About Amy J. Coco | Disciplinary Defense Lawyer, Pittsburgh

Biography

Amy J. Coco founded the Law Office of Amy J. Coco, PLLC in 2026 after more than three decades of practice focused on professional responsibility, legal ethics, and lawyer regulation.

Amy represents lawyers, judges, law students, and law firms in a wide range of professional responsibility matters. Her work includes attorney discipline defense before the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, representation of judges in Judicial Conduct Board matters, legal ethics counseling, Client Security Fund matters, fee disputes, lawyer transitions, firm dissolutions, and Board of Law Examiners matters.

Amy also provides practical guidance to lawyers and law firms on law practice management, including IOLTA and trust accounting compliance, recordkeeping, and the ethical management of client and third-party funds. She has assisted attorneys with retirement planning, succession issues, and the orderly closing or transfer of law practices. In addition, she serves as an expert reviewer and consultant on legal ethics and the standard of care, and litigates professional liability matters.

Before founding her firm, Amy was a shareholder at DiBella Weinheimer and, earlier, a partner at Weinheimer, Haber & Coco, P.C., where she began her career in 1994. Her early practice included legal malpractice defense litigation, personal injury defense litigation, toxic tort defense litigation, and the representation of other professionals, including accountants, real estate professionals, and insurance professionals.

Background

Education

J.D., magna cum laude, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 1994. Order of the Coif. Executive Editor, Journal of Law and Commerce.
B.A., Journalism, Indiana University, 1989.

Admissions

Pennsylvania state courts.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law (2026), the only Pittsburgh lawyer recognized in the practice area that year.
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Professional Liability (every year since 2018).
Top 50 Pittsburgh Super Lawyers (2022).
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent (2011).
PBA Special Achievement Award (2023).

Super Lawyers is a rating service of Thomson Reuters. Selection is based on peer nominations and independent research. No aspect of this recognition has been approved by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Teaching

Adjunct Professor of Professional Responsibility, Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University (2026)
Program Director, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pitt Legal Services Incubator (2018–present)
Adjunct Professor of Business Law and Business Ethics, Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh (2015–2020)

Bar Leadership and Community Service

Allegheny County Bar Association

ACBA President, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026; member of the ACBA Executive Committee
Lawyers’ Professional Liability Committee, 1996 to 2023; Chair, 2011 to 2023; Vice Chair, 2009 to 2011
Nominating Committee, Chair, 2024 to 2025; Vice Chair, 2025 to 2026; appointed 2017, 2019, 2023
By-Laws Committee, Chair, 2020 to 2024
Professional Ethics Committee, 2010 to present; Chair, 2015 to 2016; Vice Chair, 2014 to 2015; Duty Officer
Sole and Small Firm, 2010 to present; Executive Council, 2017 to present; ethics presentation at monthly meetings, 2014 to present
Finance Committee, 2019 to present
Investment Committee, 2021 to present
Women in Law Division Programming Committee, 2010 to 2012

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Past PBA Woman at Large Governor, 2020 to 2024
Co-Chair, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee, 2024 to present
Past Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team
House of Delegates member
Past Vice Chair, Professional Liability Committee
Strategic Planning Committee, 2017 to 2018 term
Judicial Evaluation Commission, Investigative Division, 2016
Commission on Women in the Profession, 2010 to present; Executive Council, 2012 to present; Co-Chair, Quality of Life/Wellness, 2024 to present; Co-Chair, Promotion of Women Committee, 2015 to 2018; Co-Chair, Membership Committee, 2012 to 2015; Public Service Committee, 2010 to 2011
Professionalism Committee, 1996 to present
Civility Committee, 2021 to present
By-Laws Committee, 2020 to present
Multicultural Bar Committee, 2022 to present
LGBTQ+ Committee, 2022 to present
Quality of Life Committee, 2019 to present
Solo and Small Firm Section
Civil Litigation Section

Other Bar Memberships

National Conference of Bar Presidents member, 2024 to present
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
American Bar Association, Professional Responsibility Center member
Law360 Legal Ethics Editorial Advisory Board, 2017
Washington County Bar Association, 2016 to present
Philadelphia Bar Association, 2022 to present
Women’s Bar Association, 1995 to 2010; Public Service Committee
Federal Claims Bar Association, 2014 to 2017

Community Service and Activities

Neighborhood Legal Services, pro bono counsel, 1994 to present
Volunteer attorney, Uptown Legal Clinic, 2005 to 2006
Central Catholic Cross Country Boosters, President, 2023 to 2024
Central Catholic Baseball Boosters, 2012 to 2016
Central Catholic Mother’s Guild, 2012 to 2014, 2020 to 2022
Hartwood Elementary PTO, Fox Chapel School District, 2005 to 2009, 2011 to 2016; Art Magnet Sale Fundraiser Leader, 2007 to 2009
Cub Scouts, Pack 625, Popcorn Sale Fundraising Chair, 2006 to 2008, 2014 to present; Den Leader, 2013 to 2016
CCD teacher, middle school students, 2017 to 2020
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Eucharistic Minister, 2024 to present