Prior to creating his firm, Cooper served as General Counsel for The University of Alabama System, where he coordinated, managed, and administered legal strategies and services for the entire University of Alabama System including three campuses, its health system (including a hospital and insurer), and over 50 affiliated entities, with an operating budget of $5.5 billion, over 38,000 employees, and a $1.2 billion pooled investment endowment. 

Cooper also served as Chief Legal Advisor to the Governor of the state of Alabama where he worked with and in all areas of state government. Working extensively on the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, he led the state’s efforts to assess damages done both economically and environmentally. Cooper continued to serve as Special Counsel for all spill-related matters when he became General Counsel of The University of Alabama System. As Special Counsel, he led the Governor’s team in settlement negotiations resulting in a $1 billion economic settlement for the state and over $1 billion in Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds, Clean Water Act (RESTORE) funds, and criminal fines and penalties. 

Prior to serving the state of Alabama and Alabama’s largest higher education enterprise, Cooper spent 20 years in private practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts, which included work not only throughout the state, but throughout the nation and Puerto Rico. His firm grew to be the largest in West Alabama with Cooper as one of its managing shareholders.

• Juris Doctorate, University of Alabama School of Law (1990)
  • Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society, C. Dallas Sands Student Achievement Award Recipient, Phi Delta Phi, Student Bar Association Senator, Student Farrah Law Society President

• ​B.S., Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology (1987)

• Alabama State Bar (1990 – Present)
  • Vice President (2014 – 2015; 2015 – 2016)
  • Executive Council (2014 – 2018)
  • At-Large Bar Commissioner (6th Judicial Circuit, 2003 –2011; At-Large, 2013 – 2018)
  • Disciplinary Commission (2015 – 2018)
  • Disciplinary Panel (2003 – 2009)
  • Various Committees & Task Forces (For full list, see resume)
• Alabama Academy of Attorney Mediators  (2021– Present)
• American Arbitration Association  (2019 – Present) Panelist
• Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (2018 – Present)
• Alabama Law Institute (2011 – Present)
• Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution  (2011 – Present)      
• Farrah Law Alumni Society Board of Trustees (2004 – 2017)
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2015 – Present)
• Member, Tuscaloosa County Bar Association (1990 - Present)                                            
  • Executive Committee (1997-2002)
  • President (2000-2001)
  • Vice President (1999-2000)
  • Secretary/Treasurer (1998-1999)
• Roster of Alabama State Court Mediators  (1998 – Present)
• Arbitrator, Roster of the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution  (1998 – Present)
• Fellow, Alabama Law Foundation  (2011 – Present)  
• Board of Trustees, Alabama State Bar Foundation (2003 – 2011; 2013 – 2018)
• University of Alabama Law School Foundation (2013 – 2017)
  • Executive Committee     
• Alabama Sentencing Commission  (2011 – 2013)

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