Burleigh E. Cooper

As former panel counsel for several major insurers over the past 17 years, including State Farm, Progressive and Mercury, Mr. Cooper has defended hundreds of cases in state and federal court, as well as in the California Courts of Appeal, including: personal injury, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, trucking cases, public entity liability, contract, real property, landlord­-tenant, elder abuse, construction, sexual harassment, retaliation, 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 fatal police shooting and legal malpractice defense. He has also litigated several multi-million-dollar plaintiff and subrogation matters, as well as high-exposure personal liability matters. Every case is unique, as are the goals and means of each client. With that in mind, Mr. Cooper employs a practical and personable approach to litigation - the foundation of which requires developing individual relationships with his clients to establish a comfortable and communicative atmosphere. With efficiency and professionalism in mind, he is direct with clients and opposing counsel alike as well as firm, fair and resolution oriented. He is past-President of the Santa Cruz County Bar Association and Law Professor at Monterey College of Law- Civil Procedure. When not in the office, he can usually be found on or near the ocean with his daughter, Mia, and wife, Helen, a Ph.D. marine scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.