Adam P. Cohen

Adam Cohen is an aggressive, hands-on litigator focusing on corporate disputes and general commercial litigation, good government litigation, white collar defense, government and internal investigations, and compliance. He is entrusted by a wide range of clients – global corporations, corporate executives, private companies, religious and nonprofit institutions, community groups, and individuals alike – to handle highly sensitive and complex matters.  Adam is nationally recognized by independent organizations, including being listed on Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America in three categories (litigation, white collar, and investigations), and as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation.

Adam has emerged as a premier, go-to lawyer for challenging governmental action such as rulemaking, legislation, and other governmental decisions and determinations.  Clients rely on him when the stakes are highest, and Adam has achieved numerous victories—including securing emergency TROs and preliminary injunctions—to block governmental action that threatened devastating consequences for his clients.

Adam is known for his creative approach to litigation, and has on several occasions obtained rulings that make new law or find new narrow exceptions to existing law.  Clients praise Adam for his ability to understand their business and their long-term strategic objectives and limitations, focusing on each client’s unique circumstances when making litigation decisions and recommendations.  Adam is also known for working closely and collaboratively with other specialists, such as government relations and press professionals, to secure clients’ goals for the long-term; and for his ability to find the strength in a client’s position and use it to the client’s advantage, whether in court or at the settlement table.

In his corporate disputes and commercial litigation practice, Adam has achieved positive outcomes in both federal and state court, as well as out-of-court settlements in significant high-stakes litigation of claims. These matters range from antitrust to real estate disputes, theft of trade secrets, civil rights, employment matters, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and other common law claims.  Adam also has represented defendants in multi-district litigations (MDL), successfully navigating the complexity and achieving favorable outcomes.

As part of his white collar and internal investigations practice, he represents both companies and corporate executives in antitrust, fraud, and public corruption contexts, as well as in sensitive matters such as theft of trade secrets or investigations with political implications. He also defends clients facing criminal charges or sentencing.

Adam has substantial experience leading both large and small investigations. He has conducted thorough and meticulous multi-jurisdiction investigations for some of the world’s largest health care, auto parts, reinsurance, banking, and technology companies. Adam skillfully and effectively identifies key evidence, and elicits corroboration from employees and other witnesses, while minimizing disruption to business operations.

Adam has compiled an extensive and impressive record in antitrust enforcement matters. He has defended clients and obtained favorable results – such as grants of leniency, decisions not to prosecute, or radically reduced settlements – in numerous criminal and regulatory investigations by global competition enforcement agencies such as the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition, and Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), among others.

Adam is often asked to lead or participate in co-counsel, joint-defense, or common-interest representations.  Corporate clients select Adam to serve as global coordinating counsel because of his creativity, leadership, even temperament, and ability to work well with firms of all sizes and from all cultures.  To that end, Adam has led or collaborated with teams of lawyers around the world, often simultaneously, from Brazil to South Korea, South Africa, Europe, and North America.  When serving as individual counsel alongside an employer’s outside counsel, Adam maintains a congenial and cooperative approach without sacrificing tenacity and zealous advocacy for his client, which has earned him consistent praise from the corporations that appoint him.

Strongly committed to public interest law, Adam develops and executes litigation strategies to hold the government accountable for decisions that adversely impact New Yorkers. He was one of the lead lawyers responsible for pursuing the landmark legal challenge to New York City schools that led to an overhaul of bullying protocols and the implementation of new protections for students.

Before joining WMHW, Adam practiced law for more than seven years in the award-winning litigation department of a large global law firm. He previously served as chief of staff for a member of Congress and as a senior member of a New York City mayoral campaign.

Adam volunteers as a mentor for middle school students through a program run by the Nassau County Bar Association and serves on the board of several non-profit charitable organizations.