What Sets Us Apart

Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy represents people or entities in cases involving only just principles or causes. The key to CPM’s 50 years of success is its experienced attorneys and staff and their innovative approach to litigating complex matters in a cost-effective and efficient manner. 

Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy is also known for the breadth of its practice and the diversity of its clients:  CPM attorneys are experienced in state and federal false claims matters, antitrust law, securities actions, employment law, consumer class actions, and personal injury cases, among other practice areas. The firm’s clients include individuals, corporations, nonprofit organizations, municipalities and other public entities, pension funds, unions and their representatives, banks, business professionals, physicians, policyholders, homeowners, shareholders, and consumers.

Honors & Awards

Individually and collectively, the attorneys at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy have been recognized for excellence by clients, the legal community, and business groups, and by numerous civic, cultural and nonprofit organizations. These honors include:

The Daily Journal

Top 100 Lawyers in California
Joseph W. Cotchett (selected every year since award's inception - Top 10)
Frank M. Pitre
Niall P. McCarthy
Nanci E. Nishimura

Top 100 Women Litigators in California
Nanci E. Nishimura
Anne Marie Murphy

Top Northern California Law Firm
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP

Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California
Joseph W. Cotchett
Frank M. Pitre
Niall P. McCarthy
Anne Marie Murphy

Top 40 Under 40
Justin T. Berger
Tyson Redenbarger
Tamarah Prevost

America's Top 100 Attorneys
Joseph W. Cotchett - Lifetime Achievement

Awards for Various Legal Cases

California Lawyer

Attorney of the Year (CLAY)
Justin T. Berger and Niall P. McCarthy

Best Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year for the San Francisco Bay Area
Frank M. Pitre

The National Law Journal

“Plaintiff’s Hot List”
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP has been repeatedly recognized as a law firm on the cutting edge of litigation.

Top 100 Verdicts in the United States

Litigation Boutique Top 10 List

Elite Trial Lawyers

California Judicial Counsel

Stanley Mosk Defender of Justice Award
Niall P. McCarthy

Consumer Attorneys of California

Consumer Attorney of the Year
Joseph W. Cotchett - Winner (2019)
Frank M. Pitre - Winner (2013)
Frank M. Pitre - Finalist (2000, 2004, 2011)
Niall P. McCarthy - Finalist (2005, 2011)
Mark C. Molumphy - Finalist (2014)
Justin T. Berger - Winner (2019)
Justin T. Berger - Finalist (2008 and 2011)
Anne Marie Murphy - Finalist (2008)

Consumer Advocate Award
Joseph W. Cotchett

Edward I. Pollock Award
Frank M. Pitre

Presidential Award of Merit
Joseph W. Cotchett
Niall P. McCarthy
Anne Marie Murphy

Super Lawyers and San Francisco Magazine

Super Lawyers - Northern California
Joseph W. Cotchett (Top 10 & Selected No. 1 over various years)
Frank M. Pitre  (Top 10)
Niall P. McCarthy (Top 100)
Mark C. Molumphy (Top 100)
Nanci E. Nishimura
Anne Marie Murphy (Top 50 Women Northern California)
Justin T. Berger
Adam J. Zapala

Who's Who Legal 100 List

Joseph W. Cotchett

The Recorder

Top 50 California Lawyers Under 10 Years of Practice
Justin T. Berger

Lawyer on the Fast Track
Justin T. Berger

Top 100 Bet-The-Company Litigators

Joseph W. Cotchett

Chambers USA

America's Leading Lawyers for Antitrust
Joseph W. Cotchett

Law 360

Top Antitrust Firm
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP

Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar
Joseph W. Cotchett

US News & World Report

Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP (Best Lawyers)

