Brent Coon & Associates

View the profile as it appeared in Texas Super Lawyers 2008 (PDF)

View the profile as it appeared in Texas Rising Stars 2008 (PDF)

“We handle some very big cases,” says powerhouse litigator Brent Coon. “When all is said and done, we ask ourselves if we left things better than we found them. Besides just winning cases, we believe we have a strong public policy responsibility in everything we do.”

Driven and entrepreneurial, Coon founded Brent Coon & Associates in 2001 after 15 years of intense litigation experience. His goal was to build a diversified, flexible litigation firm with a national presence—the epitome of a 21st-century law practice. Today, it is one of the country’s largest trial law firms, with 60 attorneys and 300 staff members in 20 offices nationwide.

Coon and his colleagues focus on workers’ rights to a secure workplace, women’s safety, union representation and fighting those who would limit an individual’s right to his or her day in court. They also handle cases related to occupational, aviation, products safety and pharmaceutical. “Brent puts his money where his mouth is and has afforded our team the opportunity to tackle big pharma,” says Jim Morris, managing partner of the Austin office. “His commitment is unwavering.”

The son of a union electrician, Coon graduated at the top of his high school class and went to law school in memory of his mother after spending several years in a rock band. Today, in addition to his firm, he owns a production company, a real estate company and a golf course business. His band has played with dozens of major acts, from Kid Rock to ZZ Top.

He brings the same level of passion and dedication to his law practice, and his colleagues do the same. “Jim Morris knows how to win, and referring attorneys like that,” says Coon. “That’s why he is on this team and his expertise is felt in every BCA office across America.” The firm’s extensive use of advanced technology, its financial resources and its national team of talented, aggressive attorneys have made Brent Coon & Associates one of the country’s most respected trial litigation firms.

Coon is especially proud of his firm’s commitment to public policy. For instance, the settlement in Rowe v. BP North America, a wrongful death case related to an explosion at an oil refinery in Texas City, included $32 million in charitable contributions. These funds were donated to related institutions and causes, from a local burn center to a process safety-training center at A&M. In addition, seven million pages of sealed documents were publicly released so that others could learn from BP’s mistakes.

Both Coon and attorney Morris were named to the 2008 Super Lawyers® list. Coon has also received the Steven J. Sharp Award (national trial lawyer of the year) from the American Association for Justice, the Clarence Darrow Award and the USMFW Humanitarian Award.