Steve Cochran litigates high-stakes business disputes. He handles cases involving claims for theft of ideas or other intellectual property, defamation, wrongful termination, sexual harassment/discrimination, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and breach of contract. Steve represents companies and individuals in litigation involving industrial accidents, toxic exposures and alleged harm to the environment. This work includes immediate response to organize investigations, response to inquiries from government agencies, and defense of clients in civil or criminal proceedings. Steve also represents financial institutions in commercial real estate lawsuits to enforce extensions of credit and defend against allegations of lender liability.

Steve’s trial successes include a judgment for a bank in a commercial real estate dispute, a judgment for a studio in a discrimination case brought by a federal agency, a verdict in favor of an entertainer suing for defamation, a judgment in favor of a studio sued for breach of contract and fraud, and a jury verdict after a six-month trial in favor of an entertainer sued for wrongful termination, sexual harassment/discrimination and other claims.

Steve routinely defends companies and individuals facing prosecution in state or federal court. In his criminal defense practice, he represents clients accused of mail fraud, money laundering, federal election fraud, improper disposal of regulated material, tax evasion and customs violations. In one notable representation, he successfully defended an attorney accused of serious spousal abuse.

Before joining Katten, Steve served as law clerk to the Honorable William P. Gray, US District Court, Central District of California, and as extern clerk to the Honorable Cecil F. Poole, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.