Anne Cochran Sutton
Top rated Family Law attorney in San Francisco, California
Cochran Family Law Practice PC
Practice areas: Family Law; view more
Licensed in California since: 2009
Education: University of San Francisco School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2018 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2015 - 2017 Call today:
628-241-2450
Virtual Appointments Cochran Family Law Practice PC
595 Pacific Ave4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94133 Visit website
Details
Anne Cochran Sutton is one of the leading family law attorneys serving high net worth clients throughout Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. She is known for her thorough, diligent, and compassionate work on behalf of her clients. She enjoys an exceptional reputation with both her clients and colleagues, and she is considered to be a formidable legal opponent, both across the negotiating table and in the courtroom.
Anne is a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She is a Super Lawyer Honoree, and she is listed in Best Lawyers in America (US News & World Report). Her firm is also recognized by Best Lawyers and is included in Best Lawyer Firms for 2023 for Family Law.
Anne advises and represents High Net Worth individuals (HNWI) in all aspects of family law, including:
- Property characterization and apportionment of sophisticated business interests such as venture capital, startups, private equity, real estate, tech and biotech companies;
- Child support and spousal support, including high earner/high standard of living matters;
- Child custody, including high-conflict and international move-away matters;
- Paternity cases; and
- Premarital, marital and cohabitation agreements.
"Divorce is a very personal process, impacting you, your family, and your financial future," says Anne. "I am selective about the cases our firm will take. Because every family law case is unique, I take seriously my responsibility to listen to my clients and to understand the specifics of their cases. This helps me offer individualized strategies to optimize their outcomes. I work with my clients every step of the way."
Before founding Cochran Family Law Practice PC, Anne was an equity partner at Sideman & Bancroft LLP in San Francisco, where she was the co-chair of the Family Law Department. Prior to law school, Anne was a business management consultant, specializing in total compensation design and organizational development for Fortune 500 companies.
Born in Okinawa and raised in Washington, D.C., Kobe and Tokyo, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand, Anne holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, a Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and she is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy.
Practice areas
Family LawFocus areas
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Father's Rights, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements
- 100% Family Law
First Admitted: 2009, California
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2009
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2010
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2011
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2012
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2013
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Director, Board of Directors, 2014
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Director, Board of Directors; Program Chair, 2015
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Director, Board of Directors; Program Chair, 2016
- President Elect - Contra Costa County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Director, Board of Directors., 2017
- Alameda County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2009
- Alameda County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2010
- Alameda County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2011
- Alameda County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2012
- Alameda County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2013
- Alameda County Bar Association, Family Law Section, member, 2014
- San Francisco Bar Association, member, 2012
- San Francisco Bar Association, member, 2013
- San Francisco Bar Association, member, 2014
- San Francisco Bar Association, member, 2015
- San Francisco Classical Voice (non-profit) - Board Member, nominating committee member, Board Secretary, 2017
- Appointed to Sideman & Bancroft firm Strategic Planning Committee (6 members total) identifying the vision of the firm, and directing its growth and design, across all practice areas. 2017 to present., 2017
- Family Law Practice Group Lead - Sideman & Bancroft (2017 - present). Responsible for family law group marketing, revenue projections, new business development, work flow analysis, case assignments and utilization analysis for associates, paralegals. One of top three billers and collectors on billing in the firm., 2017
