Dan L. Cogdell

Biography

Dan Cogdell is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. His Chambers rating is “Band 1” in White Collar Crime and Government Investigations. Cogdell has been trial counsel in more than 300 jury trials in over sixteen different States. His experience includes verdicts of “Not Guilty” in the Branch Davidian matter, the only acquittal in any Enron related matter, and the successful representation of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton — both as a member of Paxton’s impeachment trial team and as lead counsel in the successful dismissal of Paxton’s state securities fraud cases. Cogdell also obtained an acquittal in the trial of the alternative cancer treatment physician, Stanislaw Burzynski.

Cogdell was portrayed by actor Giovanni Ribisi in the five-part Paramount series “Waco, The Aftermath,” which initially aired in early 2024. Dan’s work has been featured in countless documentaries and “true crime” television shows.

Mr. Cogdell’s success in a multitude of courtrooms across the country has been well documented. His peers have recognized him as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” since 1996. He has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” for over a decade. The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association voted him “Lawyer of the Year.”

Dan is consistently rated as one of the top White Collar Criminal Defense lawyers in the country.

Education

South Texas College of Law HoustonHouston, Texas

J.D. — 1982
Honors: With Highest Honors

University of TexasAustin, Texas

B.B.A. — 1979

Classes & Seminars

Frequent lecturer and speaker, Houston Bar Association
Frequent lecturer and speaker, The State Bar of Texas
Frequent lecturer and speaker, Harvard Law School
Frequent lecturer and speaker, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Frequent lecturer and speaker, The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Frequent lecturer and speaker, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
Frequent lecturer and speaker, Dallas County Bar Association
Frequent lecturer and speaker, South Texas College of Law
Frequent lecturer and speaker, University of Houston Law Center
Frequent lecturer and speaker, University of Texas School of Law
Frequent lecturer and speaker, Texas Tech School of Law

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1982
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1985
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 1987
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 1989
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Professional Associations

State Bar of Texas
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
American College of Trial Lawyers
American Bar Association
Houston Bar Association
Dallas County Bar Association

Honors

Named by his peers to “Best Lawyers in America,” 1996
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Texas Super Lawyers
Band I Chambers rating in White Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, Lawyer of the Year
Impact Alumni of the Year, South Texas College of Law, 2014
Named “Super Lawyer” by his peers each year since 2003

Past Positions

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — Briefing Attorney for Presiding Judge John F. Onion, Jr., 1982–1983
Past President of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association

Representative Cases

USA v. Russo et al., H-93-134
USA v. Kelly et al., H-94-184
USA v. Stinger, H-96-175
USA v. Nesteroff, H-95-21-SS-02
USA v. Ramming, H-94-181
USA v. Anzelmo, H-01-391
USA v. Keraga, H-97-237
USA v. Burzynski, H-95-290
USA v. Peavy, H-97-147
USA v. Ghadially, H-03-147
USA v. Kahanek, H-03-363