Disgraced entrepreneur Brad Cooper pleaded not guilty yesterday to 13 criminal charges relating to the fall of HIH Insurance.

In a NSW Supreme Court trial expected to last four weeks, he faces six counts of corruptly giving a cash benefit to influence an agent of HIH Insurance (accountant Bill Howard), and seven charges of publishing a false or misleading statement with intent to obtain financial advantage.

Mr Cooper wanted the six bribery-related charges to be heard separately from the seven charges related to publishing a false or misleading statement, but Justice Bruce James last week denied the request.

Former FAI executives Timothy Mainprize, Daniel Wilkie and Stephen Burroughs, who have been charged with failing to act honestly in the exercise of their powers and providing false and misleading information, will stand trial early next month.