Atty. Steven J. "Steve" Cologne
Steven Cologne was elected Managing Partner of the Firm in 2016. He devotes his practice to complex Tort and Commercial litigation in State and Federal Courts.
Profile Summary
About Steven J. "Steve" Cologne at a glance
Steven J. "Steve" Cologne is a personal injury, business, and litigation attorney based in San Diego, California, practicing at Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP. Admitted to practice in California, State Bar of California. Educated at University of San Diego (J.D., 1984) and University of Southern California (B.A., 1981). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in San Diego, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Steven Cologne was elected Managing Partner of the Firm in 2016
- He devotes his practice to complex Tort and Commercial litigation in State and Federal Courts
- In 2020, Mr. Cologne achieved the distinction of being certified as a Fellow in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) effective May 2020
- On May 4, 2020, he was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia
- Mr. Cologne joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack in 1999 after previously enjoying 15 years as an associate, partner and shareholder with the law firm of McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees & Sharkey, then San Diego’s premier litigation firm
- He practices in the area of complex tort and business litigation
- Currently, he focuses on defending clients in employment litigation, breach of contract disputes and other business litigation matters
- In his practice, Mr. Cologne devotes substantial time advising clients in pre-litigation situations to resolve potential disputes and avoid the uncertainty and cost of litigation
- His significant trial experience is of great benefit in positioning the client to achieve the result needed for continued future success of the business
- Given the fact that litigation through trial is a painful experience for clients, this approach can save significant attorney’s fees and opportunity costs
- Even successful litigation clients often express regrets about the failure to aggressively pursue resolution earlier in the dispute
- As an attorney for over 30 years, Mr. Cologne primarily represents businesses in complex litigation at the state and federal level
- He currently serves as the primary litigation counsel for San Diego Unified School District on a variety of claims in State and Federal court
- He has received the highest rating (AV) available from Martindale-Hubbell for ethics and legal ability, and has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers® in America each year from 2008-2020
- He has been named one of Southern California Super Lawyers®, San Diego Edition since 2007
- He has earned the rank of Advocate with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), the premier association of trial attorneys, with nearly 80 jury trials to verdict
- For his demonstrated leadership and vision, in 2017 The Daily Transcript named him as one of the “50 Influential Leaders” in San Diego
- An active participant in both the legal community and the greater San Diego community at large, Mr. Cologne is a member of a number of professional organizations including the State Bar of California Labor and Employment Law section, the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, and the Tort and Insurance Practice section
- He is a past Executive Editor of San Diego Lawyer™, the journal of the San Diego County Bar Association, and served as a Board Member of the San Diego County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Bar
- He is proud to be counsel for The Old Globe in San Diego, the top regional theatre in the country
- In addition, he serves on the University of San Diego School of Law Board of Visitors for his alma mater
- In his free time, he enjoys wilderness backpacking, horseback riding, outdoor photography, and foreign travel
Practice Areas Explained
Steven J. "Steve" Cologne's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Steven J. "Steve" Cologne handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Steven J. "Steve" Cologne is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Steven J. "Steve" Cologne is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Steven J. "Steve" Cologne is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Diego are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Diego or all attorneys in California.
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