Aggressively Advocating For Clients Since 1981
Biography
Timothy Cohelan was named a "California Lawyer of the Year" by California Lawyer Magazine (Clay Award) in 1996 and is the author of Cohelan On California Class Actions (Thompson-West 1997-2013). His main areas of practice include class actions and civil and anti-trust cases.
Mr. Cohelan is often consulted regarding class action practice by other lawyers because his firm helps update the book each year identifying and explaining recent California class action developments. Mr. Cohelan has been AV rated since 1990 and is currently rated AV® PreeminentTM 5.0 out of 5 on Martindale-Hubbell's® Peer Review Ratings. Attorney Cohelan was also selected to Southern California/San Diego Super Lawyers for the years 2012-2015.
Timothy graduated from California Western School of Law in 1974, where he was a Former Law Review editor. Mr. Cohelan is a Vietnam veteran, serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971 in the Pacific Theater.
Mr. Cohelan served as Chairman of the San Diego Coast Regional Commission from 1978 to 1981. During this time local governments conformed their coastal land use planning to the mandates of the California Coastal Act of 1972 and 1976 with the Regional Commissions permitting projects while interacting with local elected bodies.
From 1982 to 2006, attorney Cohelan served the San Diego Superior Court as a Judge Pro Tem, hearing and ruling on hundreds of matters during his service.
Timothy is a proud advocate for the homeless and received San Diego County Bar Association honors for community service in connection with the prosecution, with the San Diego Volunteer lawyer program, of an important class action case, impacting homeless shelter locations.
Education
- California Western School of Law, San Diego, California
- J.D. - 1974
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
- B.A. - 1967
- U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School
Bar Admission
- California, 1974
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1974
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1989
Published Works
Honors
- California Lawyer of the Year - California Lawyer Magazine, 1996
- Honors for community service - San Diego County Bar Association, 1995
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 on Martindale-Hubbell's® Peer Review Ratings
- Southern California / San Diego Super Lawyers, 2012-2019
Pro-Bono Activities
- San Diego Coast Regional Commission – Chairman 1978 to 1981
- San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program – 1994 to Present
- San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Secretary 2013-2014
- San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, President / Chair 2015-2018
Past Positions
- U.S. Navy, 1968 - 1971
- Served the San Diego Superior Court as a Judge Pro Tem, 1982 to 2006
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Board of Governors of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers for San Diego County
Current Employment Position
- Partner & Founder