accordance with Nationwide standards.
• ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.
• Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job, a valid credit check and/or background which will be required as part of the selection process.