How Fred Helps Clients

Major studios and entertainment companies, as well as national public and private companies, rely on Fred Cohen’s instincts and judgment for successful outcomes. Notably among the appellate matters on which he has worked, Fred was lead counsel in Coppola v. Warner Bros., successfully obtaining through post-trial motions and appeal the reversal of an $80 million judgment against Warner Bros.

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Fred is a partner at the firm, which he joined in 1981. He is a member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers. He has presented numerous arguments before the California Supreme Court, as well as some 150 arguments before the state and federal appellate courts.

Fred presented oral argument in the California Supreme Court on behalf of a group of universities and insurance carriers in Saelzler v. Advanced Group 400, a landmark landowner liability case in which the Supreme Court endorsed strict causation limits on liability. More recently, he presented oral argument in the California Supreme Court on behalf of the homeowner in Horiike v. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company, a case in which the court expanded the fiduciary duty owed by real estate salespeople in the dual broker context, cases where the buyer’s and seller’s brokers both work for the same realtor.

Prior to joining the firm, Fred was an attorney with the Appellate Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, where he represented federal agencies in actions raising constitutional and other challenges to a wide variety of federal actions. (See, e.g., AFL-CIO v. Kahn, affirming the President’s authority to condition government contracts on compliance with wage and price guidelines.)

Representative Matters

Chaney v. NorthBay Healthcare Group (2017)
California Court of Appeal affirms jury verdict finding that defendant medical practitioners’ negligence did not cause plaintiff’s injuries.

Horiike v. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company (2016)
Persuaded the California Supreme Court to expand the scope of fiduciary duties real estate brokers owe in residential real estate transactions.

Tutor-Saliba-Perini J.V. v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (2005) 
Court of Appeal reversed judgment granting terminating sanctions against government contractor.

Coppola v. Warner Bros. (2003)
California Court of Appeal reversed an $80 million judgment against client.

Education

• University of Southern California Law Center
  J.D., 1973
• Harvey Mudd College
  B.S., 1970

Clerkships

• Hon. Robert S. Thompson, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division One (1973-1974)

Bar Admissions

• California
• District of Columbia
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U. S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Professional Associations

• California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (1999-present)
• Los Angeles County Bar Association (1985-present)

Awards

• “AV Preeminent” rated by Martindale Hubbell
• Best Lawyers (2006-2019, 2022, 2023)
• Super Lawyers (2004-2024)

Publications

• Co-authored Continuing Education of the Bar civil writ practice guides