“Cohen demonstrates legal expertise, professionalism and an ability to successfully navigate complex issues.”
“He is very thorough and responsive. Joe is definitely someone you want on your side in the heat of battle.”
“He navigates legal and ethical issues flawlessly, works collegially and deftly represents individuals in a wide array of sensitive litigation.”
“Joe is an excellent lawyer and a talented strategist.”
Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer in Product Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide)

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).

He is currently a member of the IADC Board of Directors and a former National Director on the DRI Board of Directors.

Honors & Recognitions

Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer in Product Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide)

DRI Women in the Law Champion, Fall 2021

DRI Sheryl J. Willert Pioneer Diversity Award, 2019

Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defense, Leading Practitioner

  • Chambers 2024
  • Legal 500 (Use for current year Accolade)

Credentials

Education

J.D., University of Houston Law Center, cum laude, 1991

B.A., Northwestern University, 1988

Admissions

Texas

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas

Experience

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.

Newsroom

Speaking Engagements

  • "So, You’re Just a Sales Rep?" DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar
    Speaking Engagement, 05.2019
  • "Critical Marketing Advertisement Issues for Product Manufacturers," DRI Products Liability Seminar
    Speaking Engagement, 02.2018
  • "The Defense Lawyer in 2025: Legal Trends that Impact Your Practice As Told Through Pecha Kucha," IADC Mid-Year Meeting
    Speaking Engagement, 02.2017
  • Speaking Engagement, 10.16.2015
  • "When Vigorous Advocacy Goes too Far," IADC Annual Meeting
    Speaking Engagement, 07.07.2015
  • "Technology Inside and Outside the Courtroom - Making Your Practice Mobile," Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting
    Speaking Engagement, 09.26.2014

Affiliations

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