BARBARA COWAN

Founder and managing attorney of a plaintiff-side civil litigation practice focused on employment, civil rights, and whistleblower matters in both state and federal court. Represent clients in all phases of complex litigation—from intake through verdict and appeal—with a strong emphasis on motion practice and courtroom advocacy.

Key responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Successfully drafted, opposed, and argued hundreds of pretrial motions, including motions for summary judgment/adjudication, motions to compel, protective orders, motions in limine, and discovery-related motions across multiple jurisdictions.
• Lead counsel in over a dozen employment jury trials and six arbitrations, securing favorable verdicts and high-value settlements in cases involving retaliation, harassment, discrimination, and wage/hour violations.
• Regularly conduct depositions, evidentiary hearings, mediation and settlement negotiations, and oral argument on dispositive motions.
• Extensive appellate experience including briefing and/or oral argument before the United States Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, California Courts of Appeal, and the California Supreme Court; handled writs, interlocutory appeals, and post-trial matters in complex employment and civil rights cases.

Proven track record of delivering high-quality, efficient litigation work product and achieving successful outcomes in motion-heavy dockets. Available for contract work involving trial prep, discovery disputes, motion practice, and case evaluation in state or federal court.

Part-Time Public Defender – City of Yuma, Arizona
Serve as appointed counsel for indigent defendants in misdemeanor criminal proceedings before the Yuma Municipal Court. Provide comprehensive legal representation at all stages of the case, including arraignment, pretrial hearings, motion practice, trial, sentencing, and appeal. Responsibilities include client intake and consultation, investigation, plea negotiation, trial preparation, jury selection, evidentiary hearings, and appellate briefing. Maintain a client-centered, trauma-informed approach while navigating high-volume caseloads and ensuring constitutional protections for the accused. Appear regularly in court, both remotely and in person.

• Receive, work up, and try criminal prosecution cases to juries on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office through the volunteer prosecutor Trial Advocacy Program (TAP) run by the Los Angele County Bar Association.

• Responsibilities revolved around gathering information for a class action lawsuit with over 150 class members. Specific duties included contacting class members, preparing affidavits based on these contacts, answering interrogatories, evaluating claims for lead plaintiff and class representative court, and assisting with general fact finding and discovery needs in a case alleging age discrimination with respect to television writers.

• Responsibilities included representing the County appearing in court under the Minnesota Student Practice Rule, drafting orders and motions for the court, preparing case files, negotiating agreements between parties, and assisting in all matters associated with providing legal advice and representation to county agencies.