Employment Litigation Associate

Employment Litigation Associate / Business Litigation Attorney Location: Durham, NC (Hybrid/Flexible) Salary: Competitive / Commensurate with experience Top Selling Points Direct First-Chair Track: Gain immediate, hands‑on deposition, oral advocacy, and motion practice experience based on merit, not tenure. High‑Stakes, Diverse Caseload: Defend local to international employers across complex state/federal litigation, administrative hearings, and arbitration. No Multi‑Year Office Mandates: Highly collaborative firm culture that values in‑person development while offering genuine work‑from‑home flexibility. A premier, Chambers‑rated North Carolina business law firm is seeking a talented Employment Litigation Associate or experienced Business Litigation Attorney with 3 to 5 years of sophisticated litigation experience to join its Durham office. This position offers a rare hybrid track: prior employment law experience is welcomed but not mandatory, making it an exceptional transition opportunity for a commercial or business litigator looking to specialize in high‑value labor and employment disputes. The firm is highly selective, prioritizing entrepreneurial attorneys who thrive with direct client contact, immediate partner collaboration, and early courtroom exposure. Key Responsibilities Defense & Advocacy: Defend corporate employers in state and federal courts against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and FLSA wage and hour claims. Restrictive Covenants & IP: Litigate disputes involving non‑compete agreements, non‑solicitation covenants, confidentiality breaches, and trade secret misappropriation. Administrative & Agency Proceedings: Represent clients before regulatory agencies including the EEOC, Department of Labor (DOL), OSHA, and state unemployment commissions. Core Litigation & Trial Prep: Draft complex pleadings, dispositive motions, summary judgment briefs, and discovery requests; manage comprehensive e‑discovery vendor workflows. Depositions & Court Appearances: Take and defend depositions of key parties, witnesses, and experts; present oral arguments in court hearings and arbitration panels (AAA, JAMS, FINRA). Strategic Client Counseling: Deliver risk assessments, legal research, and strategic advice directly to corporate executives and HR stakeholders regarding litigation exposure and mediation. Qualifications & Skills Experience: 3–5 years of litigation experience within a reputable law firm setting, handling business, commercial, or employment disputes. Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with exceptional academic credentials. Licensure: Active license in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; must be willing and eligible to obtain licensure in North Carolina within one year of hire. Technical Skills: Proficiency with advanced e‑discovery platforms, legal research software (Westlaw/LexisNexis), and complex case management. Advocacy: Proven track record of drafting high‑quality legal briefs and managing core discovery independent of heavy oversight. #J-18808-Ljbffr