Senior Attorney

Senior Attorney (Business & Intellectual Property Law - CA Licensed)

Trestle Law is hiring a Senior Attorney with deep experience in business law and intellectual property.

This is a leadership role inside a fast-growing, modern law firm that serves founders, creatives, and established forward-thinkers. We are not a high-volume filing shop. We provide strategic counsel that helps clients protect and monetize what they’ve built.

We are looking for a seasoned attorney (15+ years preferred) who can operate at a high level, manage complex matters independently, supervise junior team members, and contribute meaningfully to firm growth.

You must be licensed in California. This role is fully remote. Hours are 8-5 M-F PST.

If you are looking for a rigid big-law structure, this is not it.

If you are looking to advise serious business owners and help shape a growing firm, keep reading.

Compensation & Benefits

• $150,000 - $180,000 yearly (depending on experience)
• Performance-based incentive bonuses
• Origination incentives (if applicable)
• 401(k) with employer match
• 100% employer-paid health insurance premiums
• Cell phone and internet stipend
• Fully remote work environment

Alternative structures (including contractor arrangements) may be considered for the right candidate.

$150,000 - $180,000 yearly

• Advise clients on business, employment, and intellectual property matters (think outside General Counsel)
• Handle trademark and copyright matters, including TTAB proceedings
• Draft and negotiate complex commercial contracts
• Manage select federal litigation matters (without full-time litigation workload)
• Conduct high-level legal research efficiently and strategically
• Identify legal risk and provide proactive guidance
• Manage fixed-fee budgets and project timelines
• Accurately track time and meet annual billable targets (~1500 hours)
• Supervise, mentor, and delegate to junior attorneys and staff
• Review and elevate work product before client delivery
• File and manage court and USPTO documents directly when required
• Collaborate within Clio, SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, and Word
• Contribute to internal systems improvement and firm development

This role requires both strategic thinking and strong execution.

Required:

• Active California bar license (in good standing)
• 15+ years of legal experience preferred
• Strong background in business and employment law
• Experience with copyright and trademark law (soft IP focus)
• Familiarity with TTAB proceedings
• Federal litigation experience
• Experience supervising and mentoring junior attorneys
• Strong drafting and contract negotiation skills
• Comfortable managing fixed-fee matters and budgets
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and modern case management systems
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment

Preferred:

• Experience advising founder-led or creative businesses
• Portable book of business (origination incentives available)
• Prior experience in a small or business-minded firm setting

You are likely a strong fit if you:

• Think like a business owner, not just a technician
• See legal issues from 10,000 feet
• Delegate effectively and hold others accountable
• Take initiative without waiting to be told what to do
• Value responsiveness and ownership
• Enjoy mentoring younger attorneys
• Want to build something, not just bill hours

Trestle Law is a modern intellectual property and business law firm serving founders, creatives, and established entrepreneurs.

We help clients:

• Protect what they’ve built
• Structure strong businesses
• Negotiate smart deals
• Turn intellectual property into valuable assets

We are strategic, responsive, and deeply committed to our clients’ success.

Our culture is high-performance and high-trust. We work hard. We expect excellence. We care about our clients and each other. We are not bureaucratic or slow-moving — we are thoughtful, decisive, and growth-oriented.

If you want to be part of a firm that values service, ownership, and results — we would love to hear from you.