Office Location
1100 New York Avenue, Suite 340
Washington, D.C. 20005
Contact Us
1-800 THE FIRM
Phone Number: (202) 682-5800
Fax: (202) 408-8851
Managing Attorney: David E. Haynes
Washington D.C. Attorneys
David E. Haynes
Managing Partner
David E. Haynes, The Cochran Firm, D.C.’s managing partner, has been representing clients throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia since the office’s founding. He has significant experience handling cases involving commercial vehicle and trucking collisions, gas explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, drowning, fires, inadequate security, medical malpractice, train collisions, product liability, and police misconduct, among others. David has handled dozens of cases involving wrongful death, paralysis, loss of limb, loss of sight, brain injury, and other very serious injuries, often against large corporations or municipalities, securing some of the largest verdicts and settlements of their kind.
As lead counsel, David has obtained numerous multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients. Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly recognized attorney Haynes in 2006 after he achieved one of the largest verdicts in Virginia that year, which was upheld on appeal and collected. He was recognized in 2012 by the same publication for securing two of the ten largest settlements in all of Virginia that year, both of which were wrongful death cases.
David was named a Super Lawyer for every year from 2013 to the present in Personal Injury for Washington. D.C. Only up to 5 percent of D.C. attorneys are selected as Super Lawyers. The selection process involves an in-depth, measurable process that includes peer nominations by seasoned attorneys followed by detailed evaluations that are matched against third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. From 2016 to 2018, he was named to the Best Lawyers in America in Washington, D.C. for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice.
He has also been appointed by various Courts to leadership positions in complex injury litigation, including:
- Co-liaison counsel for all Plaintiffs in the Matter of the Fort Totten Metrorail Cases Arising Out of the Events of June 22, 2009. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No.: 10-mc-00314, a train collision that resulted in the death of 9 people and injuries to 85 others
- Member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in Jane Doe No. 1, et al. v. Johns Hopkins Hospital, et al. Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Case No. 24-C-13-001041 MM, a class action for sexual abuse and privacy violations by an OB/GYN which is comprised of over 8,000 class members and secured a $190 million settlement for victims
David has lectured at multiple legal conferences to other lawyers, including the National Trial Lawyers Summit and Mass Torts Made Perfect. He has been interviewed or quoted by numerous national and local news outlets, including NBC National News and The Wall Street Journal. David is often called upon to comment on legal issues of the day and he is a regular contributor on the Ring of Fire radio and TV show.
Active in the community, David is a member of the Board of Directors of the Abramson Scholarship Foundation, a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides scholarships for disadvantaged high school graduates going on to college and fellowships for law school graduates who accept non-profit public interest positions.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Named in the list of “Best Lawyers in America” for Washington, D.C. in the areas of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice, 2016-Present
- Named in the list of “Super Lawyers,” 2013-Present
- Recognized by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly for securing two if the ten largest settlements in Virginia, 2012
- Recognized by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly for obtaining one of largest verdicts in the state, 2006
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- President, Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., 2015-2016
- Board of Governors of Trial Lawyers Association of District of Columbia, 2009-Present
- Member, American Association for Justice
- Member, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, Maryland Association for Justice
- Diplomat, The National Trial Lawyers
EDUCATION
- J.D., University of Richmond School of Law
- B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
- Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Karen E. Evans
Partner
Karen E. Evans is a former registered nurse and preeminent trial attorney in The Cochran Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Over the course of her 28 year career, her prime objective has and continues to be achieving justice for her clients. Throughout her career as a trial attorney, she has successfully prosecuted high-stakes litigation matters involving medical negligence. Since 2000, Ms. Evans has combined her years of experience as a registered nurse and former defense lawyer with her zealous advocacy skills to pursue claims on behalf of individuals and families who have suffered life changing catastrophic injuries and losses. Ms. Evans has successfully tried and settled numerous medical malpractice cases in the seven and eight-figure ranges. Her greatest joy comes from seeing the positive impact of her work on the lives of those who have put their trust in her.
Ms. Evans has been consistently selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, among other honors. She has also been listed in The Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. She has received the highest peer rating of Martindale Hubbell®, AV Preeminent. This rating signifies that a large number of Ms. Evans’ peers rank her at the highest level of professional excellence for her legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Ms. Evans is the current President of the National Black Lawyers Top 100, a Past President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., a Past President of the Washington Bar Association, (one of the National Bar Association’s oldest affiliates), and a Past President of the Washington Bar Association Educational Foundation, Inc. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Trial Lawyers. She is a member of the D.C. Bar Board of Governors and a Director on the board of the Council for Court Excellence.
