Brent W. Coon

Graduating at the top of his class in high school, next running a successful construction company, and then sailing through college and law school in four years, Brent understood that it took hard work, dedication, and discipline to get ahead. Thirty years later, those same principles set Brent Coon & Associates apart. A partner in a well known litigation firm less than three years out of law school, Brent had already tried dozens of lawsuits to verdict, most as solo counsel, and always for the plaintiff. He achieved his first million dollar verdict in those early years and was on the fast track as he continued to win many other multi-million dollar verdicts over the years in a variety of cases involving occupational disease, environmental contamination, transportation injuries, products liability, maritime law and general negligence.

Today, his law firm has grown to national and international prominence. With a number of anchoring litigation offices from Ohio to California, and a network of over 100 associated firms around the country and abroad, the firm has the capacity to take on any type of litigation almost anywhere in the world. Brent has personally obtained jury verdicts for over 200 clients, with over 20 verdicts in excess of a million dollars. His first major case was in 1989, where he worked with a team of litigation experts from several firms in the largest consolidated trial in history, spending almost a year in trial and helping to win a verdict in excess of one billion dollars at the ripe age of 29. He continued to develop and settle thousands of additional cases, with recoveries of up to $200 million in a single year.

• Bachelor of Science, 1984, Lamar University Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Deans List
• Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1986, University of Houston Law Center

• 1978 “Leadership & Scholarship Award”- American Legion
• 1978 “Businessmen’s Scholarship Award”- Southeast Texas Area Businessmen’s League.
• 1978 “Student Scholarship Award”- Junior Engineering & Technical School
• 1992 “Public Service Award”- Lamar University
• 1997-1998 “Young Lawyer of the Year”- Jefferson County Bar Association
• 2000 “AA White Society”-University of Houston Law School
• April, 2006 “Attorney of the Month” – Forbes Magazine. Including: SkyRadio interview with Stephen Murphy
• 2007 Humanitarian Award (USMWF) The United Support & Memorial For Workplace Fatalities.
• 2007 “The Lawdragon 500 Leadings Plaintiffs’- Lawyers in America
• 2007 “The Clarence Darrow Award” – presented by Mass Torts Made Perfect. (Award is given to Plaintiff Trial Attorneys for outstanding achievement in representation and exhibiting the standards of their profession.  Past recipients include Robert Kennedy, Jr., Eliot Spitzer, Johnnie Cochran, Morris Dees, Ed Blizzard, John O’Quinn and Ron Motley.)
• 2007-2014 Texas Super Lawyers- Texas Monthly Magazine
• 2007 “Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award” (Presented annually to those attorneys and clients whose cases tell the story of American Civil Justice and help educate state and national policy makers and the public about the importance of consumers’ rights.)
• 2007 Public Service Award, American Association for Justice
• 2010-2014 “The Best Lawyers in America”
• 2010 “Walk of Fame” star- Vidor Chamber of Commerce
• “Nations TOP ONE percent” Award- National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
• 2013 “Go To Law Firm” in Litigation- American Lawyer
• 2014 “Top 75 Plaintiff Lawyers in the United States”, Forbes Magazine
• 2014 “Top Attorney in Texas” – Texas Monthly Magazine.
• 2014 “Litigator Award” – Trial Lawyers Board of Regents.
• 2014 “Texas Top Lawyers” – Texas Monthly Magazine
• 2014  21st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
• 2015 “Best Law Firms of 2015”, U.S. News & World Reports
• 2015  22nd Edition of The Best Lawyers of America
• 2015  Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly Magazine
• 2015  Law 360 MVP Awards
• Litigator Award (litigatorawards.com)
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top 1% Nation’s Lawyers
• 2015 Global Director of Who’s Who Top Lawyer
• 2016 “Best Law Firms  of 2016”,  U.S. News & World Reports
• “Best of the Best”, American Registry
• “Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation”, Best Lawyers
• 2016 “Texas Super Lawyer”, Texas Monthly Magazine
• “The National Trial Lawyers Top 100”,   National Trial Lawyers Association
• “2016 Dealmaker Award”, Corporate America-News
• “Nations Top Attorneys”, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
• “A1 Businesses of Distinction Award”, Acquisition International
• The National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top 1% Nation’s Lawyers
• “America’s Most Honored Professionals”, American Registry
• “Best Lawyers in Texas”,  The Wall Street Journal
• “Distinguished Award of Ethical and Professional Excellence”, Martindale-Hubbell
• “Best Lawyers in Texas” Peer Recognition, published by Houston Chronicle
• 2018 “Top Lawyers in Texas” Texas Monthly
• 2019 “Best Lawyers in America” selected by peers, The Best Lawyers in America – 2019
• 2019 “Best of 2019” Port Arthur News
• Selectee, excellence in practice – Super Lawyers
• 2019 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers HALL OF FAME
• 2019 National Trial Lawyers Top 100
• 2019 America’s top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys
• 2019 America’s Most Honored Professionals
• 2019 Top Attorneys in Texas, as published in Texas Monthly.
• 2020 Legal Ability & Ethical Standards – Martindale Hubbell Award
• 2020 Best Lawyers in America – Best Lawyers

• Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1992) Recertified – (1997, 2002)
• Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy
• Texas Trial Lawyers Association (1993) – Recertified (1998, 2003): Board of Directors, Legislative Task Force, Sustaining Member, Fellow
• Southeast Texas Trial Lawyers Association: Former President, Current Executive Committeeman
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America Litigation and Environmental Section: Law Firm Fellow, Leaders Forum, Labor Liaison Committee
• Jefferson County Bar Association, Blackstone Nominating Committee, 2001
• Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association (former Chairman): Outstanding Young Lawyer, 1997, Nominating Committee
• Port Arthur Bar Association (officer)
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
• College of the State Bar, 1998
• Jefferson County Dispute Resolution (Mediator)
• Texas Bar Foundation

Houston Chronicle, “Idling engine may have set off BP explosion.”  Interview with                                            Tom Fowler (April, 2005)

Houston Chronicle, The BP Explosion: Workers could only watch in horror.”                                                   Interview with Anne Belli (April, 2005)

Ch. 12 News, Beaumont, TX – Interview with reporter Jamie Cerreta regarding

petrochemical plant safety (March, 2006).

Houston Chronicle, “Daughter settles with BP in parents’ death.” Interview with Brad Hem (Nov. 2006)

Beaumont Enterprise – BP oil spill litigation.   Interview with Ken Fountain (May,                                            2010)

Wall Street Journal interview with Alison Sider regarding DuPont fatalities, 11/21/14

 

 

Legal Presentation – Beaumont Chamber of Commerce (June,1993

Lamar University, Occupational and Safety Division, Public Services Award (1992)

Guest Speaker – SETALA Banquet (1995)

Guest Speaker – University of Houston Law Center – Class Actions (February, 1997)

Guest Speaker – Beaumont Rotary – Economic Development (June, 1997)

Guest Speaker – Women’s Council of Realtors – Residential/Commercial Development (July, 1997)

Case Study – Impact of Tort Reform (Texas Dept. of Ins. and L.B.J. School of Public Affairs, University of Texas (1998)

Guest speaker – American Trial Lawyers Association symposium on Mass Torts “Benzene and Blood Dyscrasias”, Atlanta, GA. (July, 2002)

Guest Speaker – History and Future of Asbestos Litigation sponsored by Mealey’s Litigation Reports, Dallas, TX (May, 2003)

Guest Speaker – Environmental Hazards in the Workplace – National Convention of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, Washington, DC. (May, 2003)

Guest Speaker – Mealey’s Asbestos Litigation 101 Conference – Current Litigation Environment and the Future of the Litigation, Dallas, TX (June, 2003)

Guest Speaker – Mealey’s Asbestos Premises Liability Conference, – “Asbestos Premises Liability – An Overview of the Litigation”, Pasadena, CA (December, 2004)

Guest Speaker – Toxic Tort Law Seminar – Jefferson County Bar Association (April, 2004)

Guest Speaker – Public hearings for BP Baker Panel Investigation (January, 2006)

Guest Speaker – Mealey’s Toxic Tort Update, Irving, Texas regarding the Texas MDL and other judicial legislative actions in regards to Asbestos and Silica Litigation (March, 2006)

Guest Speaker – PALS 2006 Asbestos Litigation Seminar – “Keeping the Courthouse Doors Open” (May, 2006)

Guest Speaker – Harris Martin’s – California Asbestos & Silica Conference–“The Future of Silica Litigation – A Local and National Perspective”, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Sonoma, California (July, 2006)

Conference Co-Chair – Mealey’s Silica & Asbestos Claims Conference: What Effect Will Investigations Into Fraudulent Suits Have on The Litigation? The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia (2006)

Guest Speaker – TTLA – The Best Kept Secrets:  “Winning the Public Relations Battle”, The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV (February 2009)

Guest Speaker – JCBA CLE – Behind the Headlines: “BP Finally Faces Jury Trial Over Explosion that Killed 15”, Beaumont, Texas (March, 2009)

Guest Speaker – Gulf Coast Disaster Conference: “BP: The Checkered Past”, Orlando,                                        Fl, (May 2010)

Guest Speaker – Reuters Global Energy Summit, Houston, TX, BP and the oil spill.                                         (May, 2010)

Guest Speaker – Harris Martin’s Oil Spill Litigation Conference, New Orleans, LA                                           (June, 2010)

Guest Speaker – HB Litigation Conference – Oil in the Gulf – Litigation and Insurance Coverage (June, 2010)

Guest Speaker – Texas Bar CLE Litigation Update Conference – Unnatural Disasters:                                           Environmental Litigation San Antonio, TX (Jan. 2011).

Guest Speaker-“The improper influence of the US Chamber of Commerce propaganda                                          on tort reform and legislation in America, Plaintiff’s Asbestos litigation Seminar, Las                                      Vegas, NV (May 2013).

Conference Co-Chair; Status of the BP oil spill litigation, New Orleans, February 2014.

Conference Chair-Status of BP oil Spill Litigation, New Orleans, May 2015.