Cochran and Montgomery, along
with the firm's other principals, Samuel A. Cherry Jr., J. Keith Givens,
and Jock M. Smith, introduced the new practice at a recent press conference
at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 151 E. Wacker Dr., in the Truffles MeetingRoom,
Second Floor, West Tower.
Later in the day on March
2, several hundred local attorneys and other well wishers will welcome
Cochran and Montgomery to Chicago at a reception at the Hyatt Regency in
the Regency Ballroom B from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The following day on Friday,
March 3, Cochran and Montgomery will host a Ministers' Breakfast beginning
at 8:00 a.m. at the Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester Ave.
Although internationally
known for his successful role as the lead defense attorney in the sensational
O.J. Simpson murder trial, Cochran's legendary career comprises dozens
of professional affiliations, accomplishments, professional appearances,
lectures and a multitude of awards and honors. A graduate of Loyola University
School of Law, his career has spanned from the 1966 founding of the law
firm of Cochran, Atkins, and Evans where he handled a substantial volume
of civil and criminal cases to celebrating the 1998 dedication of the Johnnie
L. Cochran Jr. Academy of Legal Studies and Community Service in East Orange,
N.J.
Cochran has served as deputy
city attorney for the City of Los Angeles, assistant district attorney
of Los Angeles County and in 1979 he was the founding chairman of the Domestic
Violence Council of Los Angeles County. As the only attorney in the history
of Los Angeles to have received both the Criminal Trial Lawyer of the Year
and Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year awards, he has been repeatedly honored
as one of the nation's top trial attorneys. Time magazine designated him
"Headliner for 1995" and Cochran is a member of the exclusive Inner Circle
of Advocates, which comprises the top 100 plaintiff's lawyers in the United
States.
Cochran formerly hosted a
live talk show titled "Johnnie Cochran Tonight" and his 1996 autobiography,
"Journey to Justice," was a fixture on several best seller lists, including
those compiled by the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.
Montgomery is president and
principal attorney of James D. Montgomery & Associates, Ltd., a Chicago
law practice that specializes in plaintiff's and defense personal injury,
wrong death and white collar criminal defense. Montgomery served as corporation
counsel for the city of Chicago from 1983086 in the administration of the
late mayor Harold Washington.
A former Assistant U.S. attorney
for the Northern District of Illinois and member of the Illinois Parole
and Pardon Board, Montgomery has extensive litigation experience in both
state and federal court. Among other accomplishments, his impressive resume
includes leadership as the lead counsel in the 18-month civil rights trial
involving the December 1969 murders of Black Panther Party leaders Fred
Hampton and Mark Clark.
A sought after teacher and
lecturer, Montgomery is a 1956 graduate of the University of Illinois College
of Law and a member of several professional organizations, including the
prestigious International Academy of Trail Lawyers, American Bar Association,
Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, Federal Bar Association
and the Illinois State Bar, where he was recently inducted as a Laureate
in its first class of the Illinois State Academy of Lawyers. He is a trustee
of the National Institute for Municipal Law Officers.