From 2007 to 2012, Ms. Evans was honored to teach law students at The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, the District of Columbia’s public law school. UDC Law is committed to the public interest, using the law to help those in need and reshape our community.
A native of North Carolina, Ms. Evans earned her B.S.N. from East Carolina University School of Nursing and received her law degree from The University of North Carolina School of Law. Before law school, Ms. Evans was a Captain in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps and practiced medical/surgical and intensive care nursing for ten years. She began her legal education at Texas Tech University School of Law where she was selected for Law Review. After her first year of study, she transferred to The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) in 1990.
Ms. Evans is a member of the Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia state and federal bars. She is also admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Commendation Medal, United States Air Force
- Achievement Medal, United States Air Force
- Super Lawyers 2007, 2012 – present
- Washington, D.C.’s Top Lawyers
- Best Lawyers in America 2009 – present
- Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings (highest level of professional excellence)
- Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers
- National Women Trial Lawyers Top 25 – 2017
- Charlotte E. Ray Award, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (GWAC)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Karen also serves as Legal Writing and Research Adjunct Professor of Law for the David A. Clarke School of Law. Other associations include:
- President, The National Black Lawyers Top 100
- Legal Writing and Research Adjunct Professor of Law, David A. Clarke School of Law
- Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington DC
- President (2012)
- President Elect (2011)
- Vice President (2010)
- Treasurer (2009)
- Secretary (2008)
- Board of Governors (2003-present)
- Former Captain (1981-87), United States Air Force Nurse Corps
- Sustaining Member, Women’s Bar Association
- Member, D.C. Diverse Partners Network
- Washington Bar Association
- Immediate Past President
- 1st Vice President (2012)
- 2nd Vice President (2011)
- Judicial Selection Committee Chair (2011-12)
- Executive Committee, Trial Lawyers Association, D.C.
- Member, American Association of Nurse Attorneys
- Member, American Bar Association
- Advisory board member, S.M.A.R.T. – community organization dedicated to improving academics through sports
- Member, National Bar Association
- Member, American Association for Justice
- Member, Maryland Association for Justice
- Member, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Volunteer Mediator, Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs of the D.C. Superior Court and U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C.
- Speaker and guest lecturer: The George Washington University Law School, D. C. Superior Court Judicial Training session committee, Ohio Association for Justice
EDUCATION
- J.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- B.S.N., East Carolina University
- Registered Nurse
BAR ADMISSIONS
- District of Columbia, 1990
- Maryland, 1997
- Virginia, 1997
W. Charles Meltmar
Partner
As an attorney at The Cochran Firm, located in Washington, D.C., W. Charles Meltmar focuses primarily on personal injury plaintiff claims involving catastrophic personal injuries, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse and neglect. His geographical practice areas include the District of Columbia and surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia.
Over the course of his career, he has tried more than 150 personal injury cases. Prior to narrowing his practice to concentrate on malpractice, neglect and catastrophic personal injury cases, Mr. Meltmar represented plaintiffs in a variety of civil litigation matters.
In 1986, Mr. Meltmar graduated from The George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He subsequently went on to attend the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, from where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1992.
Mr. Meltmar joined The Cochran Firm in 2003 after practicing with an area law firm. As a member of the District of Columbia Bar, Mr. Meltmar is admitted to practice before the courts of that jurisdiction. Admitted to practice in Maryland and Virginia as well, he is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Throughout his career, Mr. Meltmar has held membership with numerous legal organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Maryland Association for Justice, Inc., and the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., where he serves as a member of its board of governors. Highly regarded by his peers, he has received an “Excellent” rating from Avvo.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Super Lawyers 2014 – present
- Avvo “Excellent” Rating
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association
- Maryland Trial Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
EDUCATION
- J.D., District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
- B.S., George Washington University
BAR ADMISSIONS
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- The United States Supreme Court
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
Sandra H. Robinson
Partner
Sandra H. Robinson, an experienced trial attorney with The Cochran Firm, D.C., handles catastrophic medical malpractice and personal injury cases. She has settled or won at trial malpractice cases in the six- and seven-figure range; in a single year she won more than $20 million in jury awards on behalf of victims of malpractice.
Ms. Robinson has served as president of the Civil Justice Foundation and was the first African-American president of the Public Justice Foundation. She is a past member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (AAJ).
