Atty. Steve Coopersmith

Atty. Steve Coopersmith

Steve Coopersmith is the founder and Managing Partner of The Coopersmith Law Firm, LLP in San Diego, California. The Firm represents clients throughout Southern California in a wide range of business and corporate litigation matters, including those stemming from corporate and partnership dissolutions, securities and financial fraud violations, bet-the-company litigation, executive-level business employment disputes, and fine art law disputes.

San Diego San Diego 30 yrs experience 30 year
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Profile Summary

About Steve Coopersmith at a glance

Steve Coopersmith is a employment, business, and litigation attorney based in San Diego, California, practicing at The Coopersmith Law Firm. They have 30+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1996. Admitted to practice in California, The State Bar of California (1996). Educated at University of California Hastings College of the Law (—, 1996) and University of Pennsylvania (—, 1992). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026) and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment (2026). Serands clients in San Diego, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Steve Coopersmith is the founder and Managing Partner of The Coopersmith Law Firm, LLP in San Diego, California
  • The Firm represents clients throughout Southern California in a wide range of business and corporate litigation matters, including those stemming from corporate and partnership dissolutions, securities and financial fraud violations, bet-the-company litigation, executive-level business employment disputes, and fine art law disputes
  • Mr. Coopersmith also handles select planning and public development disputes
  • After receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Coopersmith earned his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law
  • During law school, he served as a note editor for the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly and was a judicial extern for the presiding justice of the 1st District Court of Appeal
  • After graduation from law school, Mr. Coopersmith served as a U.S
  • Army JAG Officer, providing legal advice to commanding officers and trying felony criminal cases at courts-martial
  • Before starting his own firm over 15 years ago, Mr. Coopersmith gained valuable experience in business litigation with several well-known San Diego law firms
  • Mr. Coopersmith is licensed to practice law in California and before the U.S
  • District Courts for the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California
  • He is also licensed to practice before the U.S
  • Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Supreme Court of the United States
  • In recognition of his professional skills and ethical standards, Martindale-Hubbell has awarded Mr. Coopersmith its AV-Preeminent rating, and his firm is listed in the Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers for all years since 2014
  • He has been on the list of San Diego Super Lawyers for each year since 2014
  • He is also listed as one of America's Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators, and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
  • Mr. Coopersmith was selected as one of 50 Top Influential Business Leaders in San Diego by The Daily Transcript for multiple years, one of the San Diego Business Journal's Top 50 Veteran Business Leaders in San Diego, and one of the Top 100 Leaders in Law in San Diego for multiple years
  • In 2022 and 2023, he was listed on the SD500, the San Diego Business Journal's list of the most influential people in San Diego
  • In his spare time, Mr. Coopersmith enjoys playing jazz and blues piano, and he is an avid year-round, long distance ocean swimmer
  • He is an active member of the San Diego community, has served on the Board of Trustees of the San Diego Museum of Art, and is a member of San Diego Rotary, Club 33

Practice Areas Explained

Steve Coopersmith's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Steve Coopersmith handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Employment Law

Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.

Steve Coopersmith is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in California →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Steve Coopersmith is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Steve Coopersmith is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Diego are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Diego or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Steve Coopersmith

Where is Steve Coopersmith's law office located?
Steve Coopersmith's law practice is located in San Diego, California. The firm is The Coopersmith Law Firm. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Steve Coopersmith handle?
Steve Coopersmith focuses on employment, business, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
How long has Steve Coopersmith practiced law?
Steve Coopersmith has 30+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1996.
Where did Steve Coopersmith go to law school?
Steve Coopersmith earned their education at (—, 1996); (—, 1992).
How can I contact Steve Coopersmith for a consultation?
You can contact Steve Coopersmith directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Steve Coopersmith received?
Steve Coopersmith's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment.

Education

University of California Hastings College of the Law
- 1996
University of Pennsylvania
- 1992

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment
- 2026

Bar Admissions

California, The State Bar of California
Admitted: 1996

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