In Memoriam of W. Edgar Jessup, Jr., Founding Partner
It is with a great deal of sadness the firm announces the passing of one of its founding partners, W. Edgar Jessup, Jr. Ed passed on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, after a full and remarkable life.
Ed received his J.D. from the University of Southern California in 1949, and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Order of the Coif . While at USC, he served on the Editorial Board of the, Southern California Law Review. He attended Brown University earning a B.S., magna cum laude, in 1943, and was a member of Tau Beta Pi. Ed served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Atlantic and Pacific theaters, and resigned as a Lieutenant, USNR.
In October 1953, Ed Jessup, Leonard Cohen, and John W. Ervin founded Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP. The firm has experienced steady growth and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023. Honored as the oldest law firm in Beverly Hills, Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of its founders and the continued success of its legal practice.
He is co-author of Recapture of Depreciation Under IRC 1245 and author of Law and Specifications for Engineers and Scientists, Prentice-Hall. He spoke at the University of Southern California Tax Institutes and for the California Continuing Education of the Bar programs. Ed was a lecturer at the University of Southern California Law Center, in Business Taxation in 1957, 1959‑1972, 1977‑1978, and in Engineering Law from 1950‑1953.
As a distinguished member of the legal community, Ed played a pivotal role in shaping the associations and organizations of which he was a part. His active involvement extended to key institutions such as the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the American Judicature Society.
Ed's commitment to legal scholarship is evident through his service on the Editorial Board of the Southern California Law Review at the University of Southern California Law Center and served as the President of the Brown University Club of Southern California.
Furthermore, Ed contributed to the arts as an Advisory Director to the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra Association and offered his guidance to the maritime community as an Advisory Director at the California Yacht Club. Through his multifaceted contributions, Ed has not only elevated the legal profession but has also enriched the communities he served, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and civic responsibility.
ECJ Honored with 60th Anniversary Proclamation from Beverly Hills City Council
On Tuesday, November 19, 2013, the Beverly Hills City Council presented Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP with a proclamation honoring and celebrating its 60th anniversary. ECJ Partners W. Edgar Jessup, Jr., Allan Cooper, Lee Silver, and Gary Freedman were present to receive the proclamation on behalf of ECJ.
For more coverage about this honor, please click here.
PDF proclamation
Los Angeles Dodgers Honors Ed Jessup for Service in the Navy (2019)
