Senior Counsel - Landlord/Tenant

Take Your Landlord Tenant Practice Further

Senior Counsel | Landlord Tenant Litigation | Northern California

Please note: An active California Bar license is required.

Landlord tenant litigation requires more than knowing the law. The cases can be fact intensive, highly personal, and increasingly complex. They require attorneys who can see the bigger picture, communicate clearly with clients, and confidently take ownership from the first evaluation through resolution or trial.

Tyson & Mendes is growing our Northern California team, and we are looking for an experienced attorney with a strong background in landlord tenant and habitability litigation who is ready for meaningful responsibility and the opportunity to continue developing as a trial lawyer.

Based out of our Novato office and handling matters throughout Northern California and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, you will join a collaborative group of litigators handling sophisticated civil defense matters with the resources of a national trial firm behind them.

If you know this practice, enjoy the strategy behind complex cases, and want an environment where your experience and initiative are valued, we would love to meet you.

Why Our Northern California Team?

Take Ownership of Sophisticated Matters

As Senior Counsel, you will have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of your cases and client relationships. You will develop strategy, manage discovery, handle substantive motion practice, take and defend depositions, work with experts, evaluate exposure, prepare matters for mediation and trial, and guide cases toward resolution.

We are looking for an attorney who is comfortable being the person clients and colleagues can rely on to keep a matter moving.

Build on Your Landlord Tenant Experience

Your experience matters here. We are particularly interested in attorneys who have handled matters involving habitability, premises liability, property related disputes, and other landlord tenant claims.

You will have the opportunity to bring that knowledge to a growing practice while continuing to expand the complexity and scope of the matters you handle.

Get Real Trial Exposure

Our Northern California office is a true litigation practice. Several attorneys on the team regularly take cases to trial, creating meaningful opportunities for experienced attorneys who want to strengthen their courtroom experience.

Whether you already have trials behind you or want more opportunities to get there, you will be surrounded by attorneys who actually try cases.

Work With Experienced Litigators

Our Northern California team includes accomplished trial attorneys who are serious about their cases without taking themselves too seriously.

This is a collaborative environment where attorneys share ideas, resources, and experience. Our leaders are busy practicing attorneys, so they are not interested in micromanaging experienced lawyers. They are, however, responsive and available when you seek input, want to talk strategy, or need another perspective.

You will have autonomy, but you will not practice in isolation.

Let Your Performance Create Opportunity

Tyson & Mendes is a meritocracy. Career growth is driven by performance, initiative, contribution, and leadership rather than simply waiting for the next step based on tenure.

For attorneys who take ownership, build strong client relationships, contribute to their teams, and consistently perform at a high level, there is room to continue growing.

Who Will Thrive Here?

You are an experienced litigator who understands that great case management starts with ownership.

You are proactive and communicative. You follow up. You think ahead. You understand your clients and their objectives, and you are comfortable making decisions while knowing when collaboration will make the strategy stronger.

You bring substantive experience in landlord tenant litigation, ideally including habitability matters and related property or premises claims. Experience representing property owners, property managers, housing providers, insurers, or other defendants is particularly valuable.

You are comfortable with discovery, depositions, substantive motion practice, experts, mediation, and trial preparation. Trial experience is highly valued.

Just as importantly, you bring grit, good judgment, strong communication, and a willingness to contribute to the team.

We are not focused on pedigree. We are focused on finding excellent lawyers who know how to get the work done.

Flexibility With Connection

Our Novato office gives attorneys flexibility in how they work while still providing a real place to connect with colleagues when they want it.

Some attorneys work primarily remotely, while others maintain hybrid schedules or spend significant time in the office. Attorneys who consistently come in at least twice a week can establish a permanent office space.

The team also comes together through monthly Friday office meetings, team meetings, social events, and informal opportunities to connect.

You will have access to experienced administrative, legal assistant, paralegal, and trial support resources, including our long tenured Office Manager, Pilar Romero, who provides hands on support to the office and its attorneys.

Bring Your Experience. Keep Building.

At the Senior Counsel level, you should not have to choose between autonomy and opportunity.

Here, you can own your practice, handle challenging matters, learn from experienced trial lawyers, contribute to a collaborative Northern California team, and continue building toward whatever you want the next stage of your career to become.

If you are an experienced landlord tenant litigator ready for what comes next, we would love to meet you.

Join Tyson & Mendes in Northern California and bring your experience to a team where it can make an impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop a case theme that is more compelling than any plaintiff ploy for sympathy or anger
• Refuse to accept mediocrity, the average, the standard or the norm in anything
• Independently handle court appearances, depositions, briefs and trials
• Work as part of a team with all levels of experiences
• Routine communications with clients
• Cultivate relationships with the firm’s existing and future clients
• Provide leadership and direction with respect to less experienced attorneys

REQUIREMENTS

• JD from an ABA approved school
• Must be licensed in the State of California
• 8+ years of solid litigation experience, specifically with litigation support, deposition and trial preparation
• Ability to manage full case handling responsibilities, including all facets of discovery and trial
• Experience handling insurance defense matters preferred
• Experience with time management systems
• Proficiency in MS Suite, specifically Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Ability to think and act independently and with minimal supervision
• Outstanding listening, verbal and written communication skills
• Professional appearance and demeanor
  

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

• The base salary for this position ranges from $160,000-$190,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications
• Attorneys are eligible for an annual billable hours bonus ranging from $10,000 and then aggregating with $7,500 for every additional tier
• Comprehensive benefits coverage offered, including plans available at zero employee cost (average annual employer contribution for health/vision/dental/life coverage is $700-$1,700)
• Employees benefit from a 401(k) program that includes a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the following 4-5%
• Student loan repayment assistance or 529 college savings plan (full-time attorneys after one year with the firm) $100-$200/month
• Paid parental leave at base pay
• Employees receive a monthly technology reimbursement of $60

BENEFITS

• Employee Assistance Program through HealthAdvocate
• Comprehensive in-house training and leadership development opportunities
• Firm Provided CLE Programs and Paid Bar License Renewal Fees
• Flexible vacation policy for attorneys
• Defined pathway to partnership
• Internal diversity and inclusion programs, such as the Women’s Initiative and Young Professionals Initiative
• Firm-wide charitable giving program
• Numerous social and off-site events each year to enrich your relationships with your colleagues
• Flexible Work Model: Remote, hybrid, or onsite options available

ABOUT TYSON & MENDES

Click here to learn more about the Tyson & Mendes Office!  (944) The Tyson & Mendes Office - YouTube

We’re one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the country—known for breaking the mold of the traditional law firm. Our dynamic, diverse team of trial attorneys delivers exceptional results, from landmark cases like Howell v. Hamilton Meats to numerous defense verdicts across the nation.

But we don’t stop at great legal work—we invest in our people. With specialized training in our proven defense methods, clear paths to leadership, and robust professional development, we empower attorneys to grow their careers, build their personal brands, and become leaders in the field.

Follow along with the firm on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit www.tysonmendes.com.  

Equal Opportunity Employer Notice

OK, now for the legal copy (we are a law firm, after all). It is Tyson & Mendes’ policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. By the way, if you read all of this, congratulations – we can already tell your attention to detail is exceptional.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS/EMPLOYEES OF TYSON & MENDES: Please take notice that the Firm collects certain information about you. For more information on the Firm’s policies, please refer to the document provided here.

No recruiters/agencies 

#li-remote