Porter Hedges LLP

Commercial Disputes

Joe Cohen leads the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and is ranked nationally by Chambers USA among the leading lawyers for Product Liability & Mass Torts. His practice focuses on handling the defense of catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases arising from allegations of products liability (including pharmaceuticals and medical devices), chemical and substance exposure, general negligence, and commercial litigation. Joe has successfully tried cases to verdict and engaged in extensive motion practice, including complex summary judgment issues and intricate challenges to experts in a variety of disciplines. He has handled matters in over 35 states and in multiple counties throughout the state of Texas.

Joe also provides individual representation to employees (current and former) of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and biotech companies in both civil and criminal contexts, including U.S. Department of Justice and State Attorneys General investigations. In particular, Joe has extensive experience representing these individuals as defendants and non-party witnesses in lawsuits, and as Witnesses and Subjects in governmental investigations, including preparing and presenting individuals for proffers and before grand juries. While Joe has represented these current and former employees across multiple divisions and at multiple levels within pharmaceutical and device companies, he has a particularly significant amount of experience representing individuals from the Sales and Marketing departments of those companies.

In addition to his products liability practice, Joe handles disputes related to fraud, theft of trade secrets, non-competition matters, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, commercial and residential lease disputes, and copyright and trademark infringement, including the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA).

He is currently a member of the IADC Board of Directors and a former National Director on the DRI Board of Directors.

International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)

IADC Board of Directors, Member Foundation of the IADC Board of Directors, Member Drug, Device, and Biotechnology Committee, Chair and Former Vice-Chair of Membership and Vice-Chair of Diversity Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Member and Former Past Chair, and 2021 President’s Award Recipient for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee’s Active Ally Program Membership Committee, Member and Former Chair, and 2019 Fullam Irick Award Recipient honoring exceptional work by a Committee Chair Engagement and Retention Committee, Member Ambassador Program, Member 2021 Mid-Year Meeting, CLE Steering Committee Chair 2020 Mid-Year Meeting, Hospitality Chair 2017 Mid-Year Meeting, First-Timers Chair

DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, Member

Law Institute Member Board of Directors (Former National Director) Product Liability Committee, Steering Committee, Member (2015 Seminar Chair, Former E-Discovery SLG Chair and Newsletter Editor) Drug and Medical Device Committee, Steering Committee and Seminar Planning Committee, Member Data Management and Security Committee, Former Chair Law in Transition Committee, Member Technology Committee, Former Vice-Chair

Casetext, Products Liability Editorial Advisory Board

State Bar of Texas, Member

Houston Bar Association, Member

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow