Education
Yale Law School, 2010, JD
Francis Wayland Prize for Litigation
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal
Washington and Lee University, 2006 BA (Religion), summa cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Clerkship
Hon. Dolores Sloviter, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2011 – 2012
Hon. Jan E. DuBois, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2010 – 2011
Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York (inactive)
U.S. Court of Appeals:
Third Circuit
U.S. District Courts:
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Middle District of Pennsylvania
District of New Jersey
Jon L. Cochran
A former Eastern District and Third Circuit law clerk, Jon leads and is experienced in a wide variety of sophisticated trial-court and appellate matters including partnership, real estate and contract disputes, employment and ERISA litigation, governmental investigations, defamation and constitutional claims.
In 2022, The Legal Intelligencer named Jon to its distinguished "Lawyers on the Fast Track" list, and he has been recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star each year since 2015.
Jon’s practice includes some of the most interesting cases in the region. For example, Jon is currently defending a progressive political action committee against defamation-like claims brought by a former candidate for Philadelphia District Attorney. Previously, Jon represented Pennsylvania state and county election officials in litigation concerning the 2020 presidential election. Jon also helped obtain a watershed victory in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Valley Forge Towers Apartments v. Upper Merion Area School District, holding that taxing authorities may not discriminate against commercial properties in filing reverse assessment appeals.
Jon is a graduate of Yale Law School. At Yale, he was the Co-Editor in Chief of the Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal. He also won the Francis Wayland Prize for litigation, which is awarded to the student showing greatest proficiency in preparing and presenting a case in negotiation, arbitration, and litigation. He earned his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Washington and Lee University.
A leader, Jon is President of the Board of the Homeless Advocacy Project, a legal services organization that provides advocacy and representation to homeless individuals and families. HAP’s 40-member board includes leaders from many of Philadelphia’s most respected law firms and community organizations. In addition to helping HAP reach its strategic goals, Jon has represented HAP clients in dozens of matters ranging from veterans benefits to disability claims.
A frequent practitioner in Pennsylvania’s trial and appellate courts, Jon co-authored several chapters on discovery and summary judgment in Pennsylvania Civil Discovery and Pennsylvania Civil Pre-Trial Practice edited by the Honorable Daniel J. Anders and Bobby Ochoa, III.
Prior to joining LeVan Stapleton Segal Cochran, Jon was a shareholder at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller.
Awards & Recognitions
Named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine each year since 2015
Francis Wayland Prize for Litigation, Yale Law School
Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal, Co-Editor-in-Chief
See Award Methodologies here
Leadership & Community Involvement
Board President
Homeless Advocacy Project
2022 – present
Board Member
Homeless Advocacy Project
2015 – present
University of Pennsylvania American Inn of Court, Past Member
Core Class of 2020
Leadership Philadelphia
Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Selected Speaking Engagements
Facilitator and Presenter
Attorney Client Privilege in Four Dimensions
Greater Philadelphia ACC In-House Counsel Conference
July 28, 2020
Facilitator and Presenter
Lawyers & Public Relations Consultants: Privilege and Work Product Issues
Greater Philadelphia ACC In-House Counsel Conference
October 22, 2019
Selected Publications
Co-author, “Crafting Motions to Seal After Third Circuit Avandia’s Decision,” Law360.com, August 23, 2019
Co-author, “Addressing Increasing Uncertainty in the Law of Non-Competes,” ACC Docket, April 2018
Co-author, “Valley Forge Quashes School Districts’ Reverse Appeals,” Law360.com, September 21, 2017
Chapter Author and Advisory Board Member, Pennsylvania Civil Pre-Trial Practice and Pennsylvania Civil Trial Practice, Lexis-Nexis (edited by the Honorable Daniel J. Anders and Bobby Ochoa, III) (updated annually)
Chapter Author and Advisory Board Member, Pennsylvania Civil Discovery, Lexis-Nexis (edited by the Honorable Daniel J. Anders and Bobby Ochoa, III) (updated annually)
Representative Cases
Secured complete victory for AM 100 law firm in a contract dispute with a former partner after a multi-day hearing
Secured preliminary injunction for major retailer in dispute over lease agreement
Represented major charter management organization in litigation against School District of Philadelphia for breach of contract and due process claims
Representing major medical device manufacturer in contract dispute with former supplier
Represented a fortune 50 technology company in the defense of numerous personal injury claims
Represented an investment banking firm defending allegations related to ERISA’s fiduciary duty rules
Represented Pennsylvania judges in a constitutional challenge to Pennsylvania’s mandatory retirement age.
Represented commercial property owners in a successful appeal before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of a school-district-initiated assessment appeals
Defended investment bank and individuals accused of ERISA and related violations arising from sophisticated tax-advantaged financial transaction worth hundreds of millions of dollars
Represented health management organization asserting defamation claims
Represented federal employee against work-related tort claims
Represented elections officials in litigation related to the 2020 presidential election