A Hero for the Environment, and the Underdog: CLCV Honors Joseph Cotchett

On June 2nd, CLCV will honor environmental leaders including Joseph W. Cotchett.

Cotchett is considered by plaintiffs and defense attorneys alike to be one of the foremost trial lawyers in the country, having been named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the nation for the past 10 years. His work includes significant pro-bono environmental and consumer cases, building a career out of representing the underdog against powerful interests.

In the 1970’s he brought numerous lawsuits to protect California’s coast. In recent years, he and his firm Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy have taken on major corporate entities and Wall Street, with litigation arising from nearly every major corporate scandal including Enron.

In March of 2000, Cotchett was named to the California State Parks Commission. The commission establishes general policies for the guidance of the Parks Department in the administration, protection and development of the state park system. He served as Chairperson in 2002-2003.

In 2003, the San Francisco Chronicle rated Cotchett as one of the best lawyers in the Bay Area, saying:

“The Burlingame attorney has had a star career that’s not only talked about in legal circles but has made headlines around the country. Known mostly as a plaintiffs’ lawyer, many of his cases are filed on behalf of fraud victims, and have a widows-and-orphan flavor to them.”

Cotchett's firm represented commercial fishermen during the oil spill in 2007, and in recent years, filed lawsuits to protect ancient redwoods on the north coast.

CLCV is proud to honor Joseph Cotchett, a champion for the environment and for the underdog, at our annual Environmental Leadership Awards.