Adam J. Zapala - Burlingame, CA
Attorney at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Antitrust & Global Competition Lawyers in Burlingame, CA
San Francisco Airport Office Center 840 Malcolm Road Suite 200 Burlingame, CA 94010
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
20
Years
Experience
Burlingame Antitrust & Global Competition Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Antitrust & Global Competition
- Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
- Employee Misclassification
- Employment Law
- ERISA Violations/Retirement Fund Mismanagement
- Executive Severance Negotiations
- FINRA Arbitrations
- Labor Union Representation
- Privacy & Intellectual Property
- Retaliation and Whistleblower Protection
- Unlawful Agreements to Suppress Wages
- Wage & Hour Violations
Attorney Information
Overview
Adam J. Zapala is a Principal at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP, where he focuses on antitrust, employment/civil rights litigation, false claims litigation, consumer protection and class actions generally.
Mr. Zapala received a B.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. While at Hastings, Mr. Zapala received awards for best moot court brief, the Pro Bono Publico award, most outstanding student in Group Advocacy and Systemic Reform, and Excellence for the Future Award in Pre-trial Practice.
Previously, Mr. Zapala worked at Davis, Cowell & Bowe, LLP. in San Francisco, where he represented labor unions, Taft-Hartley Pension and Health & Welfare funds, employees and consumers in complex litigation, arbitration and NLRB proceedings. While at DCB, Mr. Zapala served as trial counsel in countless arbitrations on behalf of labor unions and employee benefit funds. He has argued cases before the California First, Third, and Sixth District Court of Appeal.
Mr. Zapala also previously served as a staff attorney with Bay Area Legal Aid, where he focused on representing indigent clients in a wide variety of civil litigation matters. While there, Mr. Zapala developed expertise in Medi-Cal, Medicare and other publicly-financed healthcare systems. While in law school, Mr. Zapala also worked for the public interest law firms of Public Advocates, Inc. and Public Justice, focusing on civil rights class action litigation.
Mr. Zapala also has legislative and policy experience, working on Capitol Hill as a policy aide for Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) in Washington D.C.
Mr. Zapala has deep ties to the Bay Area. He grew up in San Jose, California and attended Bellarmine College Preparatory. While at Stanford University, Mr. Zapala became a four-time Academic All-American, a four-time All-American, and Captain of the Stanford Men's Soccer Team. In 2001, he was drafted in the Major League Soccer ("MLS") Super Draft by the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas).
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2014 - 2015
Other Sources of Feedback About Adam J. Zapala
Included on the 2026 Northern California Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Northern California Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings),
San Francisco,
California, 2006
J.D.
Honors: Best Moot Court Brief, Hastings College of the Law
Honors: Pro Bono Publico Award, Hastings College of the Law
-
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings),
San Francisco,
California, 2006
-
Non Legal Education
-
Stanford University, 2000
B.A.
Honors: 4-Time Academic All-America, Stanford University
Honors: 4-Time All-America, Stanford University
Honors: Freshman Athlete of the Year, Stanford University
-
Stanford University, 2000
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Principal
Published Works
Articles
-
Case Notes, Journal of Poverty Law and Policy, Barron v. Martinez, 173 Cal.App.4th 293 (2009), Clearinghouse Review, 2010
Bar Admissions
- California
Other Affiliations
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
- Consumer Attorneys of California
Photo
Contact
San Francisco Airport Office Center
840 Malcolm Road
Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone: 866-553-9736
Fax: 650-697-0577
Email: Send a message
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