We are proud to announce that partner Joseph Cammarata, has been recognized as the 2025 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. This prestigious award—the highest honor bestowed by the Association—was presented to Mr. Cammarata at the organization’s Annual Awards Dinner on May 14, 2025, aboard the Odyssey DC where last year’s recipient and our partner, Allan M. Siegel, had the honor of introducing him.
The Trial Lawyer of the Year award is widely regarded as the most prestigious recognition in the DC legal community for trial attorneys. Recipients are selected through a rigorous evaluation process by a committee of distinguished peers who assess candidates based on their litigation skills, case results, ethical standards, leadership in the legal community, and contributions to the advancement of justice. Only attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity, and dedication throughout their careers are considered for this honor.
A Distinguished Career Dedicated to Justice
As a dual board-certified civil trial attorney, Mr. Cammarata has built his career on tenaciously representing clients who have suffered serious injuries due to others’ negligence. His practice focuses on complex cases involving serious personal injury, brain injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, and medical malpractice.
Through his distinguished career, Mr. Cammarata has taken on powerful opponents—including insurance companies, governmental entities, and even the President of the United States—winning several high-profile cases and securing tens of millions of dollars for our clients. In addition, he has represented seven women against Bill Cosby for claims arising out of Mr. Cosby’s alleged sexual assault and abuse of the women.
At the awards ceremony, it was noted that Mr. Cammarata had achieved spectacular results in two matters in 2024. One involved the recovery of many millions of dollars in excess of available insurance funds arising out of a horrific tractor trailer crash, which left our client a quadriplegic and killed his wife. In addition, Mr. Cammarata obtained a verdict of approximately $18.8 Million on behalf of a woman who was injured as a passenger in a head-on collision and suffered extensive injuries and damages. Each of the two cases settled for a confidential amount.
Leadership in the Legal Community
Mr. Cammarata’s influence extends far beyond individual cases. As a former President of the Trial Lawyers’ Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC, he follows in our firm’s tradition of leadership within the organization. In fact, Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel has produced four Presidents of the Trial Lawyers’ Association, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to advancing the legal profession.
Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom
Mr. Cammarata’s passion for helping others led him to form the Brain Injury Association of DC, Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting people with brain injuries through prevention, research, education, and advocacy. His dedication to this cause inspired him to draft legislation that became the “Athletic Concussion Protection Act of 2011,” which now protects youth athletes from the risks of concussions.
His public service also includes serving on the Board of Directors of Fairfax Water, Virginia’s largest water utility, and as a Commissioner on the Ad Hoc Committee on Police Practices in Fairfax County, Virginia, where he contributed to the Use of Force Sub-Committee.
Recognition of Excellence
Throughout his career, Mr. Cammarata has consistently been recognized as one of Washington’s “Top Lawyers” by Washingtonian Magazine and has been named to the Washington DC Super Lawyers list for numerous consecutive years. As an articulate and accomplished public speaker, he has appeared on national and international television programs and radio shows and has been quoted extensively in newspapers and magazines.
An Unprecedented Achievement: Back-to-Back Recognition
In an extraordinary and unprecedented achievement for our firm, this marks the second consecutive year that a CSCS partner has received this distinguished honor. Having partners Joseph Cammarata and Allan M. Siegel recognized in successive years reflects not only their individual excellence but also our firm’s collective commitment to the highest standards of legal advocacy and client representation.
This back-to-back recognition places Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel in a category of its own among DC law firms and stands as a testament to the caliber of legal representation we provide to our clients every day.
A Legacy of Excellence and Leadership
For more than 50 years, Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel have been fighting for individuals injured due to the negligence of others. Having two partners receive the Trial Lawyer of the Year award in consecutive years cements our firm’s position at the pinnacle of personal injury litigation in the DC metropolitan area.
This remarkable achievement underscores what our clients already know: when you choose CSCS, you’re working with attorneys who are recognized by their peers as being truly elite in their field. Our back-to-back Trial Lawyer of the Year awards demonstrate our firm’s depth of talent and consistent excellence across our leadership team.
We congratulate Mr. Cammarata on this well-deserved honor and take immense pride in the fact that our firm now houses two consecutive recipients of this prestigious recognition—a testament to the exceptional standard of representation that defines Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, our award-winning team is here to help. Contact us at (202) 659-8600 for a free consultation with attorneys recognized at the highest levels of the legal profession.