Ms. Robinson is past president of the Women’s Bar Association Foundation, and past president of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. She has held numerous other leadership positions including co-chair of the National Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Section, Program Coordinator of the National Association of Black Women Attorneys and a Master in the Charlotte E. Ray American Inn of Court, which promotes the ethical and professional development of lawyers. Ms. Robinson has also served on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
Ms. Robinson has received the American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Annual Marie Lambert Award for leadership and mentoring of women lawyers. She has been honored as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Trial Lawyers Association, D.C., and has also received the Presidential Award of the National Bar Association and the Charlotte E. Ray Award of the Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women’s Division of the NBA. This award is named in honor of the first African-American woman to practice law in the United States.
In 2003, Ms. Robinson was honored as a “Star of the Bar” by the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia for her outstanding skills as a trial lawyer and her service to the community. She was also featured as a Distinguished Black Woman in the 23rd Annual Scholarship Calendar published by Black Women in Sisterhood for Action. She is a recipient of the Pursuit of Justice Award of the American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practices Section, and of the Washington Bar Association’s Ollie May Cooper Award.
Ms. Robinson is a past Alumna of the Year of the Black Law Students Association of the Catholic University Columbus School of Law. She is listed in the Best Lawyers in America and as a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer. She has been honored as one of the Top 50 Women Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers by Law & Politics Magazine.
Ms. Robinson is a member of the D.C. and Maryland Bars. She has coached moot court teams in the D.C. Street Law Program, mentored students interested in the practice of law, participated in annual Law Day programs in the public schools, and supported other public interest efforts. In addition, she has lectured at high schools, colleges, law schools, and medical schools on medicine and the law.
A native of Virginia, Ms. Robinson graduated from Oberlin College and received her law degree from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Super Lawyers 2007 – present
- Best Lawyers 2006 – present
- Inducted into the Washington Bar Association’s (WBA) Hall of Fame at their Annual Conference, June 1, 2016.
- Honored, Ollie May Cooper Award, Washington Bar Association, 2014
- Honored, Star of the Bar, Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2003
- Honored, Marie Lambert Award, American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, 2007
- Honored, Trial Lawyer of the Year, Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., 2000
- Honored, Presidential Award, National Bar Association
- Honored, Pursuit of Justice Award, Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association
- Honored, Charlotte E. Ray Award, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women’s Division, National Bar Association
- Honored, Alumna of the Year, Black Law Students Association of the Catholic University Columbus School of Law
- Honored, Distinguished Black Woman, by Black Women in Sisterhood for Action
- Compassionate Gladiatrix Award, Florida Justice Association
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Past President of the Civil Justice Foundation
- Past President of the Public Justice Foundation
- Past member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (AAJ)
- Past president of the Women’s Bar Association Foundation
- Past president of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
- Former co-chair of the National Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Section
- Former Program Coordinator of the National Association of Black Women Attorneys
- Former Master in the Charlotte E. Ray American Inn of Court
- Receipts the DC-TLA Sandra H. Robinson Women’s Caucus Award
EDUCATION
J.D., Catholic University Columbus School of Law
B.A., Oberlin College
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
Rabiah Abdullah
Associate
Rabiah Abdullah began her legal career with a medical malpractice team defending personal injury claims. Since then, for over a decade she has represented injured clients and worked as a civil rights advocate, litigating local and federal claims based on race, ethnicity, gender, and police brutality.
Attorney Abdullah has been admitted to the D.C. Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for D.C., and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She is also admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
HONORS & AWARDS
- NONE GIVEN
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Washington Bar Association
EDUCATION
J.D., George Washington University Law School
B.A., Wellesley College
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Supreme Court
Kayann Chambers
Associate
Kayann Chambers is an attorney with The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. office and handles personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Kayann has always had a passion to represent those without a voice. She is a native of South Florida and earned her undergraduate and graduate degree from Florida State University. In graduate school she focused on an in-depth systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of criminal justice policies, as well as the discovery of the socio-cultural, economic and global certified roots of crime.
She took her zealous passion to Florida A&M College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate degree. While in law school, she served as a law clerk for the Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Florida and Orange County Public Schools. Before joining The Cochran Firm, Kayann worked at a well-established plaintiff’s firm in Prince George’s county Maryland where she practiced in the areas of civil litigation and administrative law. Kayann’s legal experiences provide her with broad exposure in the legal field and with a transferable skillset.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
- J. Franklyn Bourne Bar
- Women’s Bar Association of Maryland
- Maryland Association For Justice
- Maryland State Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- Community Advocates For Family & Youth (2017 – present)
EDUCATION
- Florida State University B.A. 2010
- Florida State University M.S. 2011
- Florida A&M University College of Law J.D. 2015
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
About Our Washington D.C. Office
The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. is the sister office to the Baltimore office whose attorney’s been serving the citizens of the Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years. The partners of The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. combine their expertise to offer their clients exceptional legal representation in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury, nursing home abuse, product liability and more. The attorneys at the D.C. office are committed to community service beyond the courtroom and are involved with The Abramson Scholarship Foundation, the American Heart Association, the Arlington Free Clinic and the Capital Area Food Bank, amongst other community organizations.
