Senior Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney

Senior Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney

Orange County, California | 8–15 years

Approximately 1,600 billable hours

$200K-$250K Base

Company Summary

We are a Southern California litigation boutique whose core practice is contested trust, estate, and inheritance disputes, alongside business litigation. Our clients include corporations, nonprofit organizations, executives, prominent individuals, and family-owned businesses in high-stakes matters. We have been recognized as one of Orange County's Top Workplaces.

Position Summary

We are seeking a senior attorney with 8–15 years of litigation experience to independently own contested trust, estate, and probate matters from inception through resolution. The docket centers on trust and will contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, trustee removal, contested accountings, financial elder abuse, undue influence and capacity disputes, and Probate Code section 850 petitions. This is a courtroom practice — not an estate planning or trust administration role — with approximately 1,600 annual billable hours and direct client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage contested trust, estate, and probate litigation from filing through trial
• Take and defend depositions
• Draft and argue substantive law and motion
• Direct written and document discovery strategy
• Represent clients in mediations and settlement negotiations
• Prepare cases for trial in California probate and civil departments
• Advise clients directly on strategy, risk, and case posture

Requirements

• 8–15 years of litigation experience, with substantial contested trust, estate, probate, or fiduciary litigation
• Active California Bar license in good standing
• Demonstrated first-chair ownership of contested matters without day-to-day supervision
• Deposition, motion, discovery, mediation, and trial preparation experience in adversarial proceedings
• Excellent research, writing, advocacy, and client communication skills
• Sound strategic judgment with emotionally charged, high-stakes family and fiduciary disputes

What We Offer

Base salary up to $250,000, plus competitive benefits

Approximately 1,600 annual billable hours

Flexible work arrangements

A sophisticated, genuinely contested docket with meaningful client relationships

Modern technology and AI-enabled tools that reduce administrative burden

A culture recognized as one of Orange County's Top Workplaces