Davis Wright Tremaine’s media and entertainment team represents the companies and creators who define modern entertainment and technology. We are seeking a midlevel litigation associate who wants to work on sophisticated, high-profile disputes for industry-leading clients in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.
This role is designed for litigators who are intellectually curious, detail-oriented, and excited to take ownership early. Prior media, copyright, or entertainment experience is not required. We are looking for strong litigators with excellent training, sharp judgment, a great sense of humor, and a genuine interest in becoming trusted advisors in the media and entertainment space.
Our associates take on meaningful responsibility early and are integrated into case strategy and client relationships. They’re curious, love to learn, and work hard. In return, they gain hands-on experience, direct mentorship, and the opportunity to build a long-term practice working on some of the most interesting and cutting-edge disputes in the industry.
What You’ll Do:
- Defend copyright, trademark, idea-submission, and other claims against films, television series, podcasts, digital content, apps, and other works, including disputes over substantial similarity, fair use, and the public domain.
- Litigate defamation, right-of-publicity, and related claims arising from the production and distribution of content, in state and federal court.
- Represent some of the most significant names in media and entertainment, including studios, streamers, production companies, technology companies, and news organizations.
- Draft briefs, discovery requests and responses, analyses, and lots more.
- Participate in depositions, hearings, mediations, and trial preparation.
- Advise clients across the life of a project, from development and production through release and claims response.
- Take on as much responsibility as you’re ready for, as early as you’re ready for it.
Why Davis Wright Tremaine?
- A practice you can build: Many of the partners in this group started here as associates. Associates who are entrepreneurial, thoughtful, and committed to excellent work have real opportunities to develop lasting practices and client relationships.
- Client contact: We handle precedent-setting disputes and complex counseling matters for some of the most recognizable companies and creators in entertainment, media, and technology. You’ll work directly with the in-house lawyers who send us the work, not behind layers of partners.
- A team worth joining: DWT is the only firm with a Chambers Band 1 media and entertainment practice in California, New York, and D.C. It’s also a close team that sets a high bar and has fun clearing it.
- People stay: In Law360’s 2025 Social Impact Leaders rankings, DWT was the only law firm of any size to earn a perfect 100 on employee engagement, which reflects attorney satisfaction and low turnover.
- Serious work in a supportive environment: The work is demanding, fast-moving, and requires precision. The team values responsiveness, strong judgment, attention to detail, and people who genuinely enjoy litigating at a high level.
What You Bring:
- 3-5 years of litigation experience at a law firm.
- Excellent analytical and legal writing skills.
- A desire to own your cases, and high standards for your own work.
- Comfort working directly with clients and mentoring junior lawyers.
- A real interest in content disputes. Prior experience is a plus but not required.
- A proactive, self-starter mentality with a commitment to excellent client service.
- JD from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in California.
Join Us!
If you’re looking for sophisticated litigation work, direct client engagement, and the opportunity to build your career alongside one of the premier media law teams in the country, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your cover letter addressed to Beka Anardi, Lawyer Talent Acquisition Manager; resume; copy of law school transcript; and a writing sample. Let’s shape the future of entertainment law together.
We are accepting third party submissions.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. It brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.
We are committed to creating and cultivating a diverse workforce and inclusive environment where every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws.
Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email humanresources@dwt.com.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The annualized salary range for this position is $225,000 to $315,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s education, training, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.
Core Benefits: Full-time employees may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical insurance (with an optional Health Savings Account), dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, and disability.
Paid Time Off (PTO): Full-time employees receive sick leave benefits in accordance with the appropriate state Sick & Safe Leave Policy. Attorneys generally take approximately three weeks of vacation annually, though the exact amount may vary depending on client and firm needs. The firm also provides 11 paid holidays each year.
Additional Programs: Employees may participate in 401(k) retirement planning, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Available voluntary benefits include accident, life, disability, long-term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and transit programs are also available. Full-time employees may also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.
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