In addition to its impressive roster of Washington, D.C. attorneys, The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. also has access to the experience and resources of the entire Cochran Firm National organization. This gives our attorneys access to experts in fields across the legal spectrum, from personal injury to civil rights and medical malpractice. No matter your circumstances, the attorneys at The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. are here to listen and help in your time of need.
When Johnnie Cochran founded The Cochran Firm, he set out with one goal in mind; To provide exceptional representation to victims of all types of injustice. Since its inception, The Cochran Firm has established itself as one of the premier plaintiff’s litigation and criminal defense law firms in the United States. The Cochran Firm has brought together some of the most highly respected and experienced men and women in the legal field.
Let the attorneys at The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. put their experience to work for you.
Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Personal Injury
When you are injured in an accident you have two choices: you can rely on an insurance company to provide you with a settlement or you can call a lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims and take legal action. Before you make this choice it is important to remember that insurance companies serve their own best interests and are dedicated to increasing their profits.
Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice
Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. They’re where you go when you’re hurt or sick and you need the aid of well-educated, highly trained professionals. However, every year nearly 100,000 Americans die as a result of avoidable medical mistakes.
Auto Accident
Auto Accident
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an auto accident, you need a dedicated attorney on your side. The experienced auto accident lawyers at The Cochran Firm have a proven record of helping victims of injury get maximum compensation. We are here to take your case, fight for your rights, and help you get the justice you are due.
Trucking Accident
Trucking Accident
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an auto accident, you need a dedicated attorney on your side. The experienced auto accident lawyers at The Cochran Firm have a proven record of helping victims of injury get maximum compensation. We are here to take your case, fight for your rights, and help you get the justice you are due.
Police Brutality
Police Brutality
Most police officers are committed and ethical. They work a difficult, life-threatening job, and their days are extraordinarily stressful. However, police officers also exercise a great deal of control over the lives of the people they interact with, and an abuse of this power is particularly egregious.
Premise Liability
Premise Liability
Property owners have certain obligations under local, state and federal laws. While these laws vary, the basic underlying fact of them is similar regardless of where you live: property owners have an obligation to keep their land and the buildings on top of it safe for authorized visitors and those with business there.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful Death
Coping with the loss of a loved one can be one of the most trying times of your life. When your family member’s death was caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, the grieving process only intensifies In these instances, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit and receive the closure and financial compensation to which you and your family are entitled.
Criminal Defense
Criminal Defense
Founded by famed criminal defense attorney Johnnie Cochran, The Cochran Firm has a well-earned reputation as one of the nation’s most effective criminal defense law firms. Our defense attorneys are dedicated to helping people facing all types of criminal charges get fair treatment – and to taking every step necessary to protect the rights and freedoms of those we represent.
The Cochran Firm Legacy
Welcome to the website of The Cochran Firm, a law firm founded by legendary attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. over four decades ago. With regional offices nationwide, The Cochran Firm is one of the nation’s largest personal injury & medical malpractice law firms with some of the most aggressive personal injury attorneys, known for their tireless and effective legal representation. The Cochran Firm Partners have secured over $35 Billion in verdicts, settlements, and judgments for our clients including but not limited to trucking accidents, personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases.
With a reputation like ours, it’s easy to get swept away with accolades and awards. At The Cochran Firm, though, our experienced and aggressive personal injury attorneys and criminal defense lawyers focus not on praise, but the dedication to handling quality, legal representation for injured people, their families, and the ordinary citizen, as implemented by Johnnie Cochran over four decades ago. Contact us today to speak with an expert criminal defense or personal injury lawyer, and schedule a consultation to discuss your personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death or other case.
