Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Background and Education

Mr. Mitchell was born in Mobile, Alabama on April 7, 1963. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He attended Louisiana State University, The Paul M. Hebert, School of Law from which he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1989. During law school, Mr. Mitchell was awarded the Outstanding Oral Advocate award by Mr. F. Lee Bailey during the F. Lee Bailey National Moot Court Competition. Mr. Mitchell's team placed second in the country. Mr. Mitchell was also a member of the National Moot Court Team and was a finalist in the school's Flory Trial competition.

Bar Admissions

Mr. Mitchell is admitted to practice before the Louisiana Supreme Court, and all state district and appellate courts. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Mr. Mitchell is also admitted to the United States Court of Federal Claims. Mr. Mitchell has been admitted pro hac vice in Mississippi and Alabama.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Mitchell has focused his practice primarily in the area of Medical Malpractice. Mr Mitchell is one of approximately 12 lawyers in Louisiana to be Board Certified in Medical Malpractice Cases by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.

Mr Mitchell also practices in the areas of Automobile Accidents, Products Liability, Premises Liability and Maritime Law

Positions Held

Mr. Mitchell was the Co-Founder and Equity Partner/Co-Owner of the law firms of Phillips & Mitchell, The Cochran Firm New Orleans, and The Cochran Firm Jackson. Mr. Mitchell is currently the founding partner of The Cochran Firm, Metairie and a Co-Founding partner in Cochran-Latino, The Sanchez Firm. Mr. Mitchell is the Chairman of the Medical Malpractice Section for The Cochran Firm, U.S.A. and is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Firm. Mr. Mitchell is a current member of the Executive Committee for the Louisiana Association For Justice, (formerly the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association). In 2006-2007, Mr. Mitchell was the Chairman of the Medical Malpractice Section of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association.


Organizations and Affiliations

Mr. Mitchell is a member of the 2007 top 100 trial lawyers of the American Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Louisiana State and New Orleans Bar Associations. Mr. Mitchell enjoys a position as Senior Counsel for the American College of Barristers, a status conferred consistent with the Common Law Tradition of honoring Skill and Experience as a Trial Lawyer as well as a demonstrated commitment to promoting Excellence in the Art of Trial Advocacy. He is also a member of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the Medical Malpractice Section within that organization. Mr. Mitchell has also been a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the American Trial Lawyers Association. He is also a member in good standing of the Martindale-Hubbell lawyer's rating service and enjoys the highest legal rating possible from this organization. (http://www.martindale.com/).

Presentations and Legal Articles

Mr. Mitchell has authored numerous legal articles and been a frequent lecturer at legal Seminars. In 1998, he co-chaired a legal seminar for the National Business Institute titled: Adjusting the Automobile Injury Claim in Louisiana. In September, 2000, he also co-chaired the seminar titled: Medical Records for Louisiana Attorneys. He has provided written articles and lectured numerous times on Recent Developments in Medical Malpractice. Mr. Mitchell has written several articles on medical malpractice issues which have been published in the Louisiana Advocate, the newspaper for the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Mitchell has also been interviewed and featured in the publication City Business on several occasions. Mr. Mitchell has also appeared on several local radio and television talk shows discussing issues involving medical malpractice.
Mr. Mitchell was the Chairman of the medical malpractice seminar entitled “Issues We Now Face In Medical Malpractice Litigation” which was sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association in November 2002 and which drew over 100 attendees from around the country.” Mr. Mitchell was also picked to speak at the March 2003 Medical Malpractice seminar sponsored by the National Business Institute. In May 2004, Mr. Mitchell and a colleague gave a seminar on "Handling Medical Malpractice Claims in Louisiana." In June of 2004, Mr. Mitchell, as head of The Cochran Firm Medical Malpractice Section, presented a seminar on "Screening and Handling Medical Malpractice Cases." In 2006, Mr. Mitchell gave two presentations on updates to Medical Malpractice Laws for the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association. In 2009, Mr. Mitchell was chosen to sit on a panel of presenters to discuss medical malpractice laws to Judges and lawyers. Mr. Mitchell regularly writes articles for www.themedicalmalpracticeblog.com

Legal Rating

The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory has given Mr. Mitchell the legal rating of "AV." Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.

Legal Ability Ratings are:
C-Good to High
B- High to Very High
A-Very High to Preeminent

There is one general ethical standard rating-"V" or "very high." An attorney will not receive a Legal Ability Rating unless he or she has been endorsed for a "V." Only when both ratings are confirmed will an attorney receive a rating.

Federal and state trial court practice with emphasis on lawsuit avoidance if possible and aggressive consumer representation and defense when settlement efforts fail; arbitration proceedings; consumer debt reorganization under Chapter 13 and consumer bankruptcy under Chapter 7, but only as a last resort.

Darwin observed that "it is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change." The legal system, long bound by tradition, now struggles to adapt to increasing societal change. Today, lawyers can use technology in novel ways to improve communication and increase efficiency in gathering information. We need to be more adept at handling digital information to fully represent our clients.

Clients increasingly need lawyers who look at things in fresh ways, who seek hidden advantages, and who properly assess risk instead of reflexively avoiding it. "Zealous representation," to me, is less about swash-buckling and more about thoughtfulness and strategic planning.

Chip's emphasis in his law practice is probate, wills, estate planning, interdictions, powers of attorney, living wills and trusts. He has also been appointed by the Court in complex matters to represent the interest of individuals in many differing areas of law.

Martindale-Hubbell has given Chip an AV® Preeminent rating as an attorney, which is the pinnacle of excellence awarded by the Bar and the Judiciary to any individual attorney, recognizing that Chip has the highest possible rating available in legal ability and ethical standards. Chip was named by New Orleans Magazine as one of the "Top Lawyers" in the New Orleans area.

Chip is the member of many professional organizations such as the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association and the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association. He is a Member of the Trusts, Estate, Probate and Immovable Property Law Section of the LSBA. He is also a Member of the New Orleans Estate Planning Council.