L. Michael Brooks

L. Michael Brooks is a Denver partner and Partner-in-Charge who focuses on trial and appellate litigation. His practice includes insurance bad faith defense, product liability, mass torts, insurance coverage, construction defects, and extra-contractual litigation involving first- and third-party claims in Colorado and across the nation for many clients.

Michael earned his J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 1995. He also earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Regis University in 1992. After law school, he served two terms as a law clerk for respected appellate judges on the Colorado Court of Appeals.

Michael handles complex civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. He has prepared summary judgment motions and expert testimony motions in toxic tort matters nationwide. His appellate practice includes product liability, insurance coverage, public entity liability, and personal injury cases, as well as amicus briefs before major state and federal appellate courts.

Michael’s awards include Super Lawyers recognition from 2015 through 2026 for civil litigation defense, insurance coverage, appellate matters, personal injury defense, and professional liability defense. He was also named Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants by The Best Lawyers in America for 2026.

Michael has secured major appellate victories involving prejudgment interest, wrongful-death damages caps, insurance defense obligations, and product liability matters. He successfully defended appeals before the Colorado Supreme Court and achieved rulings that saved clients millions of dollars while establishing defense-favorable legal standards in important coverage and liability disputes statewide.

L. Michael Brooks is admitted in Colorado and before the United States Supreme Court, the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the United States District Court of Colorado. He is active in professional organizations, including the Product Liability Advisory Council, Defense Research Institute, and Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP
• Member, Colorado Bar Association
• Member, Denver Bar Association
• Member, Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc., Case Selection Committee
• Subcommittee Chair, Colorado Supreme Court Committee on Civil Jury Instructions

Licensed State

• Colorado

Education

• University of Denver College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Regis University
  BA with Magna Cum Laude

Awards & Badges