Commercial litigation attorney recruiters, associates and senior associates
Base pay at mid-size and regional firms plateaus around $150,000 from year three through year fourteen. Litigators who move to a larger platform can reach $240,000 to $310,000, and timing matters, since most bonuses pay in December and January.
- Base pay plateaus around $150,000 from year three through year fourteen at mid-size and regional firms.
- Senior associates and of counsel with eight to fourteen years at larger firms reach $240,000 to $310,000.
- Median billable target: 1,900 hours, with the middle half between 1,750 and 1,950.
- Confidential from the first call, and no cost to you. The hiring firm pays our fee.
What do commercial litigation attorneys make in 2026?
Ideal Talent Group recruits commercial litigation attorneys for mid-size and regional firms across Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California. As of September 2026, the pay, bonus, and billable figures on this page come from ITG's own interview notes and accepted offers at those firms. The table below breaks out base pay by experience.
Billable targets at mid-size and regional firms run a median of 1,900 hours, with the middle half between 1,750 and 1,950. Bonuses mostly cluster at $5,000 to $25,000, and firms that tie the bonus to origination pay $40,000 to $60,000 or more to the litigators who bring in the work.
Some firms with a reputation for generous bonuses paid nothing in 2025. December through January is when most commercial litigation bonuses land, more consistently than in insurance defense, so a fall move should account for a forfeited year end number. Asking for a sign on bonus to cover it is a normal request.
| Experience | Base salary |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 years | $135,000 |
| 3 to 14 years | about $150,000 |
| 15+ years | $155,000 |
| Senior associates and of counsel at larger firms, 8 to 14 years | $240,000 to $310,000 |
ITG data from mid-size and regional firms as of September 2026.
Updated
What to weigh in a litigation move
What moves your candidacy
We'll help you show depositions you've taken, motions you've argued, and any trial time on your record. We'll also help you point to matters you ran without a partner standing over you, and pull together the strongest writing sample you have.
Bonus timing and forfeiture
A fall move can mean walking away from your year end bonus, so weigh a sign on bonus against what you'd forfeit, and ask your new firm to put a number on the table before you decide.
Origination and bonus structure
Ask how the bonus is calculated and whether any of it is tied to origination, since bonuses linked to business you bring in can pay more than a flat number. Ask what a bonus heavy firm paid out last year.
Moving from insurance defense to commercial litigation
Attorneys coming from insurance defense run into one obstacle most often: limited trial experience. Construction defect and first-party property work are the two backgrounds that most often bridge the gap. Both lead into construction litigation matters at commercial firms.
Real recruiters who know the legal market.
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Common Questions
Is there a recruiter for commercial litigation attorneys?
Yes. We recruit commercial litigation attorneys, associates and senior associates, for mid-size and regional firms, and we track base pay, bonus structure, and billable targets specific to the practice. If you're weighing a move, we can tell you where a specific offer sits against what similar firms in your market are paying.
How much do commercial litigation associates make?
Base pay at mid-size and regional firms runs about $135,000 at one to two years, about $150,000 from year three through year fourteen, and $155,000 at fifteen years and beyond.
How many billable hours do commercial litigation firms require?
The median at mid-size and regional firms is 1,900 hours a year. That's close to the 1,920 median insurance defense firms ask for.
When is the best time of year to move firms as a litigator, and should I wait for my bonus?
Most commercial litigation bonuses pay between December and January, more consistently than in insurance defense. A move in the fall usually means forfeiting that number. If the gap between staying for your bonus and taking a new offer is small, waiting until January costs you little. If it's large, ask the new firm for a sign on bonus that covers what you'd forfeit, which is a normal request.
Can I move from insurance defense to commercial litigation?
Yes, and limited trial experience is the obstacle that comes up most in our notes. Construction defect and first-party property work tend to translate best, since they lead into construction litigation matters. We'll tell you where your background stands before you spend time on interviews.
Does it cost anything to use a legal recruiter?
No. The hiring firm covers our fee, and it covers the whole search. There's no charge to the attorney for a conversation, an interview, or an offer, at any point in the process. If a recruiter or a firm asks you to pay for a chance at a role, treat that as a warning sign, since that isn't how a legitimate search works.