Mr. Cohen is a former adjunct professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he taught in the areas of negotiation and alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, he was a keynote speaker for the International Development Research Council, where he spoke on conflict resolution processes. He was also a panelist at the Piper Rudnick Real Estate Summit on the topic of financial restructuring and he was a regular guest lecturer at UCLA Extension, where he spoke on alternative conflict resolution processes. Mr. Cohen was on the Board of Directors and the Directors' Credit Committee for a public company bank. He was also a former member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the American Arbitration Association.

Prior to forming M.A. Cohen & Co., Mr. Cohen was a Principal at Cohen Financial Corporation where he provided conflict advisory services and commercial real estate transaction services. Before Cohen Financial Corporation, Mr. Cohen was President of Focus Financial Group, Inc., a company controlled by Westinghouse Credit Corporation, that provided conflict advisory services and real estate transaction services. While Mr. Cohen no longer practices law, Mr. Cohen previously practiced law in Chicago, Illinois where he was a founding partner with the law firm of Freeman & Cohen and an associate at the law firms of Jenner & Block and Rudnick & Wolfe (now DLA Piper).

Mr. Cohen earned his law degree, with honors, from Northwestern University School of Law. At Northwestern University, Mr. Cohen was the winner of the 1983 Julius H. Miner Moot Court Competition, recipient of the William Jennings Bryan Award for excellence in oral appellate advocacy, recipient of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for Best Speaker and represented Northwestern in the national Moot Court Tournament. Mr. Cohen received his B.A., with honors, from Claremont Men’s College (now Claremont McKenna College). He is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of California. 

In today's global society, individuals and companies spend billions of dollars annually on litigation–prosecuting claims and defending against them. In response, Michael A. Cohen, president of M.A. Cohen & Co. pioneered a Conflict Advisory Service that has resulted in the resolution of over $3.5 billion of disputes. To our knowledge, no other company in the United States provides this unique service.

M.A. Cohen & Co. acts as an advocate on behalf of our clients and devises strategies and orchestrates and participates in the implementation of these strategies to optimize client's interests in existing and/or potential disputes. In contrast to a mediator, who is neutral, M.A. Cohen & Co. acts as an advocate and engages in a form of "shuttle diplomacy" on behalf of our clients.

In facilitating optimal settlements on behalf of our clients with respect to over $3.5 billion of disputes, we have worked with prominent parties including Citigroup, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., Kemper Insurance Companies, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, Equitable Investment Services, Inc., Westinghouse Credit Corporation, LaSalle National Bank, First Bank and Trust Company of Illinois, Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company, Fruit of the Loom, Inc., Alcion Ventures, MACK Trucks, Inc. and the Lone Star Opportunity Fund. In each matter, we worked synergistically and in a complementary fashion with our clients and with their sophisticated professionals.

This unique process has proven to be effective in resolving complex disputes when other methods have failed. 

How It Works

M.A. Cohen & Co. is retained by businesses and individuals to facilitate the optimal resolution of commercial disputes or litigation. Although Michael A. Cohen was a practicing attorney, he no longer practices law. Neither M.A. Cohen & Co. nor Michael A. Cohen act as legal counsel or provide legal advice at any time. Mr. Cohen does not act as a mediator or an arbitrator (who are jointly retained by the parties). Instead, M.A. Cohen & Co. is retained by one party to a dispute as their Conflict Advisor.

In the role of Conflict Advisor, we devise, orchestrate and participate in the implementation of strategies to facilitate an optimal and expeditious resolution of the dispute on our client's behalf. We work in conjunction with our client's legal counsel. Unlike the legal counsel, however, who is typically prohibited from communicating with the opposition except through the opposition's counsel, Mr. Cohen, after obtaining the consent of the opposing party and/or their counsel, communicates directly with the principals of the opposition.

Why It Works

The litigation process is a long, expensive one that carries with it a great deal of risk. As a result, litigation is rarely satisfactory to any of the parties, regardless of the outcome. In contrast, M.A. Cohen & Co.'s Conflict Advisory Service provides a process that allows for thoughtful, substantive and constructive dialogue. This process has consistently been helpful in facilitating the resolution of disputes.

The Results

Mr. Cohen has facilitated the resolution of over $3.5 billion of disputes. Each resolution has enabled our clients to avoid or reduce the future costs, risks and uncertainty associated with litigation. We invite you to browse the list of Notable Disputes Resolved to see examples of matters where our process was proven to be effective.

The Reviews

While M.A. Cohen & Co. works to obtain the optimal resolution of disputes for clients, we have found that our clients as well as their opponents have ultimately appreciated our services when disputes that seemed irreconcilable were resolved. Our clients also value our efforts because they often result in significant savings–in both time and money. Similarly, the attorneys with whom we have worked have appreciated our involvement because we work with, not against, them and assist in achieving results that are in their clients' best interests. The fact that M.A. Cohen & Co.'s references include not only our clients and their lawyers but also their opponents further evidences the effectiveness of this unique process.

M.A. Cohen & Co. provides clients with a full array of real estate advisory services. We arrange acquisition, refinance and construction financing. We assist clients in obtaining senior debt, mezzanine loans as well as joint venture equity and highly leveraged participating debt and/or preferred equity. We also facilitate the sale of real estate and loans secured by real estate. We base each and every transaction upon our thorough and thoughtful understanding of each client’s specific needs and goals.

Our Services

In providing debt and equity placement, we assist in many phases of our clients’ real estate transactions:

- We review information on past operating performance

- We review information on projections for future performance

- We match the property economics and our clients’ objectives with potential lenders whose current financing programs meet the objectives

- We present information to the appropriate lenders and/or potential investors

- We provide our clients with our recommendations

Once the appropriate lender is selected for the transaction, M.A. Cohen & Co. assists in the negotiation of the business terms of the application. We also assist our clients in the negotiation of the business terms of the loan commitment and the facilitation of the closing of the loan.

Our Experience

We have experience arranging transactions for many types of real estate including:

- Office buildings                    

- Retail properties

- Hotels and resorts             

- Timeshare resorts

- Apartment projects           

- Industrial and warehouse properties

- Mixed use properties         

- Vacant land

M.A. Cohen & Co. is not a law firm and Michael A. Cohen is not a practicing lawyer. Neither M.A. Cohen & Co. nor Mr. Cohen act as legal counsel at any time. Neither M.A. Cohen & Co. nor Mr. Cohen provide legal representation, legal advice, or render legal opinions at any time.

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