About Us
World-Class Law Firm in Kern County
Nearly 100 years after Morris Chain founded the law firm in Bakersfield, Calif., Chain | Cohn | Clark today is Kern County’s leading accident, injury and workers’ compensation law firm, representing clients from all over the Central Valley and throughout California. The attorneys focus their efforts on protecting the rights of individuals who have been seriously injured due to the negligent, reckless or intentional conduct of another, as well as protecting the rights of injured workers.
Like Morris Chain, the firm today is dedicated to standing for the working man and woman. Year after year, the law firm is voted into the “Best Law Firm” category by the people of Kern County, and has been included in the “Best Law Firms” directory compiled by the “Best Lawyers in America” program, the oldest and among the most respected attorney ranking services in the world.
While earning national accolades, the law firm’s mission is to stick to its local roots by providing personal attention to each client. From making sure attorneys meet with clients upon a first meeting, to maintaining ongoing communication throughout the case, to receiving personal care from the entire office, the dedication to personal service is one of the things that makes Chain | Cohn | Clark unique in the industry of accident and injury law, and the promise is to give this personal attention to each client.
A Rich History
Morris B. Chain was born in Russia in 1904, before his family emigrated to Bakersfield, California. Morris attended Kern County Union High School (now known as Bakersfield High School) and Bakersfield Junior College, where he coined the nickname “Renegades” for the Bakersfield College sports teams. For this, Bakersfield College honored Morris with the “100 Stars Award” on its 100-year anniversary in 2014.
Morris B. Chain graduated from the University Of Southern California School Of Law. Being a fresh-faced lawyer during the Great Depression, Morris had a hard time finding a job, so he created his own. The following was written by columnist Eddie Griffith in The Bakersfield Californian on May 21, 1977: “They wouldn’t hire me for free” during the depression days. “I had to become a lone ranger or starve … I starved anyway,” he said, black eyes snapping in amusement and with a wry half-smile which was a Chain trademark. He would work 18-hour days, investigating his own cases with camera and subpoenas in hand. Car-less, he hitched rides with prosecuting attorneys on cases he was defending. All for his clients. All in the pursuit of justice.
Chain | Cohn | Clark History
1934
Opened Legal Practice
Morris opened his practice as a defense attorney in Bakersfield inside the Haberfelde Building in downtown Bakersfield. “Using wit and dramatic movements when speaking Mr. Chain quickly made a name for himself amongst the courtroom while fighting for the ‘the little guys’.” (The Bakersfield Californian, 1977) His law firm eventually developed a personal injury, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death focus, which is the core of the firm’s practice today.
1938
Sill Building Office
Morris moved into the architecturally-famous Sill Building in downtown Bakersfield. By this time, he would earn a reputation for taking on some of the highest-profile criminal cases in the area.
1940s
Superior Court Victories
Morris worked in Kern County Superior Court in his role as criminal defense attorney and won victories in cases where the prosecution evidence assembled against his clients appeared insurmountable. He would also become more involved in local politics.
1950s
Formation of the Firm
Morris began to form a formidable team around him including secretary Helen Banducci, and lawyers Albert Noriega and Milton Younger. Investigator Leonard Winters also worked directly with Morris for more than three decades. The law firm would become one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the Central Valley.
1960s
Rembrandt of the Courtroom
By this time, Mr. Chain had achieved a state-wide reputation for being flamboyant in the courtroom while being dramatic, witty, entertaining and exciting to watch. But his performance always was firmly anchored to the logic of the law. He would be called "the Rembrandt of the courtroom." Pictured here is Morris during the infamous Spade Cooley murder trial.
1977
Death - May 18, 1977
Morris B. Chain passed away at the age of 72; however, Morris’ traditions carried on to this day. His law firm prided itself on being locally focused, and most of the attorneys and employees who worked under the Chain firm through the years, including today, were born or raised in Bakersfield. Additionally, the law firm and its attorneys have followed Morris’ lead of community service, becoming active in local and statewide politics, labor and the arts. By the 1980s, the firm was a front-runner in the state for diversifying its ranks, hiring Latino, black and Asian attorneys and staff, among others to represent its community fully.
1990s
Truxtun & Chester Office
The law firm, known as Chain-Younger by this time, moves its headquarters from Truxtun Avenue and M Street into the Bank of America building on Truxtun and Chester avenues.
2009
Chain | Cohn | Stiles
The law firm becomes known as Chain | Cohn | Stiles, with David Cohn leading the law firm as the managing partner. Cohn retired at the end of 2023 after serving for nearly 50 years. Other partners at this time included James Yoro and Matt Clark. David Stiles retired in 2015.
2015
New Home
Following its 80-year-anniversary, the law firm moves to its fifth downtown Bakersfield home on the southwest corner of 18th Street and Chester Avenue, across the street from the Sill Building where Morris Chain’s offices once stood. The move was also seen as a part of a continued revitalization of historical downtown Bakersfield.
2022
Chain | Cohn | Clark
The law firm changes names to “Chain | Cohn | Clark” as Matt Clark takes on a leadership role. The name holds true to its roots, while highlighting its leadership as it stands today. Today Clark is the managing partner of the historic firm. Law firm partners also include Chad Boyles, Chris Hagan, and Beatriz Trejo.
Today
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