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Provided by Joseph Cohen
Joe Cohen leads the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and is ranked nationally by Chambers USA among the leading lawyers for Product Liability & Mass Torts. His practice focuses on handling the defense of catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases arising from allegations of products liability (including pharmaceuticals and medical devices), chemical and substance exposure, general negligence, and commercial litigation. Joe has successfully tried cases to verdict and engaged in extensive motion practice, including complex summary judgment issues and intricate challenges to experts in a variety of disciplines. He has handled matters in over 35 states and in multiple counties throughout the state of Texas.
Joe also provides individual representation to employees (current and former) of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and biotech companies in both civil and criminal contexts, including U.S. Department of Justice and State Attorneys General investigations. In particular, Joe has extensive experience representing these individuals as defendants and non-party witnesses in lawsuits, and as Witnesses and Subjects in governmental investigations, including preparing and presenting individuals for proffers and before grand juries. While Joe has represented these current and former employees across multiple divisions and at multiple levels within pharmaceutical and device companies, he has a particularly significant amount of experience representing individuals from the Sales and Marketing departments of those companies.
In addition to his products liability practice, Joe handles disputes related to fraud, theft of trade secrets, non-competition matters, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, commercial and residential lease disputes, and copyright and trademark infringement, including the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA).
International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC):
IADC Board of Directors, Member
Foundation of the IADC Board of Directors, Member
Drug, Device, and Biotechnology Committee, Chair and Former Vice-Chair of Membership and Vice-Chair of Diversity
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Member and Former Past Chair, and 2021 President’s Award Recipient for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee’s Active Ally Program
Membership Committee, Member and Former Chair, and 2019 Fullam Irick Award Recipient honoring exceptional work by a Committee Chair
Engagement and Retention Committee, Member
Ambassador Program, Member
2021 Mid-Year Meeting, CLE Steering Committee Chair
2020 Mid-Year Meeting, Hospitality Chair
2017 Mid-Year Meeting, First-Timers Chair
DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, Member:
Law Institute Member
Board of Directors (Former National Director)
Product Liability Committee, Steering Committee, Member (2015 Seminar Chair, Former E-Discovery SLG Chair and Newsletter Editor)
Drug and Medical Device Committee, Steering Committee and Seminar Planning Committee, Member
Data Management and Security Committee, Former Chair
Law in Transition Committee, Member
Technology Committee, Former Vice-Chair
Casetext, Products Liability Editorial Advisory Board
State Bar of Texas, Member
Houston Bar Association, Member
Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
"Critical Marketing and Advertising Issues for Product Manufacturers," In-House Defense Quarterly Summer 2018
09.01.2018
Pharmaceuticals / Products Liability:
● Represented major pharmaceutical manufacturers in lawsuits arising from the use of both prescription and
over-the-counter medications alleged to have caused Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal
Necrolysis, and resulting catastrophic injuries and death.
● Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer in a suit alleging Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: obtained summary
judgment.
● Represented a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple lawsuits arising from the use of two
prescription drugs, including participation in the management and supervision of the entire case docket.
● Represented a major pharmaceutical manufacturer involved in mass tort litigation: responsible for handling
matters before a Rule 11 Pre-Trial Judge (for a region covering more than 30 of a state’s counties).
● Represented fitting and valve manufacturers in products liability cases involving allegations of catastrophic
injury.
● Represented multiple product manufacturers, employers and premises owners in cases arising out of
chemical exposure and asbestos, including being a trial team member in multiple asbestos jury trials.
● Represented a tire manufacturer in multiple wrongful death and personal injury suits filed throughout state
relating to rollover accidents and product recall.
Other Litigation:
● Represented a peer-to-peer software developer against allegations of copyright infringement by the major
record labels.
● Represented numerous physicians, dentists and health care facilities in cases involving allegations of
malpractice, including a successful jury trial of dental malpractice case.
● Represented landowners and property managers in premises liability and lease dispute lawsuits, including
successful jury and bench trials.
● Represented various trucking companies in wrongful death and catastrophic injury lawsuits and claims.
● Represented a major oil company in numerous contractual disputes with distributors and retail outlets
throughout the country.
● Represented an employer in an Age Discrimination in Employment Act suit, including participation in a trial
that resulted in a directed verdict on behalf of the employer.
University of Houston Law Center
J.D.
1991
Northwestern University
B.A.
1988
Leading Lawyer in Product Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide)
Chambers USA
Women in the Law Champion
DRI
2021
Sheryl J. Willert Pioneer Diversity Award
DRI
2019
Product Liability Defense, Leading Practitioner
Who's Who Legal
Provided by Chambers
Provided by Chambers
Joseph is an outstanding attorney. He is diligent and thoughtful.
He is an outstanding lawyer. He is approachable, knowledgeable and easy to work with. He really cares about his clients needs and their well-being.
Joseph is a highly responsive and service-oriented lawyer. He is devoted to his client's best interests.
Joseph is an outstanding attorney. He is diligent and thoughtful.
He is an outstanding lawyer. He is approachable, knowledgeable and easy to work with. He really cares about his clients needs and their well-being.
Joseph is a highly responsive and service-oriented lawyer. He is devoted to his client's best interests.