The Law Office of Attorney Edward R. Shaw is located in Brainerd, Minnesota and has been serving the Brainerd Lakes Area and surrounding counties with top quality legal services since 1996.

Proudly taking criminal, divorce & family, and accident & injury cases out of Brainerd, Minnesota and the surrounding areas.

Before I became a lawyer, I served my country in the United States Air Force, and later, the Department of Defense as a Fire Captain and Paramedic—with 32 years of service on the front lines. There is no way to learn how to lead under pressure in a classroom. I spent my career in the midst of unmitigated, rapidly evolving crises—exchanging chaos for order, panic for calm, and taking decisive action when every second mattered. Today, I bring 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, we say: “Firefighters aren’t molded like clay—they’re hammered like brass.” That’s the imprint I carry and the experience I bring to every case I handle at Cotter Law. I focus on personal injury and civil rights litigation, guided by compassion, duty, and an unyielding pursuit of justice. Whether it’s a catastrophic injury, a civil rights violation by police, or government negligence, I work to hold powerful institutions accountable and restore what’s been taken from my clients. Like a master watchmaker, I understand the intricate mechanisms of each case—analyzing every component, applying strategic precision, and crafting the strongest path to justice. Every fact matters. Every move counts. At Cotter Law, I promise honesty, hard work, and a laser focus on what matters: achieving justice for those I serve. I represent real people—people who have been hurt, silenced, or left behind. I show up. I speak plainly. And I face complex problems with confidence and clarity. If you’re ready to take action, I’m ready to lead—let’s talk.