Commercial Litigation Associate

  • Location: Los Angeles, California
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52711

A prominent national law firm is seeking a Litigation Associate to join its Los Angeles office as part of a highly regarded commercial litigation team handling complex, high-stakes disputes, including matters involving brand and reputational issues. This opportunity is ideal for a 4th or 5th year associate seeking sophisticated trial-focused work with significant responsibility and direct client exposure.

The team represents celebrities, executives, athletes, influencers, and corporate clients in high-profile disputes involving defamation, crisis management, reputational attacks, cyber-related issues, and other sensitive matters where public perception and media strategy are critical components of the representation.

The ideal candidate will have:

  • 4–5 years of sophisticated litigation experience at a law firm
  • Experience handling key phases of complex litigation, including discovery, motion practice, depositions, witness preparation, and trial preparation
  • Strong writing, analytical, and case management skills
  • The ability to work directly with clients, partners, and senior trial lawyers in a fast-paced environment
  • A desire for meaningful stand-up responsibility and hands-on litigation experience

This position offers:

  • Exposure to nationally visible and high-profile disputes
  • A sophisticated, trial-focused litigation platform
  • Direct interaction with clients, witnesses, and senior litigators
  • Accelerated professional development and substantive responsibility

The anticipated compensation range for this role is approximately $285,000 to $325,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Contracts Administrator

  • Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52688

Our client, a growing PE-backed commercial services platform in the food, beverage, and consumer products space, is seeking a Contracts Administrator / Legal Operations professional to join its collaborative and fast-paced team in the Twin Cities area.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with 2+ years of experience and the desire to build a long-term career in contracts administration, legal operations, compliance, or commercial risk support. The role is highly cross-functional and offers strong exposure to legal, operational, and customer-facing work within a rapidly growing organization.

The ideal candidate will have experience with:

  • NDAs, statements of work, and commercial agreements
  • Contract tracking, redlining, and contract lifecycle management
  • Supporting commercial/sales teams in a customer-facing environment
  • Managing workflows, documentation, and process coordination
  • Working within contract management systems such as CobbleStone or similar platforms

This individual will work closely with internal stakeholders across sales, finance, procurement, operations, and outside counsel, while helping support process improvements, system enhancements, claims support, and broader legal/risk operations initiatives.

 

Litigation Legal Administrative Assistant

  • Location: Minneapolis , Minnesota
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52673

SkyWater is partnering with a renowned plaintiffs’ firm looking to add a Legal Administrative Assistant to its medical malpractice team. A strong candidate is experienced in supporting medical malpractice, personal injury, complex litigation, or mass torts attorneys. Can come from plaintiffs’ or defense side, but must have exposure to medical records, litigation management, and calendaring. 

This firm has great culture for both staff and attorneys. The compensation range is $70-75k for 5+ years of experience. The office is in Minneapolis with a hybrid schedule of 4 days in office, 1 remote after onboarding. Free downtown parking, 18 days PTO to start, and bonus eligible. 

If you are interested in learning more about this role, apply or reach out to Kelsey Quarberg at kquarberg@skywatersearch.com.

Commercial Litigation Associate Attorney

  • Location: Seattle , Minnesota
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52646

An Am Law firm with a highly regarded national litigation practice is seeking a mid-level associate (3–6 years) for its Seattle office. The group handles sophisticated, high-stakes disputes across a broad range of industries and substantive areas, including commercial litigation, environmental matters, class actions, white collar/investigations, securities, and intellectual property disputes.

The role offers substantial hands-on experience, including:

  • Motion practice and court appearances
  • Depositions and witness preparation
  • Managing complex discovery and ESI strategy
  • Direct client interaction
  • Trial preparation and arbitration support

The firm is looking for someone with strong litigation training, excellent writing skills, and experience handling complex matters in a large law firm environment. Compensation is competitive, ranging from approximately $220K–$300K base plus bonus potential.

If you would like to be considered, please apply or reach out to Lauren Swartout directly at lswartout@skywatersearch.com. 

Fund Analyst

  • Location: Minneapolis
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52613

Our client, a private investment firm focused on private debt and private equity investments, is seeking a Fund Analyst to support fund operations, investment processes, and investor-related initiatives.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work across investment, operations, legal, and finance functions while gaining exposure to sophisticated private market transactions and fund management activities. The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate will have:
• 2+ years of experience in private equity, private credit, investment management, fund administration, transaction services, investment banking, or a related financial services environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret and organize complex information
• Experience supporting fund operations, investor reporting, capital activity tracking, portfolio monitoring, or transaction execution
• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with large data sets, reporting tools, and financial information

Key responsibilities:
• Support fund operations and ongoing management of private investment vehicles
• Assist with investor reporting, capital call and distribution processes, and investor-related requests
• Track portfolio activity and prepare reporting materials for internal stakeholders
• Support transaction execution, closings, and related operational workflows
• Collaborate with investment, finance, legal, and operations teams on special projects and strategic initiatives

If you would like to learn more, please apply or reach out to Lauren Swartout directly at lswartout@skywatersearch.com

ERISA Litigation Associate Attorney

  • Location: New York, Illinois
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52603

An international Am Law firm is seeking a junior or mid-level litigation associate to join its New York office as part of a nationally recognized commercial litigation practice. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex, high-stakes matters for sophisticated clients, including companies operating in the managed care space. The position provides strong mentorship, training, and exposure to impactful litigation alongside experienced practitioners.

