Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm | Saturday: By Appointment
One Betterworld Circle, Ste. 300 Temecula, CA 92590
Courtney M. Coates, Esq.
– (Principal and Founder)
Courtney M. Coates, Esq. has been a licensed attorney since 1999 and is the founder of the Law Office of Courtney M. Coates, a Professional Law Corporation, in Temecula, CA. Courtney obtained Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Sociology (‘96) from the University of California at Los Angeles. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (‘99).
Before starting his own law office in 2007, Courtney was Senior Counsel at a prominent law firm in San Francisco, where he practiced for 8 years. Over his career, Courtney has represented hundreds of individual and institutional clients, including Fortune 500 companies, retailers, music and publishing companies, talent, real estate owners, banks, transportation companies in employment, business, civil rights, tort, and other commercial matters. Courtney has regularly litigated cases in both state and federal courts venued throughout California, as well as on appeal before the Ninth Circuit and state appellate courts. The geographic reach of Courtney’s practice stretches across the United States, having made pro hac vice and other appearances in out-of-state jurisdictions, such as, inter alia, New York, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Florida.
Over the last 20 years, Courtney has won scores of jury and bench trials, and successfully defended cases on appeal. Most notably, in a recent landmark published decision, McPherson v. EF Intercultural Foundation, Inc., 47 Cal.App.5th 243 (2020), Courtney won a case that vindicated and clarified the rights of millions of California employees denied accrued vacation under “unlimited” vacation policies.
Courtney’s cases have been featured in numerous publications and he has accepted invitations to write columns on commercial litigation matters for the California Litigation Review, published by the State Bar of California. He has been welcomed by Lorman Education Services to present seminars to business owners on civil rights litigation and best employment practices.
Courtney is admitted in all federal courts in California and has litigated matters within virtually all California counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Sonoma, San Francisco, Solano, Marin, Merced, San Jose, Santa Clara, Ventura, Sacramento, and Stanislaus.
Courtney serves as general counsel to numerous entities on a host of business and legal matters, including corporate governance, business, employment, real estate, intellectual property, civil rights, high-stakes contract disputes, media and entertainment matters.
Courtney is also a licensed and ordained minister. He advises and represents churches, faith-based entities, and non-profit organizations on a host of matters, including mediation and conciliation services, non-profit governance, real estate, and employment matters.
Memberships/Affiliations
Courtney is a recognized “Master of the Bench” and board member of the American Inns of Court, Southwest Riverside County Chapter, promoting ethics and cooperation within the legal profession. He has been recognized as a “top lawyer” in This Business of Urban Music. Courtney is also former board member of the Wiley W. Manuel Law Foundation, established in honor of the first African- American Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Courtney also serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Baptist Foundation of California.