Harmon L. (Monty) Cooper is a counsel in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office, where he is a member of the Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation and Environment & Natural Resources groups.
Monty is both a counselor and trial lawyer, whose practice focuses on product liability, environmental, and complex civil litigation. He has litigated tort and contract cases across the country, advising clients in high-exposure litigation in numerous venues. He assists clients in both navigating the courts and finding solutions. His ability to resolve matters is bolstered by his ability to try cases when necessary: he has over a decade’s worth of experience in all phases of litigation, from discovery to motion practice to trial, including first-chair jury and bench trial experience.
Monty currently represents a global Fortune 10 company in multidistrict litigation on product liability and mass tort claims in state and federal courts across the country. He provides strategic counseling and legal advice on environmental issues for financial institutions regarding environmental remediation and property-transfer laws. He also provides counsel on regulatory and legislative matters affecting the mining and natural resources industries.
Monty has published articles and spoken on panels across the country concerning a wide variety of topics affecting his clients – from environmental and mining matters to changes in the U.S. tax code that affect multinational corporations regarding environmental enforcement to artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
Monty maintains an active pro bono practice, where he has argued criminal appeals before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and has litigated civil and criminal cases in both Montgomery County (MD) Circuit Court and D.C. Superior Court.
Representative Matters
- Representing an oil company as national litigation counsel, in federal court in the Southern District of New York, in numerous MTBE cases in which private water companies, public water utilities, and state agencies allege that MTBE is a defective and unreasonably dangerous product that has contaminated public drinking water supplies in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and several other states.
- Representing and advising a financial institution in negotiations with state environmental agencies across the country concerning environmental and property-transfer laws.
- Providing counsel to mining companies regarding regulatory and legislative matters related to the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
- Successfully represented an oil company, in federal court in the District of Arizona, against CERCLA and common-law claims seeking contribution for environmental remediation costs.
- Successfully defended a global information-technology company, in federal court in the District of Columbia, in product liability litigation brought by plaintiffs claiming catastrophic injuries from an allegedly defective electronic device.
- Successfully defended a major U.S. automobile manufacturer at trial in a wrongful death suit involving claims of alleged defective brakes. After a week-long jury trial in a Maryland circuit court, the company obtained a defense verdict.
- As special assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s County, Maryland (January – May 2014), tried several cases involving second degree assault, traffic violations and driving under the influence (DUI) charges before judges. Tried multiple DUI cases before juries, including the successful conviction of a defendant.
Public Service and Education
Monty has also been active in his community. He is a former chairman of the board of directors for the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) of Prince George’s County, MD, one of the largest commercial and residential redevelopment agencies in Maryland.
Monty received a B.A. in American Studies from Georgetown University, where he served as a writing center tutor at the university's Writing Center. He attended the College of William and Mary Law School, where he was a notes editor for the William and Mary Law Review, a member of the William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal, and a Benjamin Rush Scholar. After law school, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Patrick Michael Duffy of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. While in private practice, he has been honored numerous times, including being named a D.C. Super Lawyers “Rising Star” and selected for the Washington Business Journal’s list of top “40 Under 40” professionals.
He is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and South Carolina.
Education
- Georgetown University, B.A. American studies (2000)
- College of William & Mary, M.P.P. public policy (2004)
- College of William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law, J.D. (2004) notes editor, William and Mary Law Review
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, Maryland, South Carolina, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Professional and Community Activities
- Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County (MD) — Former Chairman
- Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) — Board Member
- Teach for America, D.C. Region — Board Member
- Venture Philanthropy Partners — Partners Representative
Honors
- Washington Business Journal (2018) – "40 Under 40" list for the Greater Washington, D.C.
- Exceptional Service Award (2017) – U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" (2013-2015)
- Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40 Award — National Bar Association
- Lawyers of Color’s Inaugural "Hot List" — Mid-Atlantic Region
- Forty Under 40 Award — Prince George’s County (MD) Social Innovation Fund
- Vanguard Award —Next City (National Urban-Affairs Magazine)
- Leadership Maryland — Class of 2015
- Maryland’s The Daily Record 2015 VIP List
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