People / Attorneys / Stuart L. Cochran

“The true value of my role at Condon Tobin lies not only in litigating complex cases but in empowering businesses with the strategic foresight to sidestep potential disputes. The firm's wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to integrity enable me to guide clients toward sustainable success while minimizing their legal risks.”

Stuart L. Cochran Member

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Stuart L. Cochran guides clients through complex business disputes with efficient, results-oriented legal counsel that supports and sustains business success.

Stuart is a seasoned business and commercial litigator at Condon Tobin, recognized nationwide for handling high-stakes cases involving complex disputes with the highest standards of skill and ethics.

Stuart’s practice also includes representing both plaintiffs and defendants in business, commercial, class actions, and consumer protection cases, making him uniquely positioned to formulate and anticipate offensive and defensive strategies on either side of the courtroom. His consistent history of securing significant recoveries for his clients while also minimizing other clients’ legal exposure has repeatedly earned him recognition as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas and a Texas Super Lawyer.

Stuart’s legal acumen is built on a foundation of experience gained at a top-tier global firm serving critical industries, including energy, commercial real estate, and private equity.  Leveraging both his extensive litigation experience and the collective wisdom of his Condon Tobin colleagues, Stuart delivers high-caliber legal services at competitive rates.

The alignment between Stuart’s values and Condon Tobin’s commitment to integrity and excellence extends beyond his professional life, as he dedicates his time outside the courtroom to his four daughters and to serving as a Sunday school teacher and Deacon at church.

Stuart Cochran excels in resolving high-stakes business disputes, from pre-suit negotiations through litigation, arbitration, and mediation. His practice is particularly focused on complex business cases, including class actions and consumer cases, where his successful history representing plaintiffs and defendants allows him to deliver comprehensive legal solutions in:

  • Business Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Class Actions
  • Consumer Protection Cases
  • Securities Litigation
  • Affirmative Recovery Cases

Complex Business Litigation

  • Stuart frequently represents both plaintiffs and defendants in business cases among competitors involving trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, non-competition agreements, and non-solicitation provisions.
    • Stuart is currently lead counsel for the plaintiff in an IT-related dispute seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages.
    • Stuart is currently lead defense counsel for the defendant in a hospitality-related case under the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act.
  • Many of Stuart’s current caseload arises from disputes involving private equity and commercial real estate, including:
    • Disputes among general partners and limited partners
    • Contract disputes
    • Business divorce
    • Intellectual Property
    • Landlord/tenant issues
    • Lender/Debtor issues
    • Employment issues
    • Foreclosure actions

 

Class Action Litigation

  • Stuart was recently lead defense counsel in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act robocall class action seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages. Stuart successfully and strategically resolved the case for about 1% of the claimed damages.
  • Stuart was appointed class counsel in a consumer class action arising out of fraudulently-labeled textiles against one of the world’s largest textile manufacturers. After resolving the case for $36,000,000, Stuart was recognized by Top Verdict for obtaining the second-biggest settlement in the state of Illinois in 2020.
  • Stuart L. Cochran has been appointed class counsel in many certified class actions, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in recovered damages and injunctive relief for class members, including:
    • Morrison v. Ross Stores, Inc., 4-18-cv-02671 (N.D. Cal)
    • Hawes et. al. v. Macy’s Inc., 1:17-CV-00754 (S.D. Ohio)
    • Miloro v. Van’s International Foods, Inc., 15PH-CV00642 (Circuit Court for Phelps County, Missouri)
    • Tovar v. Drews LLC, 16-L-313 (Circuit Court for St. Clair County, Illinois)
    • Morrison and Collier v. Natural Chemistry, L.P., No. 16SL-CC01991 (Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri)
    • Dugan v. Topco Associates LLC, 16-L-446 (Circuit Court for St. Clair County, Illinois)
    • Pryzbysz et. al. v. Kraft Heinz Foods Co., 17-L-0402 (Circuit Court for St. Clair County, Illinois)
    • Barnes et. al. v. River North Foods, Inc., 16-L-459 (Circuit Court for St. Clair County, Illinois)
    • Hansen-Mitchell et. al. v. Welspun USA, Inc., et. al., 19-L-0391 (Circuit Court for St. Clair County, Illinois)
    • George, et al. v. Keurig Dr. Pepper, Inc. et al., Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis No. 1822-CC11811
    • Jordan Meister, et al. v. Nutribullet, LLC, et al., Clair County, IL Case No. 22-LA-0024.

