Resume
Clifford Blair Cohn
BUSINESS ADDRESS
Cohn & Associates
926 Public Ledger Building
620 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 545-9660
CBCOHN@CBCOHN.COM
EDUCATION
University of Miami Law School
Miami, Florida
J.D. 1977
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts
B.A. 1973
Haverford School
Haverford, Pennsylvania
1969
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Cohn & Associates
1994 to 2002, 2003 to Present
Clifford B. Cohn, a practicing attorney for more than 41 years, is the founder of Cohn & Associates in Philadelphia, a litigation firm representing individuals, professionals and businesses, with an emphasis on litigation involving lawyers including, legal malpractice, fee disputes, law firm break ups and disciplinary issues. For the last 27 years he has been listed as one of the Preeminent Lawyers in America and has been named as one of Philadelphia’s Top Rated Lawyers. He has testified as an expert witness and has lectured on issues involving legal malpractice and ethics.
Grayson & Goldin, P.C.
2002 to 2003
Partner in a full service civil litigation firm.
Publicker Industries, Inc./PubliCARD
Director, 1980 to 2006
Vice President/Director of Governmental Affairs, 1982 to 1984
Served as a member of the Board of Directors of this Publicly Traded Manufacturing Corporation during a major reorganization. Served on Corporate Planning Committee, Pension and Benefit Committee, as well as a number of ad hoc committees. In 1981, became Director of Governmental Affairs. Responsibilities included establishment and coordination of lobbying efforts for alcohol fuels on both state and federal levels. Responsibilities also included supervision of relationships with state and federal alcohol regulatory agencies, among them, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. As Director of Governmental Affairs, reporting responsibility was directly to CEO of the corporation. In 1982, promoted to Vice President. As Vice President, served as Publicker’s representative to the Management Committee of South Point Ethanol, a joint venture involving Publicker and Ashland Oil with sales in excess of $100,000,000 and 150 employees.
Glasstech, Inc.
1995 to 1997
Director, 2002 to present
Served as a member of the Board of Directors of Glasstech, Inc., a world leader in producing glass bending and tempering systems for numerous applications, including automotive, architectural and solar.
Leslie Fay Companies, Inc.
1997 to 2000
Director
Served on the Board of Directors and various board committees of this 50-year-old women’s fashion company.
Sassco Fashions, Ltd.
1997 to 2000
Director
Served on the Board of Directors of this newly created, publicly traded, women’s fashion company with sales in excess of $250,000,000.
Sernovitz & Cohn, P.C.
1992 to 1994
Partner of a litigation firm which specialized in the representation of individuals, professionals and businesses.
Private Practice
1985 to 1992
Sole Practitioner involved in a litigation intensive practice, including medical malpractice, personal injury and estate litigation. Representative cases tried to verdict include a “not guilty” in a death penalty homicide, civil rights cases, medical malpractice cases and contract disputes.
Cohn & Lieberman, Attorneys At Law
1983 to 1985
Partner in general practice law firm. Responsibilities included all phases of management, as well as trial and appellate litigation, which included complex civil and commercial litigation in state and federal courts. Representative cases include a substantial jury verdict in an eminent domain case, an equitable action under “The Sunshine Act” in Commonwealth Court and removal of executors in Orphan’s Court in multi-million dollar estate.
Cohn & Friedman, Attorneys At Law
1979 to 1982
Partner in general practice law firm specializing in litigation, with particular emphasis on criminal and personal injury matters. Representative cases included “not guilty” in a death penalty homicide and arbitration of civil cases, both state and federal.
Cohn & Orlowitz, Attorneys At Law
1978 to 1979
Partner in general practice law firm.
McAllister & Reif, Attorneys At Law
1977 to 1978
Associate in general practice law firm specializing in personal injury and commercial litigation.
Dade County Public Defenders (Florida)
1976 to 1977
As certified legal intern, had responsibility for major felony courtroom, including jury and non-jury trials, during the period, tried approximately 8 cases to a jury verdict and in excess of 40 non-jury trials.
Masonry Construction, Inc. (Bridgeport, PA)
1973 to 1974
Position as Estimator/Expeditor. Responsibilities included estimating, pricing, bidding masonry sub-contracts and supervision and cost analysis.
MEMBERSHIPS & HONORS
Admitted to Practice:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
State of Florida
United States District Court, Eastern District of PA
United States District Court, Middle District of PA
Third Circuit Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of the United States
Member:
Philadelphia Bar Association
Pennsylvania Association for Justice
2017
Distinguished Lawyer – The Expert Network
2016
Top 100 Lawyers – The National Trial Lawyers
2015 – Present
Nation’s Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2013
Top Rated Lawyers in Pennsylvania
2012 – Present
Top Rated Lawyers in Pennsylvania
2012 – Present
AVVO 10/10
2009 – Present
Judge Pro Tempore Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
2002-Present
Preeminent Lawyers in America
1990-Present
AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell
2009
Haverford School Athletic Hall of Fame
2008
Nominated Main Line Life Volunteer of the Year
2000
National Hemophilia Foundation Chapter Recognition Award
Dean’s List
Brandeis University
Dean’s List
University of Miami Law School
Community Activities
2009-2011
Co-Chair National Hemophilia Foundation Ethics Advisory Committee
2004-2011
Board of Directors National Hemophilia Foundation (NYC)
2010-2011
Treasurer, National Hemophilia Foundation (NYC)
2003-Present
Trustee, Neuman-Publicker Foundation
I sit as one of two board members on a 50 year old private foundation.
1995-2006
National Hemophilia Foundation,
Delaware Valley Chapter, Board of Directors
1997-2004
President, National Hemophilia Foundation, Delaware Valley Chapter
During my tenure The Chapter’s annual budget more than doubled to $250,000 and our fundraising more than tripled. We have also established an “endowment”. After three years we had set aside $300,000 toward our goal of $500,000.
2009-Present
Board of Directors Keystone Conservation Trust
2003-2012
Board of Governors Radnor Valley Country Club
Serve on the Board of a Country Club with over 300 members and a 7 figure annual budget.
2005-2012
Radnor Valley Country Club Chairman Golf Committee
Responsibilities included all aspects of the Golfing experience.
2001- 2007
Baseball Coach, Lower Merion Little League; Lower Merion Juniors; Narberth Babe Ruth.
1994-1997
Friends School, Haverford; Alumni Committee,
Development Committee
1985-1993
Art Matters, Board of Directors
Art matters was a nonprofit monthly newsmagazine dedicated to the Visual Arts in Philadelphia.
1988-1990
Art Matters, President
1986-1992
Logan Square Neighborhood Association,
Block Captain, Member; Zoning Committee
PRESENTATIONS
2016
LITIGATING THE LEGAL MALPRACTICE CASE PBI
2016
LEGAL MALPRACTICE: From the Plaintiff’s Prospective LPL
2014
LEGAL MALPRACTICE LPL
2014
LITIGATING THE LEGAL MALPRACTICE CASE PBI
2013
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW Legal malpractice
2002
Speaker; Ethics in the Law, Penn State University, Abington Campus
1994
Speaker; False Memory Syndrome Conference
1985
Speaker; Grand Rounds, Medical College of Pennsylvania