Darrell  Cochran

Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, PLLC - Tacoma
Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, PLLC - Tacoma
909 A Street, Suite 700, Tacoma, WA 98402 United States

Partner


Fiercely fighting for your rights against the powerful, one client at a time. Clients love him, defense attorneys and the big and powerful fear him.


Darrell has earned a national reputation as a highly-respected leader in the legal community.


For over three decades, Darrell Cochran has struck fear in his legal opponents. And for good reason.


Darrell has won hundreds of cases and negotiated millions of dollars in settlements for his clients. He’s taken on and defeated some of the most powerful corporations, religious organizations, government agencies, school districts and many other entities for his clients. He’s brought the fight for justice all the way to the US Supreme Court, and won. He’s also served as co-counsel – often taking the lead at trial in the courtroom – for attorneys across the country who’ve retained him to deliver victory in a wide range of cases including catastrophic injury, product liability, sexual abuse, insurance bad faith and more.


Darrell is known for his fierce and tireless dedication to serving his clients. He stands by them not only throughout a case – sometimes taking years – but remains a close and trusted ally even after. His values and work ethic shine as he forges deep relationships with those he stands up for. Compassion and caring are at the core of his practice. And he’s assembled an expert team of legal professionals to support and nurture every client, while confidently shepherding them through the often-intimidating and challenging legal process.


Darrell has earned a national reputation as a highly-respected leader in the legal community. He’s appeared for argument in the US Supreme Court, and argued cases in the US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Washington State Supreme Court and all of its appellate divisions. He testifies and lobbies the Washington State Legislature regularly, advocating for legislation on behalf of victims rights and other key issues. And he served as an Adjunct Professor teaching product liability in the Seattle University School of Law.


Family and work integrate seamlessly in Darrell’s life. His wife Wendy and five children have been a big part of his practice, spending countless weekends in the office together – his family often helping him storyboard cases, helping with research, drawing pictures of him for good luck. Wendy worked with Darrell for 15 years and continues serving as a trusted advisor, while his family (including his parents) can often be found supporting Darrell during a trial from the courtroom pews.


But family ultimately comes first. His somewhat limited free time is spent cheering on his beloved UW Huskies with his wife and kids, lifting weights at 6 a.m. with his powerlifting daughter and son, flying to LA to visit his son at UCLA, cheering on his daughters at their track and field meets, and golfing and fishing with his youngest son.


But make no mistake: While clients love him, when opposing counsel knows Darrell is on the case, his reputation precedes him as one of the most formidable and feared opponents they’ll go up against in their entire careers.


Professional Associations

  • American Association for Justice
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Litigation Counsel of America™, Senior Fellow
  • Law360’s 2021 Personal Injury Editorial Advisory Board
  • Damage Attorney’s Round Table
  • Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), President (2017-2018); Board of Directors
  • Justice for All PAC Board
  • Washington State Supreme Court Pattern Jury Instruction Committee
  • American Bar Association
  • Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association
  • King County Bar Association


Honors

Darrell has also spoken at numerous prestigious industry gatherings across the country including at multiple WSAJ annual conventions and events, in media and other forums. He regularly appears in the media. And he has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the Seattle University School of Law teaching Products Liability.


INDIVIDUAL HONORS:

  • Martindale-Hubbell – AV Preeminent rating
  • Washington State Association for Justice, President’s Award, 2022
  • Washington State Association for Justice (formerly Washington State Trial Lawyer Association), Trial Lawyer of the Year 2015
  • The American Lawyer, West Trailblazer, 2022
  • National Law Journal, Plaintiffs’ Attorney Trailblazer, 2022
  • National Law Journal, Litigation Trailblazer, 2020
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2022–2023
  •  Selected to Thomson Reuters Washington Super Lawyers, Top 100, 2015–2023
  • Washington State Association for Justice, Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2015
  •  Selected to Thomson Reuters Washington Super Lawyers, 2001–2023
  • National Association for Legal Support Professionals – Pierce County – voted “Boss of the Year”


CASE RECOGNITION:

Top 100 US verdicts Rehkter v Washington DSHS $57 million, 2010

The Recorder, Top 25 Verdicts & Settlements of the West, 2020


Bar Admissions

  • Washington
  • Oregon
  • New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court


Education

  • The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
    • J.D. – 1993
  • University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
    • B.A. – 1990
    • Major: Political Science
    • Major: Communications
    • Magna cum laude
    • Phi Beta Kappa
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