Timothy P. Cotter
Of Counsel
Before becoming a lawyer, Tim Cotter served his country for 32 years on the front lines—first in the United States Air Force, then with the Department of Defense as a Fire Captain and Paramedic. Leadership under pressure isn't something you learn in a classroom; he spent his career exchanging chaos for order and panic for calm, taking decisive action when every second mattered.
Today, Tim brings that same fireground command presence into the courtroom: unshakable under pressure, precise in execution, and relentlessly focused on justice for those who have been wronged. In the fire service, they say firefighters aren't molded like clay—they're hammered like brass. That's the imprint he carries into every case.
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Tim focuses on personal injury and civil rights litigation, guided by compassion, duty, and an unyielding pursuit of justice. Whether the matter is a catastrophic injury, a civil rights violation by police, or government negligence, he works to hold powerful institutions accountable and restore what's been taken from his clients.
Tim Cotter is a litigation attorney with Ed Shaw Law, bringing more than three decades of real-world emergency response experience into his legal practice. Before becoming an attorney, Tim served for 32 years as a Fire Captain and Paramedic, operating on the front lines of high-risk, time-critical incidents where judgment, accountability, and decisive action were required.
That background informs every aspect of his work as a lawyer. Tim approaches cases with a disciplined focus on facts, decision-making under pressure, and the practical realities faced by first responders. He is particularly experienced in matters involving personal injury, civil rights, and cases where police, fire, or EMS conduct is at issue.
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Tim is skilled in mediation and negotiation and incorporates those disciplines into his case strategy. He approaches resolution with a structured, fact-driven mindset—identifying leverage, clarifying risk, and positioning cases effectively—while maintaining full readiness to proceed to trial when resolution is not appropriate.
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Tim also provides consulting and expert analysis through his affiliated practice, assisting in the evaluation of emergency response actions, standards of care, and incident reconstruction. His dual perspective—both inside the system and now evaluating it—allows him to identify critical issues across varied fact pattern scenarios that are often missed.
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Tim is known for his direct, grounded, steady approach with clients and a commitment to clear communication and preparation. His work is anchored in evidence, developed methodically, and positioned for resolution or trial.
Education:
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Bar Admission:
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Minnesota, 2024
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Legal Affiliations:
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