The associate will be involved in all phases of litigation, including drafting pleadings and dispositive motions, managing discovery, preparing witnesses, and supporting depositions and expert work. The role offers hands-on experience in fast-paced, deadline-driven matters and meaningful responsibility on significant cases.

Qualified candidates will have 2+ years of commercial litigation experience from a law firm setting. Experience with managed care issues (including Medicare, Medicaid, and False Claims Act matters), payor-provider disputes, or ERISA litigation is preferred but not required. Strong writing skills are essential, along with experience drafting and arguing motions, handling depositions, and working with expert witnesses. Candidates should also demonstrate strong analytical and communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively, and be admitted to the New York Bar.

If you would like to learn more, please apply or reach out to Lauren Swartout directly at lswartout@skywatersearch.com. 

Real Estate Leasing Senior Counsel

  • Location: Detroit, Michigan
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52588

SkyWater Search is currently assisting a nationally respected law firm on an unposted Senior Counsel opportunity within its sophisticated Real Estate practice group. This search is being driven by an upcoming retirement on the team, creating a unique long-term opportunity for an experienced retail leasing attorney to step into an established and highly active practice.

The role is focused on complex retail shopping center leasing matters and is ideal for attorneys with 8-15+ years of experience handling:

  • Negotiating and drafting sophisticated retail leases
  • Leasing transactions
  • Lease administration, compliance, and dispute resolution
  • Direct client management and strategic counseling

The position can be based in any U.S. office, with especially flexible remote/ultra-hybrid options for attorneys located in Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona, or Pennsylvania.

Compensation is expected to be in the $235K-$255K) base range plus bonus eligibility.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior leasing attorney seeking sophisticated work, flexibility, and a stable long-term platform without the pressure of a portable book.
 

Real Estate Associate – DC/NYC

  • Location: DC, District Of Columbia
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52545

I’m assisting a top law firm that is seeking a mid-level Associate to join its Real Estate group. 

Ideal candidates will have 3-8 years of experience in:

  • Real estate finance transactions representing lenders and/or borrowers
  • Acquisition, construction, and mezzanine financings
  • Refinancings, loan modifications, and related debt structures
  • Drafting and negotiating core transaction documents and managing deals through closing

The firm offers a highly competitive salary ($240K–$435K base). This team consistently handles a high volume of sophisticated real estate finance transactions and is known for giving associates meaningful deal ownership much earlier than peer firms, making it a strong platform for accelerating development.

I recently placed an associate with the firm and have strong insight into the compensation structure, culture, and day-to-day workflow, which I’m happy to share candidly.

Please reach out or apply if interested.
 

Real Estate Associate

  • Location: Dallas
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52534

An Am Law firm is seeking a midlevel associate to join its Real Estate Dallas. 

This position focuses on complex commercial real estate transactions across the United States, including financings, as well as the acquisition, disposition, structuring, and development of mixed-use and other commercial assets. The associate will work closely with a collaborative team on sophisticated matters and will have the opportunity to take on meaningful responsibility in managing various aspects of transactions from start to finish.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience handling commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing, and development work. Experience in an Am Law 200 firm or a similarly fast-paced, high-level environment is preferred. Candidates should demonstrate strong drafting and writing skills, excellent analytical ability, and the capacity to manage multiple transactions simultaneously while working directly with partners and clients.

This is a growth-oriented opportunity within a highly interactive practice that offers a clear path for advancement, competitive compensation, and a supportive, team-driven culture.

If you would like to learn more, please apply or reach out to Lauren Swartout at lswartout@skywatersearch.com. 

IP Litigation Associate

  • Location: New York , Connecticut
  • Type: Direct Hire
  • Job #52521

A reputable regional law firm is seeking an experienced Intellectual Property Litigation Associate to join the team in one of its East Coast offices. This role focuses on high-stakes intellectual property disputes, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation. The position offers the opportunity to work with sophisticated clients and cutting-edge technologies as part of a collaborative and well-established practice.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience at a top-tier law firm handling IP litigation matters, including patent disputes. A technical background in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics is strongly preferred, along with excellent academic credentials and strong written and verbal communication skills. Candidates should be comfortable managing complex litigation matters and contributing meaningfully to case strategy and client service.

If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please apply or reach out to Lauren Swartout directly at lswartout@skywatersearch.com.

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