Biography
G. Jeff Coons is a Partner with Morrill Law and practices in the area of trust and estate litigation. Mr. Coons represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in disputes involving will and trust contests, elder abuse, contested powers of attorney, and related issues. Prior to joining Morrill Law, Mr. Coons practiced for more than 17 years at national and regional law firms where he represented clients in complex civil litigation matters involving personal injury, toxic tort, environmental, and asbestos cases. As a research analyst for PricewaterhouseCoopers, he advised Fortune 500 telecommunications companies on regulatory issues and merger and acquisition opportunities.
Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California
- LL.M. - 2019
- Major: Estate Planning
- Major: Trust and Probate Law
- Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, California
- J.D. - 1995
- Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California
- Graduate Certificate in Estate Planning - 2019
- Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
- B.A. - 1991
- Major: Public Policy
Professional Associations
- East Bay Trust and Estate Lawyers, Member
- Conta Costa County Bar Association, Member
Practice Areas
- Trust and Estate Litigation
- Financial Elder Abuse
- Conservatorships
Bar Admissions
- California, 1996
Speaking Engagements & Seminars
- "How to Nail the Landing if you are Deposed: A litigator's perspective on best practices for estate planners,” with Joe Morrill and Esther Kim, Contra Costa County Bar Association's 30th Annual Estate Planning Symposium, Walnut Creek, California (May 4, 2024)
- “Cautious Steps Forward, Discouraging Steps Backward – the Continuing Effort to Utilize the Sophisticated User Defense Established in Johnson v. American Standard,” Defense Comment, an Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada magazine (Spring 2013)
- “Pending California Appellate Decision Set to Define the Extent of the Sophisticated User Defense Established in Johnson v. American Standard,” Defense Research Institute Newsletter (August 2010)
- “Appellate Court Update – Key Decisions and Trends in California,” Panel includes Paul Cook, Curt Cutting and Ted Pelletier, Harris Martin Asbestos Litigation Conference, Los Angeles, California (December 12, 2013)
- “Appellate Court Decisions,” with Brian Barrow, Paul Kalish and Linda Tata, Harris Martin Asbestos Litigation Conference, Los Angeles, California (December 12, 2012)
- “An Objective Presentation on Complex Case Coordination Issues,” with Patrick DeBlase, Scott L. Frost and Margaret Johnson, Harris Martin Asbestos Litigation Conference, Los Angeles, California (December 8, 2011)
- “Forum Non Conveniens Motions in Toxic Tort Practice,” Harris Martin Asbestos Conference for Associates and Paralegals, Los Angeles, California (January 29, 2010)
- “Forum Non Conveniens and Federal Removal: New Challenges and Opportunities,” Harris Martin California Asbestos Litigation Conference, Beverly Hills, California (September 15, 2008)
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy participant, Stanford Law School (July 2008)