Paul N. "Pete" McCloskey Jr. - Burlingame, CA
Attorney at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Environmental Law Lawyers in Burlingame, CA
San Francisco Airport Office Center 840 Malcolm Road Suite 200 Burlingame, CA 94010
Burlingame Environmental Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Environmental Law
Litigation: 80%
Attorney Information
Overview
Paul N. "Pete" McCloskey, Jr., a Principal at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, is considered to be one of the country's great trial lawyers, as well as a great public servant and war hero.
A renowned attorney who has tried over 100 jury trials, McCloskey began his law career as Deputy District Attorney for Alameda County, and then as the founding partner in the law firm of McCloskey, Wilson & Mosher, which evolved into the firm of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.
During his law career, McCloskey served as President of the Palo Alto Bar Association, President of the Conference of Barristers of the State Bar of California and as a Trustee of the Santa Clara Bar Association.
McCloskey received his B.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from Stanford Law School. He has written four books and has taught legal ethics and political science at Stanford and Santa Clara Universities. His books include: Guide to Professional Conduct for New Practitioners, California State Bar (1961); The U.S. Constitution, BRL (1961); Truth and Untruth: Political Deceit in America, Simon & Shuster (1971); and The Taking of Hill 610, Eaglet Books (1992), describing his service in Korea.
Following Stanford University, he joined the Marine Corps as an officer and served in the Korean War. While in the Marine Corps section, McCloskey commanded a reserve rifle company at San Bruno, California from 1953 to 1960. A recipient of the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism, the Silver Star for bravery in combat and two Purple Hearts, McCloskey was a platoon leader and company commander. He retired from the Reserve with a rank of Colonel.
McCloskey served from 1967 to 1983 in the U.S. House of Representatives and was re-elected seven times representing the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley. He served six years as Congressional Delegate to the International Whaling Conference, and as Congressional Advisor to the Law of the Sea Treaty Delegation. An ardent environmentalist, he was co-chair of the first Earth Day in 1970 with Senator Gaylord Nelson. In 1972, he ran for President on an anti-Vietnam War platform against Richard Nixon. One of McCloskey's enduring legacies is his co-authorship of the 1973 Endangered Species Act. After serving in Congress for 15 years, McCloskey returned to private practice, taking on tough complex cases.
He has served as a Trustee for the Monterey Institute of International Studies, the Population Action Institute, and the U.S. Marine Corps Academy in Harlingen, Texas. Appointed by President George H. W. Bush and elected its first chairman, McCloskey served on the U.S. Commission on National and Community Service from 1990 to 1992.
McCloskey served on the Advisory Council to the American Land Conservancy. He has been at the forefront in helping Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans receive college educations upon their return from duty. He serves on the Board of Advisors of The Fund for Veterans' Education.
A film was done on the life and times of Pete McCloskey entitled, American Maverick. The film is narrated by the late Paul Newman who said, "Pete McCloskey has spent his life fighting for peace" and "without doubt he will always be leading from the front."
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Recipient of the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism
- Recipient of the Silver Star for bravery in combat
- Recipient of two Purple Hearts
- No Gun Ri Peace Commission Peace Prize Award
- Peninsula Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award
- Sierra Club Environmental Hero's Award
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Stanford Law School,
Stanford,
California
J.D.
-
Stanford Law School,
Stanford,
California
-
Non Legal Education
-
Stanford University
B.A.
-
Stanford University
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Of Counsel
Past Positions
- Alameda County, Deputy District Attorney
- Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, Founding Partner
- Marine Corps, Officer
- U.S. House of Representatives, 1967 - 1983
Classes and Seminars
-
Audubon Winter Gala 2016, January 21, 2016 - Present
-
Congressional Delegate to the International Whaling Conference
- Congressional Advisor to the Law of the Sea Treaty Delegation
Pro Bono Activities
- Board of Advisors, The Fund for Veterans’ Education
- Trustee, Monterey Institute of International Studies
- Trustee, Population Action Institute
- Trustee, U.S. Marine Corps Academy in Harlingen, Texas
- U.S. Commission on National and Community Service, 1990 - 1992
Published Works
Articles
-
A War That Should Never Have Been Necessary, the Division of an Ancient People Against Their Will, Huffington Post - The World Post, June 25, 2015
-
Guide to Professional Conduct for New Practitioners, California State Bar, 1961
-
The U.S. Constitution, BRL, 1961
-
Truth and Untruth: Political Deceit in America, Simon & Shuster, 1971
-
The Taking of Hill 610, Eaglet Books, 1992
Bar Admissions
- California, 1961
- U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1978
Other Affiliations
- Korea War Memorial Association (President)
- Palo Alto Bar Association (Past President)
- Conference of Barristers of the State Bar of California (Past President)
- Santa Clara Bar Association (Past Trustee)
- Advisory Council, American Land Conservancy
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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