Contact Us
1-800 THE FIRM
Phone Number: (202) 682-5800
Fax: (202) 408-8851
Managing Attorney: David E. Haynes
Office Location
Legg Mason Tower
100 International Drive, 23rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
Washington D.C. Attorneys
David E. Haynes
Managing Partner
PHONE: (202) 682-5800
FAX: (202) 408-8851
OFFICE: Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE: www.cochranfirmdc.com
David E. Haynes, The Cochran Firm, D.C.’s managing partner, has been representing clients throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia since the office’s founding. He has significant experience handling cases involving commercial vehicle and trucking collisions, gas explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, drowning, fires, inadequate security, medical malpractice, train collisions, product liability, and police misconduct, among others. David has handled dozens of cases involving wrongful death, paralysis, loss of limb, loss of sight, brain injury, and other very serious injuries, often against large corporations or municipalities, securing some of the largest verdicts and settlements of their kind.
As lead counsel, David has obtained numerous multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients. Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly recognized attorney Haynes in 2006 after he achieved one of the largest verdicts in Virginia that year, which was upheld on appeal and collected. He was recognized in 2012 by the same publication for securing two of the ten largest settlements in all of Virginia that year, both of which were wrongful death cases.
David was named a Super Lawyer for every year from 2013 to the present in Personal Injury for Washington. D.C. Only up to 5 percent of D.C. attorneys are selected as Super Lawyers. The selection process involves an in-depth, measurable process that includes peer nominations by seasoned attorneys followed by detailed evaluations that are matched against third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. From 2016 to 2018, he was named to the Best Lawyers in America in Washington, D.C. for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice.
He has also been appointed by various Courts to leadership positions in complex injury litigation, including:
- Co-liaison counsel for all Plaintiffs in the Matter of the Fort Totten Metrorail Cases Arising Out of the Events of June 22, 2009. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No.: 10-mc-00314, a train collision that resulted in the death of 9 people and injuries to 85 others
- Member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in Jane Doe No. 1, et al. v. Johns Hopkins Hospital, et al. Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Case No. 24-C-13-001041 MM, a class action for sexual abuse and privacy violations by an OB/GYN which is comprised of over 8,000 class members and secured a $190 million settlement for victims
David has lectured at multiple legal conferences to other lawyers, including the National Trial Lawyers Summit and Mass Torts Made Perfect. He has been interviewed or quoted by numerous national and local news outlets, including NBC National News and The Wall Street Journal. David is often called upon to comment on legal issues of the day and he is a regular contributor on the Ring of Fire radio and TV show.
Active in the community, David is a member of the Board of Directors of the Abramson Scholarship Foundation, a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides scholarships for disadvantaged high school graduates going on to college and fellowships for law school graduates who accept non-profit public interest positions.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Named in the list of “Best Lawyers in America” for Washington, D.C. in the areas of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice, 2016-Present
- Named in the list of “Super Lawyers,” 2013-Present
- Recognized by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly for securing two if the ten largest settlements in Virginia, 2012
- Recognized by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly for obtaining one of largest verdicts in the state, 2006
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- President, Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., 2015-2016
- Board of Governors of Trial Lawyers Association of District of Columbia, 2009-Present
- Member, American Association for Justice
- Member, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, Maryland Association for Justice
- Diplomat, The National Trial Lawyers
EDUCATION
- J.D., University of Richmond School of Law
- B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
- Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Karen E. Evans
Partner
PHONE: (202) 682-5800
FAX: (202) 408-8851
OFFICE: Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE: www.cochranfirmdc.com
Karen E. Evans is a former registered nurse and preeminent trial attorney in The Cochran Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Over the course of her 28 year career, her prime objective has and continues to be achieving justice for her clients. Throughout her career as a trial attorney, she has successfully prosecuted high-stakes litigation matters involving medical negligence. Since 2000, Ms. Evans has combined her years of experience as a registered nurse and former defense lawyer with her zealous advocacy skills to pursue claims on behalf of individuals and families who have suffered life changing catastrophic injuries and losses. Ms. Evans has successfully tried and settled numerous medical malpractice cases in the seven and eight-figure ranges. Her greatest joy comes from seeing the positive impact of her work on the lives of those who have put their trust in her.
Ms. Evans has been consistently selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, among other honors. She has also been listed in The Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. She has received the highest peer rating of Martindale Hubbell®, AV Preeminent. This rating signifies that a large number of Ms. Evans’ peers rank her at the highest level of professional excellence for her legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Ms. Evans is the current President of the National Black Lawyers Top 100, a Past President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., a Past President of the Washington Bar Association, (one of the National Bar Association’s oldest affiliates), and a Past President of the Washington Bar Association Educational Foundation, Inc. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Trial Lawyers. She is a member of the D.C. Bar Board of Governors and a Director on the board of the Council for Court Excellence.