 

Liaison Counsel and Local Counsel

  • Stuart frequently serves as liaison class counsel in federal securities fraud cases filed in Texas, including state court, and the Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas
  • The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with Honors, 2000
  • The University of Texas, B.A. with Honors, Plan II, 1996
  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of Missouri
  • United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
  • United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • Admitted pro hac vice in numerous other federal and state courts across the country
  • 2021 – 2024 Texas Super Lawyer
  • 2020 -2021 D Magazine Best Lawyer in Dallas
  • 2021 -2022 America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigator
  • 2020 -2024 Martindale Hubbell AV-Preeminent Rated
  • 2020 Recognized by Top Verdict for obtaining the second-largest settlement in Illinois
  • 2018 Invited to present a mock argument regarding data breach class action at the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
  • 2017 Recognized by Top Verdict for obtaining one of the fifty biggest settlements in Illinois
  • 2015-2017 Appointed to State Bar of Texas’ Pattern Jury Charge Committee for the Business and Consumer Section
  • 2005 Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star
  • State Bars of Texas and Missouri
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas’ Pattern Jury Charge Committee for the Business and Consumer Section
  • Deacon, Highland Park Presbyterian Church
  • Member Northwood Club
  • Texas Exes
  • Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in business litigation, and how has your journey shaped your approach to representing clients?
    A:     My journey into business litigation was somewhat organic—I was drawn to the challenge of resolving complex disputes and the strategic thinking it requires. My early experiences at a large international firm exposed me to a broad spectrum of industries, from private equity to energy to commercial real estate and taught me the importance of understanding the client’s business inside and out. This foundation has been critical in shaping my approach at Condon Tobin, where I focus on litigating high-stakes cases and advising businesses on avoiding litigation through strategic planning.

 

  • Q: How do you balance your dual role as both a litigator and a business advisor?
    A:     The key is understanding that litigation is often the last resort. While I’m fully prepared to advocate fiercely for my clients in the courtroom, my primary goal is to help them avoid the pitfalls that lead to litigation. At Condon Tobin, I leverage the firm’s collective experience to offer comprehensive counsel, guiding businesses in making informed decisions that mitigate risk and protect their interests.
  • Q: What do you value most about the culture at Condon Tobin, and how does it influence your work?
    A:     What I appreciate most about Condon Tobin is the firm’s unwavering commitment to integrity and excellence. These values align with my approach to practicing law—ensuring that we not only deliver results but do so in a way that upholds the highest ethical standards. This culture fosters collaboration and support, which are crucial in handling the complex, high-stakes cases I specialize in.
  • Q: Can you share a particularly challenging case and how your experience at Condon Tobin contributed to its resolution?
    A:     One of the most challenging cases I’ve handled involved a high-stakes class action with significant financial implications. Thanks to the collaborative environment at Condon Tobin and the depth of expertise within the firm, we devised a strategy that not only secured a favorable outcome but also minimized the client’s exposure to future litigation. It’s this kind of teamwork and strategic thinking that makes our firm stand out.
  • Q: How do you stay connected to the Dallas community, and why is this important to your practice?
    A:     Being deeply rooted in the Dallas community is integral to my practice. I grew up here, and many of my clients are based in the area. Understanding the local business landscape and maintaining strong, personal relationships within the community are key to providing effective legal counsel. At Condon Tobin, we pride ourselves on being a Dallas-based firm that understands the unique needs of our local clients while also having the capability to serve them on a national scale.