Fernando Chavez, Son of Civil Rights Leader Cesar Chavez Named Chairman of New Latino Section at The Cochran Firm

“Fernando Chavez, son of iconic civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, is joining The Cochran Firm. Mr. Chavez is a leading trial lawyer with more than 25 years of experience practicing before state and federal courts. He will be the Chairman of The Cochran Firm’s Latino Practice, which will serve the burgeoning Latino community nationwide.

The Cochran Firm is one of the first national plaintiffs’ law firms to have bilingual attorneys who can offer legal services to the Latino community nationwide. Access to legal services in all practice areas of The Cochran Firm is now available to the Latino population by a single law firm on a national scale.

“My life has been dedicated to supporting social justice. I am proud to continue the legacy of my father. It is an honor to join The Cochran Firm. Johnnie Cochran was a man dedicated to defending the rights of oppressed and disadvantaged people in the United States,” says Chavez.

Mr. Chavez has successfully litigated numerous individual and class action cases resulting in multi-million dollar awards. As a well-known civil litigator and social activist in Latino communities nationwide, Mr. Chavez joins The Cochran Firm, the country’s largest and most recognized national plaintiffs’ law firm.

Founded by famed attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., The Cochran Firm has successfully represented its clients in some of the country’s most significant personal injury, mass tort, and environmental litigation, obtaining over $45 Billion in verdicts, settlement, and judgments.

Profiled by The National Law Journal as having “an impressive scorecard with a stable of heavyweight lawyers,” The Cochran Firm is a diverse group of some of the most highly-experienced and respected men and women dedicated to bringing quality representation for injured people, their families, and the ordinary citizen.

With 20 offices located in 15 states, The Cochran Firm is presently suing Tyson Foods, Inc., Pilgrim’s Pride, and other large poultry processing corporations on behalf of at least 7,000 workers. Mr. Chavez will participate in The Firm’s current representation of poultry industry workers who are seeking back-wages they may be entitled to from their employer.

“Due to low wages and hazardous work environments, the poultry industry has had difficulty finding labor. Increasingly, the industry has turned to Latino and Asian immigrants as a dominant work-source,” says Chavez.

Chavez is working on the lawsuits with Cochran Firm attorney Robert Camp, a former poultry industry human resources executive turned worker advocate.

Fernando Chavez obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Santa Clara School of Law in 1978. He received his Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the San Jose State University in San Jose in 1975 and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1973.

His father, Cesar Chavez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993), was a Mexican American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers.

Cesar Chavez’s work led to improvements for workers and changed the way millions of Latinos live today. Chavez is considered a hero for farm laborers and is regarded by millions as one of the greatest American civil rights leaders.

The late Senator Robert F. Kennedy called Cesar Chavez “one of the heroic figures of our time.” Chavez’s birthday is celebrated as an official holiday in four states and recognized in many other states. Cities across the nation have parks, libraries, cultural centers, schools, and streets named in honor of Chavez.

Most recently, Cesar Chavez was inducted by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shiver, into the newly formed California Hall of Fame in Sacramento, California, along with Ronald Regan, Walt Disney, the aviator Amelia Earhart, and the naturalist John Muir.

In 2003, Cesar Chavez’s legacy was honored by the United States Postal Service, which offered stamps featuring Chavez in the fields of the laborers who were so important to him.

Fernando Chavez’s work with the United Farm Workers and other progressive movements began as a boy while accompanying his father on marches, boycotts and fasts. As a successful attorney, Chavez continues to fulfill his father’s legacy through his work for social justice.

“My efforts for the Latino community, combined with The Cochran Firm’s vision will not only serve our people, it will offer the highest quality legal services throughout the United States,” offers Fernando Chavez.

Senior Partner of The Cochran Firm, Jock Smith says, “Mr. Chavez contributes to The Cochran Firm legacy. It is a perfect marriage with our Firm’s mission to serve a broad spectrum of people. The growth of the Latino population and the need for legal services of the type and scope The Cochran Firm provides would present an unparalleled opportunity to work in the realization of this mission.”

Across the nation, The Cochran Firm-Latino practice is accessible through the toll-free number: 1-877-7-VENCER. The term vencer translates into “PREVAIL”.

The Cochran Firm is the execution of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.’s vision to have “a diverse law firm which reflects society and is capable of handling cases throughout America.” The attorneys and staff at The Cochran Firm are committed to upholding the standards of excellence set by its founding partner in representing all of their clients.”

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