From 2007 to 2012, Ms. Evans was honored to teach law students at The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, the District of Columbia’s public law school. UDC Law is committed to the public interest, using the law to help those in need and reshape our community.
A native of North Carolina, Ms. Evans earned her B.S.N. from East Carolina University School of Nursing and received her law degree from The University of North Carolina School of Law. Before law school, Ms. Evans was a Captain in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps and practiced medical/surgical and intensive care nursing for ten years. She began her legal education at Texas Tech University School of Law where she was selected for Law Review. After her first year of study, she transferred to The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) in 1990.
Ms. Evans is a member of the Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia state and federal bars. She is also admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Commendation Medal, United States Air Force
- Achievement Medal, United States Air Force
- Super Lawyers 2007, 2012 – present
- Washington, D.C.’s Top Lawyers
- Best Lawyers in America 2009 – present
- Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings (highest level of professional excellence)
- Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers
- National Women Trial Lawyers Top 25 – 2017
- Charlotte E. Ray Award, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (GWAC)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Karen also serves as Legal Writing and Research Adjunct Professor of Law for the David A. Clarke School of Law. Other associations include:
- President, The National Black Lawyers Top 100
- Legal Writing and Research Adjunct Professor of Law, David A. Clarke School of Law
- Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington DC
- President (2012)
- President Elect (2011)
- Vice President (2010)
- Treasurer (2009)
- Secretary (2008)
- Board of Governors (2003-present)
- Former Captain (1981-87), United States Air Force Nurse Corps
- Sustaining Member, Women’s Bar Association
- Member, D.C. Diverse Partners Network
- Washington Bar Association
- Immediate Past President
- 1st Vice President (2012)
- 2nd Vice President (2011)
- Judicial Selection Committee Chair (2011-12)
- Executive Committee, Trial Lawyers Association, D.C.
- Member, American Association of Nurse Attorneys
- Member, American Bar Association
- Advisory board member, S.M.A.R.T. – community organization dedicated to improving academics through sports
- Member, National Bar Association
- Member, American Association for Justice
- Member, Maryland Association for Justice
- Member, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Volunteer Mediator, Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs of the D.C. Superior Court and U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C.
- Speaker and guest lecturer: The George Washington University Law School, D. C. Superior Court Judicial Training session committee, Ohio Association for Justice
EDUCATION
- J.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- B.S.N., East Carolina University
- Registered Nurse
BAR ADMISSIONS
- District of Columbia, 1990
- Maryland, 1997
- Virginia, 1997
W. Charles Meltmar
Partner
PHONE: (202) 682-5800
FAX: (202) 408-8851
OFFICE: Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE: www.cochranfirmdc.com
As an attorney at The Cochran Firm, located in Washington, D.C., W. Charles Meltmar focuses primarily on personal injury plaintiff claims involving catastrophic personal injuries, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse and neglect. His geographical practice areas include the District of Columbia and surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia.
Over the course of his career, he has tried more than 150 personal injury cases. Prior to narrowing his practice to concentrate on malpractice, neglect and catastrophic personal injury cases, Mr. Meltmar represented plaintiffs in a variety of civil litigation matters.
In 1986, Mr. Meltmar graduated from The George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He subsequently went on to attend the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, from where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1992.
Mr. Meltmar joined The Cochran Firm in 2003 after practicing with an area law firm. As a member of the District of Columbia Bar, Mr. Meltmar is admitted to practice before the courts of that jurisdiction. Admitted to practice in Maryland and Virginia as well, he is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Throughout his career, Mr. Meltmar has held membership with numerous legal organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Maryland Association for Justice, Inc., and the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., where he serves as a member of its board of governors. Highly regarded by his peers, he has received an “Excellent” rating from Avvo.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Super Lawyers 2014 – present
- Avvo “Excellent” Rating
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association
- Maryland Trial Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
EDUCATION
- J.D., District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
- B.S., George Washington University
BAR ADMISSIONS
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- The United States Supreme Court
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
Sandra H. Robinson
Partner
PHONE: (202) 682-5800
FAX: (202) 408-8851
OFFICE: Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE: www.cochranfirmdc.com
Sandra H. Robinson, an experienced trial attorney with The Cochran Firm, D.C., handles catastrophic medical malpractice and personal injury cases. She has settled or won at trial malpractice cases in the six- and seven-figure range; in a single year she won more than $20 million in jury awards on behalf of victims of malpractice.
Ms. Robinson has served as president of the Civil Justice Foundation and was the first African-American president of the Public Justice Foundation. She is a past member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (AAJ).