- Family law action - argued and won at contested court hearing request for order for $175,000 pendente lite attorney fee award for my client, payable immediately by opposing party (spouse)., 2014
- Successfully negotiated and drafted stipulation to terminate open-ended permanent spousal support award, post-judgment., 2014
- Successfully negotiated premarital agreement on behalf of client, preserving her rights to the community interest in opposing party's Restricted Stock awards from employment including those granted prior to marriage, confirming that her name shall be placed on title to all future purchases of residential real property., 2014
- Certified Mediator (40-Hour Mediation Training), 2012
- Certified Family Law Specialist, 2016
- Bay Area Legal Aid, domestic violence/restraining order clinic volunteer, Pittsburg & Martinez, CA, 2004
- Small Claims Court Mediator, San Francisco Superior Court, 2004
- Contra Costa Superior Court Judicial Clerk for the Honorable James Libbey, 2004
- Contra Costa Superior Court Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Josanna Berkow, 2005
- Small Claims Court Mediator, San Francisco Superior Court, 2005
- Contra Costa County Family Law Center Pro Per Clinic, volunteer attorney, 2012
- San Francisco Superior Court, Self-Represented Litigants volunteer attorney mediator, 2014
- Contra Costa County Family Law Center Pro Per Clinic, volunteer attorney, 2013
- Contra Costa County Family Law Center, Double Pro Per settlement volunteer attorney, 2014
- Contra Costa County Family Law Center, Double Pro Per settlement volunteer attorney, 2015
- Pro Bono, limited scope representation at trial of paternity action litigant in custody trial (San Francisco Superior Court, in partnership with Sargent Shriver Custody Project/Justice & Diversity Center of Bar Association of San Francisco, 2015
- San Francisco Superior Court, Self-Represented Litigants volunteer attorney mediator, 2015
- Marin Bench Bar Settlement Panelist Selected to co-mediate multiple matters in 2017 with two other esteemed family law attorneys in the bay area, some of the most difficult cases in Marin counsel, set for trial., 2017
- 10 Best Female Attorneys, AIFLA, 2016
- Moot Court, Best Brief, USF School of Law
- Phillips Exeter Academy, 1991
- University of California at Berkeley, B.A. English
- Anne's interview with Inside Hook re Silicon Valley Divorces https://www.insidehook.com/san-francisco/divorce-silicon-valley-style, 2017
- Brides.com interview with Anne Cochran Freeman re premarital agreements., 2017
- Nob Hill Gazette article, "Secrets of...The Divorce Lawyers." Interview with Anne Cochran Freeman., 2017
- Haute Living article on Anne Cochran Freeman, "When San Francisco’s most powerful couples have to make important decisions regarding their personal lives—whether it be a prenup to the wedding of the decade or a discrete divorce after a dysfunctional breakup—they turn to Anne Cochran Freeman and Monica Mazzei. The family law ladies practice at Sideman and Bancroft and some consider them to be the Bay Area’s answer to celebrity divorce lawyer, Laura Wasser. The dynamic duo consider themselves marriage experts who consider their elite client’s happiness of utmost importance." http://hauteliving.com/2017/06/top-divorce-laywers-sf/638706/?market=san-francisco, 2017
- Forbes.com article - interview with Anne Cochran Freeman and partner, "tow of the Bay Area’s most trusted family law practitioners at Sideman & Bancroft. Their combined expertise has made them go-to specialists for high profile premarital and divorce cases with multimillion dollar futures on the dotted line.", 2017
- San Francisco Chronicle, January 28, 2018 edition on weddings, article/interview with Anne Cochran Freeman re premarital agreements and divorce., 2018
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Skilled drafter, specializing in complex marital settlement agreements and pre-marital agreements; extremely professional; great rapport with clients; capable trial attorney with excellent presentation style.”
“Ms. Freeman is very professional in her manner and demeanor. She has demonstrated an ability to handle complex family law matters. Ms. Freeman has excellent drafting skills and has earned a reputation for creating detailed Marital Settlement Agreements and Pre-nuptual Agreements covering a wide variety of issues. Ms. Freeman is very detailed in her analysis of a case and organized in her approach to gathering necessary documents to present the matter at trial.”
“Highly motivated, extremely intelligent and dedicated lawyer”
“Anne is a strong advocate for her clients. She has a broad knowledge base of her field.”
“Anne is a brilliant, hard working lawyer with a long history of achieving great results for her clients. I have known Anne for 25 years.”
Office location for Anne Cochran Sutton
595 Pacific Ave
4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: 628-241-2450
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2018 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2015 - 2017
Certificates and credentials
Family Law
