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Monty Cooper

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Areas of Focus

Overview

Harmon L. (Monty) Cooper is both a counselor and trial lawyer, focusing 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 has defended major oil companies in product liability litigation and property damage claims arising from environmental issues.

Monty’s experience also includes litigating issues involving Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, a federal law that shields various online platforms from liability for publishing third-party content. He has provided counsel in non-litigation matters, including regulatory and legislative matters (e.g., concerning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues) affecting renewable energy and mining companies. Monty also works with a team of Crowell attorneys to track emerging risks associated with environmental justice (EJ) issues.

Monty regularly shares his insights, including publishing articles and speaking on panels across the country concerning a wide variety of topics affecting his clients, including environmental and mining matters, changes in the U.S. tax code that affect multinational corporations regarding environmental enforcement, and artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

Monty maintains an active pro bono practice, where his experience includes arguing criminal appeals before appellate courts.

Public Service and Education

Monty is 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. While attending the College of William and Mary Law School, 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. In 2021, Monty received the ABA-SEER Chair Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Section due to his work leading the Section’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. He received a Certificate in Sustainable Capitalism & ESG Online from Berkeley Law Executive Education.

He is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and South Carolina.

Career & Education

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    • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
      Law Clerk, Hon. Patrick Michael Duffy, 2004–2005
    • Maryland
      Special Assistant State’s Attorney, Prince George's County, 2014
    • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
      Law Clerk, Hon. Patrick Michael Duffy, 2004–2005
    • Maryland
      Special Assistant State’s Attorney, Prince George's County, 2014

    • 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., notes editor, William and Mary Law Review, 2004
    • 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., notes editor, William and Mary Law Review, 2004

    • 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
    • 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 Activities and Memberships

    • Council Member: American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
    • Board Member: Environment and Energy Study Institute
    • Corporate Counsel Conference CLE Planning Committee Member, National Bar Association Commercial Law Section

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • Council Member: American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
    • Board Member: Environment and Energy Study Institute
    • Corporate Counsel Conference CLE Planning Committee Member, National Bar Association Commercial Law Section

Monty's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24

EPA’s Busy April for CERCLA and PFAS:
New CERCLA Authority, an Enforcement Escape Hatch, and the Continued Search for Viable Cleanup Technologies

On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”).  At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.”  This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead. ...

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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.

Monty's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24

EPA’s Busy April for CERCLA and PFAS:
New CERCLA Authority, an Enforcement Escape Hatch, and the Continued Search for Viable Cleanup Technologies

On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”).  At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.”  This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead. ...

View All Insights

Recognition

  • Thomson Reuters Names 16 Crowell Lawyers as “Stand-out Lawyers”
  • The National Black Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers, 2021
  • Washington Business Journal: 40 Under 40 for Greater Washington, D.C., 2018
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland: Exceptional Service Award, 2017
  • Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers: Rising Stars, 2013-2015
  • National Bar Association: Nation’s Best Advocates, 40 Lawyers Under 40 Award
  • Lawyers of Color: Inaugural Hot List, Mid-Atlantic Region
  • Prince George’s County (MD) Social Innovation Fund:  40 Under 40 Award
  • Next City (National Urban-Affairs Magazine): Vanguard Award
  • Leadership Maryland, Class of 2015
  • Maryland’s The Daily Record: VIP List, 2015

Monty's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24

EPA’s Busy April for CERCLA and PFAS:
New CERCLA Authority, an Enforcement Escape Hatch, and the Continued Search for Viable Cleanup Technologies

On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”).  At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.”  This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead. ...

View All Insights

Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24

EPA’s Busy April for CERCLA and PFAS:
New CERCLA Authority, an Enforcement Escape Hatch, and the Continued Search for Viable Cleanup Technologies

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.25.24

JUST RELEASED: EPA’s Bold New Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Collaboration Policy

Client Alert | 03.08.24

Two Years After Proposal, SEC Finalizes Narrowed, But Still Controversial, Climate Change Disclosures Rule

Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.31.24

EPA Updates Its CERCLA and RCRA Soil-Lead Screening Levels With Stricter Standards In New Guidance
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Practices

Monty's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24

EPA’s Busy April for CERCLA and PFAS:
New CERCLA Authority, an Enforcement Escape Hatch, and the Continued Search for Viable Cleanup Technologies

On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”).  At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.”  This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead. ...

View All Insights