Ms. Robinson is past president of the Women’s Bar Association Foundation, and past president of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. She has held numerous other leadership positions including co-chair of the National Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Section, Program Coordinator of the National Association of Black Women Attorneys and a Master in the Charlotte E. Ray American Inn of Court, which promotes the ethical and professional development of lawyers. Ms. Robinson has also served on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
Ms. Robinson has received the American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Annual Marie Lambert Award for leadership and mentoring of women lawyers. She has been honored as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Trial Lawyers Association, D.C., and has also received the Presidential Award of the National Bar Association and the Charlotte E. Ray Award of the Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women’s Division of the NBA. This award is named in honor of the first African-American woman to practice law in the United States.
In 2003, Ms. Robinson was honored as a “Star of the Bar” by the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia for her outstanding skills as a trial lawyer and her service to the community. She was also featured as a Distinguished Black Woman in the 23rd Annual Scholarship Calendar published by Black Women in Sisterhood for Action. She is a recipient of the Pursuit of Justice Award of the American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practices Section, and of the Washington Bar Association’s Ollie May Cooper Award.
Ms. Robinson is a past Alumna of the Year of the Black Law Students Association of the Catholic University Columbus School of Law. She is listed in the Best Lawyers in America and as a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer. She has been honored as one of the Top 50 Women Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers by Law & Politics Magazine.
Ms. Robinson is a member of the D.C. and Maryland Bars. She has coached moot court teams in the D.C. Street Law Program, mentored students interested in the practice of law, participated in annual Law Day programs in the public schools, and supported other public interest efforts. In addition, she has lectured at high schools, colleges, law schools, and medical schools on medicine and the law.
A native of Virginia, Ms. Robinson graduated from Oberlin College and received her law degree from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Super Lawyers 2007 – present
- Best Lawyers 2006 – present
- Inducted into the Washington Bar Association’s (WBA) Hall of Fame at their Annual Conference, June 1, 2016.
- Honored, Ollie May Cooper Award, Washington Bar Association, 2014
- Honored, Star of the Bar, Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2003
- Honored, Marie Lambert Award, American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, 2007
- Honored, Trial Lawyer of the Year, Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., 2000
- Honored, Presidential Award, National Bar Association
- Honored, Pursuit of Justice Award, Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association
- Honored, Charlotte E. Ray Award, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women’s Division, National Bar Association
- Honored, Alumna of the Year, Black Law Students Association of the Catholic University Columbus School of Law
- Honored, Distinguished Black Woman, by Black Women in Sisterhood for Action
- Compassionate Gladiatrix Award, Florida Justice Association
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Past President of the Civil Justice Foundation
- Past President of the Public Justice Foundation
- Past member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (AAJ)
- Past president of the Women’s Bar Association Foundation
- Past president of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
- Former co-chair of the National Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Section
- Former Program Coordinator of the National Association of Black Women Attorneys
- Former Master in the Charlotte E. Ray American Inn of Court
- Receipts the DC-TLA Sandra H. Robinson Women’s Caucus Award
EDUCATION
J.D., Catholic University Columbus School of Law
B.A., Oberlin College
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
Rabiah Abdullah
Associate
PHONE: (202) 682-5800
FAX: (202) 408-8851
OFFICE: Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE: www.cochranfirmdc.com
Rabiah Abdullah began her legal career with a medical malpractice team defending personal injury claims. Since then, for over a decade she has represented injured clients and worked as a civil rights advocate, litigating local and federal claims based on race, ethnicity, gender, and police brutality.
Attorney Abdullah has been admitted to the D.C. Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for D.C., and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She is also admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
HONORS & AWARDS
- NONE GIVEN
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Washington Bar Association
EDUCATION
J.D., George Washington University Law School
B.A., Wellesley College
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Supreme Court
Kayann Chambers
Associate
PHONE: (202) 682-5800
FAX: (202) 408-8851
OFFICE: Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE: www.cochranfirmdc.com
Kayann Chambers is an attorney with The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. office and handles personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Kayann has always had a passion to represent those without a voice. She is a native of South Florida and earned her undergraduate and graduate degree from Florida State University. In graduate school she focused on an in-depth systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of criminal justice policies, as well as the discovery of the socio-cultural, economic and global certified roots of crime.