American Antitrust Institute

Antitrust Enforcement Award
Elizabeth T. Castillo

Committee for Green Foothills 

Nature's Inspiration Award
Joseph W. Cotchett

Environmental Leadership by the National Audubon Society

Lufkin Prize
Pete N. McCloskey

American Jewish Committee

Joseph W. Cotchett - Learned Hand Award

Lawdragon

500 Leading Lawyers in America
Joseph W. Cotchett
Frank M. Pitre
Niall P. McCarthy

Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame
Joseph W. Cotchett

Peninsula Coalition

Lifetime Achievement Award
Niall P. McCarthy

Public Justice

Trial Lawyer of the Year
Joseph W. Cotchett - Winner
Frank M. Pitre - Finalist

San Francisco 7x7 Magazine

Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP (Bet the Company Litigation)

State Bar of California

Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Services Certificate
Julie L. Fieber

ABC 7/KGO TV

Profiles of Excellence Award
Niall P. McCarthy

Jack Berman Advocacy Center of the American Jewish Congress

Community Service Award
Mark C. Molumphy

San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association

Trial Lawyer of the Year
Niall P. McCarthy

San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce

Frances Bohannon Nelson Legacy Award
Joseph W. Cotchett

San Mateo County Bar Association

Barrister of the Year Award
Justin T. Berger

James M. Dennis Memorial Award
Pete N. McCloskey

William Nagle, Jr. Memorial Award
Niall P. McCarthy

St. Anthony Foundation

Father Alfred Boeddeker Award
Joseph W. Cotchett

American Italian Bar Service Award

Frank M. Pitre

Swords to Plowshares

Community Hero Award
Pete N. McCloskey

San Francisco Italian-American Bar Association

Lawyer of the Year
Frank M. Pitre

Golden State Antitrust Institute

Antitrust Lawyer of the Year
Joseph W. Cotchett

San Mateo Bar Association Diversity Award
Joseph W. Cotchett (First Honoree)

Irish Voice

Irish Legal 100
Niall P. McCarthy
Mark C. Molumphy
Anne Marie Murphy

San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and Public Justice

Trial Lawyers of the Year
Joseph W. Cotchett

National Trial Lawyers

Top 40 Under 40
Eric J. Buescher

American Antitrust Institute

Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement by a Young Lawyer
Elizabeth T. Castillo

San Francisco Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates

American Board of Trial Advocates Chapter of the Year
Frank M. Pitre

Pacific Century Institute's Building Bridges Award

Pete N. McCloskey

Lex Machina

Busiest Antitrust Firm
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy (2013-2017)

Santa Clara Law School

Santa Clara Law Amicus Award
Joseph W. Cotchett

Community Award
Niall P. McCarthy

Consumer Watchdog

Lifetime Legal Achievement Award
Frank M. Pitre (2018)

Western Center on Law and Poverty

Julie L. Fieber (2018)

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Notre Dame de Namur University

Community Spirit Award
Joseph W. Cotchett 

Acknowledgments

The law firm has been singled out for praise by various courts, judges and clients. The following are just a few of the acknowledgements:

"This settlement is extraordinary in that every single dollar of the cash funds will go to class members. It is extraordinary in that the claimants will receive 100 percent of the value of their claims, not as measured by the Court, not as measured on a litigated basis, but as measured by plaintiffs' own experts."

                  - Judge of the U.S. District Court

“The Cotchett firm, in particular, has appeared before the court in other actions, and the performance of its attorneys to date in this and in other cases is a testament to the ability of these attorneys.”

- Judge of the U.S. District Court

“This court has had the distinct pleasure of having the parties in this case represented by some of the finest attorneys not only in this state but in the country.” Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy has “well reputed experience in [consumer fraud] litigation.”

- Judge of the U.S. District Court

“I have a lot of experience in this kind of litigation”… [and] “the lawyers, many of whom I am personally familiar with, are top notch lawyers who have provided excellent representation.”

- Judge of the Superior Court

“The attorneys… displayed truly exceptional levels of skill and tenacity.”

- Judge of the U.S. District Court

The California Court of Appeal described CPM as an “experienced litigation firm that obtained a ‘stupendous’ result for the [client].”

"Thank you so much for all your hard work and expertise on my behalf. You have helped to make my life and future easier! I really appreciate all you did for me and my wife, I would absolutely recommend you to family and friends."

- Client