Frank Gooch III

Member

Santa Monica

(310) 460-4473

(310) 594-7317

Frank focuses his practice on business, real estate, and insurance litigation in California trial and appellate courts, as well as before the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. 

His real estate litigation practice encompasses a full range of disputes, including partnership, title and boundary disputes, easement disputes, unlawful detainer actions, and actions involving the acquisition and/or sale of real estate. He also handles claims of contractor and architect negligence with respect to residential properties, real estate broker negligence, and the enforceability of mechanics’ liens.  He represents clients before governmental agencies regarding homeowner issues.

Frank represents clients in breach of contract actions involving private parties and governmental entities; partnership dissolution matters; partnership and shareholder disputes; unfair competition matters; rescission actions involving acquisitions of businesses; wrongful termination; and other business tort issues, including misappropriation of trade secrets, trade dress claims, intentional interference with economic advantage, and collection actions.

Frank’s insurance litigation experience includes anti-trust matters, defense of bad faith and punitive damages actions, the prosecution of actions against brokers and agents for negligence, and matters involving the rescission of life insurance policies based upon material misrepresentation and/or concealment of material facts.

Additionally, Frank has significant experience handling cases involving defamation, right of privacy, and First Amendment rights. 

Frank received his bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, the from University of Southern California, Los Angeles and his law degree from University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Los Angeles where he was Chairman of the Moot Court Honors Program. 

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Eight Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers

January 20, 2022

Super Lawyers has named eight Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers list.

Nine Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers

January 15, 2020

Super Lawyers has named nine Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers.

Education

  • University of Southern California Law School, J.D., 1976
  • University of Southern California, B.A., summa cum laude, 1973

Awards & Honors

Super Lawyer in Real Estate Law, Southern California Super Lawyers 2009-2020, 2022

AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell® 2016, 2017

Los Angeles Magazine Most Honored Professional 2015, 2016

Los Angeles Magazine Top Attorney In Southern California 2009-2014, 2016

Best Lawyers in America 2023-2025

  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of California

Member, American Bar Association

Member, California State Bar Association

Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association