SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, September 21, 2015 – National Law Journal recently featured an interview with Stephen Hasegawa, a Phillips & Cohen partner, in a story about the law firms it recognized as “Elite Trial Lawyers.”
NLJ named whistleblower law firm Phillips & Cohen to its “2015 Elite Trial Lawyers” list based on the firm’s many successful whistleblower cases last year.
Hasegawa helped lead the whistleblower case that resulted in more than 1,000 cities, counties, school districts and other government entities sharing in a $68.5 million settlement paid by Office Depot for allegedly overcharging them for office supplies.
Below is an excerpt of NLJ’s interview:
National Law Journal: What is one interesting fact about your firm that few people know?
Stephen Hasegawa: Phillips & Cohen’s founder and former partner, John R. Phillips, essentially invented the modern qui tam (whistleblower) practice.
NLJ: Name two recent law firms you enjoyed sparring with–and why?
SH: We’re a small firm that is very successful handling big cases, so we’re used to dealing with giant, well-funded defense firms like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom and Williams & Connolly. It’s very gratifying to show those firms that a small firm with great lawyers and a strong case can convince judges and juries about the merits of our cases under the False Claims Act.