Gold Coast law firm in liquidation after director, founding partner’s shock death

Receivers of a collapsed Gold Coast law firm have started the ‘mammoth’ task of combing through 180 cartons of client files.

Cooper Roper Legal director Evan Cooper. Picture: Supplied

Receivers of a collapsed Gold Coast law firm have started the “mammoth” task of combing through 180 cartons of client files collected from its offices.

Cooper Roper Legal was placed in liquidation on February 2, the day before the funeral of its director, well-known criminal lawyer Evan Cooper.

He died 10 days earlier following a long illness.

Glenn O’Kearney of GT Advisory and Consulting was appointed liquidator of the company, which was solely directed by Mr Cooper.

Mr O’Kearney declined to comment on the firm’s financial situation and said more details would be released in a statutory report to creditors within three months.

The executive committee of Queensland Law Society appointed some of its officers as receivers for the law firm.

Cooper Roper director Evan Cooper. Picture: Supplied

This means the society will arrange the handling of client files and organise payment of trust money to clients or entitled beneficiaries.

External interventions manager Ann-Louise Connolly, who is overseeing the operation, said receivers had no knowledge of the financial position of the law practice.

“We attended the offices of the law practice at Southport and Beenleigh on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week,” Ms Connolly said.

“We collected approximately 180 cartons of client files, safe custody and information relating to the trust account.”

She said the Southport and Beenleigh offices had been completely cleared out.

“We have all the material, we are in the process of cataloging it,” Ms Connolly said.

“We will make contact with clients, but that process won’t happen until mid to late next week.

“It’s such a mammoth job trying to get things catalogued.”

Any client of Cooper Roper Legal who has any concerns should contact the receivers via email: [e-mail].

EARLIER

A Gold Coast law firm has gone into liquidation just days after the death of its founding partner and director.

Cooper Roper Legal was placed in liquidation on February 2, the day before well-known criminal lawyer Evan Cooper’s funeral.

He died 10 days earlier following a long illness.

Glenn O’Kearney of GT Advisory and Consulting was appointed liquidator of the company, which was solely directed by Mr Cooper.

Company records show it was jointly held by Mr Cooper and a second company, PEEV, which is directed by his fiancee Victoria Ward.

Mr O’Kearney was contacted for comment.

Friends and relatives at the Parkwood funeral for Gold Coast criminal lawyer Evan Cooper who died in January. Picture Glenn Hampson

The law firm based in Davenport St, Southport, was listed online as “permanently closed”.

On February 2, the executive committee of Queensland Law Society Incorporated passed resolutions to appoint officers of the society as the receiver for the law firm.

This means society officers will arrange the handling of client files and organise payment of trust money to clients or entitled beneficiaries.

A fixture in the Southport Court precinct, Mr Cooper founded the firm – originally called Cooper Maloy Legal – with Matt Maloy in 2013.

The firm then changed its name in 2021.

Some of Mr Cooper’s well-known clients included Akin Sen – who was the subject of a viral video after he was filmed being tackled by a passing good Samaritan.

He also often acted as duty lawyer.

Mr Cooper’s death left the Gold Coast legal fraternity in shock, with solicitors expressing their condolences to their friend and colleague.

Hundreds of people, including lawyers and magistrates, packed into Integrity Funerals in Parkwood last Friday to pay their last respects to the well-known lawyer.

His death came about a month after Howden Saggers Lawyers director Dave Garratt died, which also rocked the Gold Coast’s legal community.

Those with inquiries about Cooper Roper Legal were being directed to contact Ann-Louise Connolly from the Queensland Law Society via email: [e-mail]