Page 12 - Katten Annual Diversity Review

Recruitment | Advancement | Retention Diverse Attorney Profile—
Steve Cochran at Home at Katten
At the heart of a successful career, chemistry among colleagues is nearly as
important as having the right skills. Los Angeles Litigation partner Steve Cochran
knows first-hand the value of firm culture and how it contributes to professional
success and personal fulfillment.
Steve joined Katten in 1991, never left , and
couldn’t be happier with how it all has worked
out. He has an unusually broad practice
serving clients in civil litigation and those
accused of criminal offenses. His work spans cases
involving theft of ideas or other intellectual
property, defamation, wrongful
termination, sexual harassment/
discrimination, breach of fiduciary
duty, fraud, breach of contract,
industrial accidents, environmental
issues and commercial real estate.
As a high-stakes litigator, Steve was
drawn to Katten’s “top-notch” client
service and entrepreneurial style. From
the start, he felt he was encouraged
to pursue his practice while
contributing to the greater legal
community. In the Q&A below,
Steve shares how he’s grown
professionally and personally
during his long career at Katten.
What is it about Katten
that has helped you grow
in your career?
I know that the partners I work with are
great people in addition to top-quality lawyers. The
partners at Katten are truly my friends. It speaks
to the quality of the organization when there are
so many partners that have been here 10, 20-plus
10 Katten Annual Diversity Review – 2017
years. Across offices, I feel like we know each other
and trust each other’s judgment, which I not
only value, but know has contributed to my
success as a trial lawyer.
How has being an attorney
of color shaped your
experience?
I am very lucky, coming from
the public school system and a
working-class background, to
have a career as a lawyer. From
my early days as a federal public
defender to my years with
Katten, I have been devoted to
indigent representation. Former
National Managing Partner
Vince Sergi, now Chairman Emeritus,
particularly understood the importance
of being visible as a diverse attorney to the
wider legal community. I was a lawyer
delegate to the Ninth Circuit Judicial
Conference, served on of the executive
committee to the conference and was
appointed to the Advisory Board to
the Ninth Circuit. That work, among
others, required a significant time
and financial commitment. Vince not
only supported those efforts, but embraced them,
encouraging me to do more. Later on, the mayor
of Los Angeles appointed me to a city commission.