She took her zealous passion to Florida A&M College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate degree. While in law school, she served as a law clerk for the Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Florida and Orange County Public Schools. Before joining The Cochran Firm, Kayann worked at a well-established plaintiff’s firm in Prince George’s county Maryland where she practiced in the areas of civil litigation and administrative law. Kayann’s legal experiences provide her with broad exposure in the legal field and with a transferable skillset.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
- J. Franklyn Bourne Bar
- Women’s Bar Association of Maryland
- Maryland Association For Justice
- Maryland State Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- Community Advocates For Family & Youth (2017 – present)
EDUCATION
- Florida State University B.A. 2010
- Florida State University M.S. 2011
- Florida A&M University College of Law J.D. 2015
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
About Our Washington D.C. Office
The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. is the sister office to the Baltimore office whose attorney’s been serving the citizens of the Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years. The partners of The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. combine their expertise to offer their clients exceptional legal representation in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury, nursing home abuse, product liability and more. The attorneys at the D.C. office are committed to community service beyond the courtroom and are involved with The Abramson Scholarship Foundation, the American Heart Association, the Arlington Free Clinic and the Capital Area Food Bank, amongst other community organizations.
In addition to its impressive roster of Washington, D.C. attorneys, The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. also has access to the experience and resources of the entire Cochran Firm National organization. This gives our attorneys access to experts in fields across the legal spectrum, from personal injury to civil rights and medical malpractice. No matter your circumstances, the attorneys at The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. are here to listen and help in your time of need.
When Johnnie Cochran founded The Cochran Firm, he set out with one goal in mind; To provide exceptional representation to victims of all types of injustice. Since its inception, The Cochran Firm has established itself as one of the premier plaintiff’s litigation and criminal defense law firms in the United States. The Cochran Firm has brought together some of the most highly respected and experienced men and women in the legal field.
Let the attorneys at The Cochran Firm Washington, D.C. put their experience to work for you.
Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Personal Injury
When you are injured in an accident you have two choices: you can rely on an insurance company to provide you with a settlement or you can call a lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims and take legal action. Before you make this choice it is important to remember that insurance companies serve their own best interests and are dedicated to increasing their profits.
Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice
Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. They’re where you go when you’re hurt or sick and you need the aid of well-educated, highly trained professionals. However, every year nearly 100,000 Americans die as a result of avoidable medical mistakes.
Auto Accident
Auto Accident
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an auto accident, you need a dedicated attorney on your side. The experienced auto accident lawyers at The Cochran Firm have a proven record of helping victims of injury get maximum compensation. We are here to take your case, fight for your rights, and help you get the justice you are due.
Trucking Accident
Trucking Accident
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an auto accident, you need a dedicated attorney on your side. The experienced auto accident lawyers at The Cochran Firm have a proven record of helping victims of injury get maximum compensation. We are here to take your case, fight for your rights, and help you get the justice you are due.
Police Brutality
Police Brutality
Most police officers are committed and ethical. They work a difficult, life-threatening job, and their days are extraordinarily stressful. However, police officers also exercise a great deal of control over the lives of the people they interact with, and an abuse of this power is particularly egregious.
Premise Liability
Premise Liability
Property owners have certain obligations under local, state and federal laws. While these laws vary, the basic underlying fact of them is similar regardless of where you live: property owners have an obligation to keep their land and the buildings on top of it safe for authorized visitors and those with business there.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful Death
Coping with the loss of a loved one can be one of the most trying times of your life. When your family member’s death was caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, the grieving process only intensifies In these instances, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit and receive the closure and financial compensation to which you and your family are entitled.
Criminal Defense
Criminal Defense
Founded by famed criminal defense attorney Johnnie Cochran, The Cochran Firm has a well-earned reputation as one of the nation’s most effective criminal defense law firms. Our defense attorneys are dedicated to helping people facing all types of criminal charges get fair treatment – and to taking every step necessary to protect the rights and freedoms of those we represent.
The Cochran Firm Legacy
Welcome to the website of The Cochran Firm, a law firm founded by legendary attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. over four decades ago. With regional offices nationwide, The Cochran Firm is one of the nation’s largest personal injury & medical malpractice law firms with some of the most aggressive personal injury attorneys, known for their tireless and effective legal representation. The Cochran Firm Partners have secured over $35 Billion in verdicts, settlements, and judgments for our clients including but not limited to trucking accidents, personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases.
With a reputation like ours, it’s easy to get swept away with accolades and awards. At The Cochran Firm, though, our experienced and aggressive personal injury attorneys and criminal defense lawyers focus not on praise, but the dedication to handling quality, legal representation for injured people, their families, and the ordinary citizen, as implemented by Johnnie Cochran over four decades ago. Contact us today to speak with an expert criminal defense or personal injury lawyer, and schedule a consultation to discuss your personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death or other case.