Attorney Bios

Thom L. Cooper, CELA
Founder of the Thom L. Cooper Company

For the past several years, Attorney Cooper has focused his practice on estate planning, including tax planning, nursing home planning and the comprehensive use of trusts (e.g. living trusts, charitable trusts, remainder trusts, insurance trusts and supplemental care trusts.

Attorney Cooper is certified as an Elder Law Specialist, by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) under certification guidelines as established by the American Bar Association. NELF is approved by the Ohio Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists. In Addition, NELF is the only Elder Law Certification program approved by the American Bar Association.

Attorney Cooper is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). In 1995 he was among the charter members of the NAELA professional organization to become certified as an Elder Law Specialist. Attorney Cooper is also a current member & former president of the prestigious American Association of Trust, Estate and Elder Law Attorneys (AATEELA). AATEELA is an invitation only, professional association of estate planning and Elder Law attorneys from across the United States. Members are selected on the basis of their professional reputation, ability and creativity in the fields of trusts, estates and elder law. Each has made substantial contributions to these fields through lecturing, writing, and continuing education instruction.

Mitchell Adel
Senior Partner

Attorney Mitchell J. Adel is a Senior Attorney in the statewide Elder Law practice of Cooper, Adel & Associates, LPA where his areas of practice include estate planning, trusts, probate and veterans’ benefits. Attorney Adel is among a select group of attorneys in the State of Ohio, who have been admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals For Veterans Claims in addition to receiving accreditation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Attorney Adel has lectured to groups of elderly individuals and their families throughout Ohio about how to preserve their homes & farms in nursing home planning, advanced estate planning, tax planning and estate administration.

Attorney Adel graduated from Ithaca College in Ithaca New York, in 1997 earning an undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology.  Following his studies in New York State he attended Capital Law School where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2000.  Attorney Adel joined the firm in 2005 and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association. Mitchell Adel is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Daniel H. Vu
Associate Elder Law Attorney

Attorney Daniel H.Vu is an Elder Law Attorney in the statewide Elder Law Practice of Cooper, Adel & Associates, LPA. He focuses his area of practice on trusts, estate planning, veteran's benefits and estate and trust administration. Attorney Vu graduated from Miami University with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati Law School. After working for a Special Counsel for the Ohio Attorney General, Attorney Vu joined Cooper, Adel & Associates, LPA. Attorney Vu is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association. Attorney Vu is among a select group of attorneys in the State of Ohio, who have been admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals For Veterans Claims in addition to receiving accreditation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Daniel Vu is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Elizabeth A. Durnell
Associate Elder Law Attorney

Attorney Elizabeth A. Durnell is an Elder Law Attorney in the statewide Elder Law practice of Cooper, Adel & Associates, LPA where her areas of practice include nursing home planning and veteran's benefits.

Attorney Durnell graduated from Xavier University earning an undergraduate degree in Finance as a University Scholar.  Following her studies at Xavier, she attended Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, FL from which she received her Juris Doctor. Attorney Durnell is among a select group of attorneys in the State of Ohio, who have been admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals For Veterans Claims in addition to receiving accreditation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Elizabeth Durnell is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Nathaniel T. Simpson
Associate Elder Law Attorney

Attorney Nathaniel T. Simpson is an Elder Law Attorney in the statewide Elder Law Practice of Cooper, Adel & Associates, LPA. He focuses his area of practice on nursing home planning and veteran’s benefits. Attorney Simpson graduated from Miami University with an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science and obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati. Attorney Simpson is a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association.
Edward A. Brown
Associate Elder Law Attorney

Attorney Edward A. Brown is an Elder Law Attorney in the statewide Elder Law practice of Cooper, Adel & Associates, L.P.A. where his practice areas include trusts, estate planning, estate and trust administration and probate administration.

Attorney Brown graduated from Xavier University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law. Before joining Cooper, Adel & Associates, Attorney Brown clerked for Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C. and the University of Dayton Office of General Counsel. Attorney Brown is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Cincinnati Bar Association and is working to become a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

Keith A. Stevens
Associate Elder Law Attorney

Attorney Keith A. Stevens is an Elder Law Attorney in the statewide Elder Law practice of Cooper, Adel & Associates, L.P.A. where his focuses on trusts and estate planning. Attorney Stevens graduated from the Robert E. Cook Honors College at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in History and obtained his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School. Prior to joining Cooper, Adel & Associates Attorney Stevens clerked for the Franklin County Probate Court and for the Cincinnati Insurance Company’s Office of Trial Council in Columbus. Attorney Stevens is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association.