Vincent Cohen

Vincent H. Cohen, Jr., focuses on high-stakes litigation on behalf of individuals and corporations. As an experienced trial lawyer and investigator, he represents clients in sensitive government and internal investigations, government enforcement matters, and complex civil and criminal litigation on a domestic and international scale.

Mr. Cohen is the former acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Prior to leading the largest U.S. Attorney’s Office in the nation, Mr. Cohen served as the Office’s Principal Assistant United States Attorney for five years.

During his tenure, he oversaw the investigation and prosecution of cases involving a wide variety of federal crimes, including terrorism, financial and health care fraud, homicide, public corruption, money laundering, and cyber-security.

He helped establish and expand the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Cyber Unit to prosecute cross border cyber-crimes such as cyber frauds committed against multinational corporations, and insider trading schemes that obtained confidential information through cyber breaches.

Mr. Cohen’s experience as a federal prosecutor also includes work on high-profile national security trials, leading an internal task force committed to prosecuting federal public corruption matters, and working in partnership with federal and local law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia.

While serving as acting U.S. Attorney, Mr. Cohen was appointed by Attorney General Loretta Lynch as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, a small group of U.S. Attorneys from across the country who provide advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management and operational issues.

Mr. Cohen joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1997 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal and Civil Divisions. Six years later, he joined a leading international law firm, where he advised clients on a broad range of complex legal issues. Before returning to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2010, Mr. Cohen served as a partner at a boutique law firm specializing in high-stakes litigation for individuals and corporations.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cohen has been consistently recognized for his professional accomplishments. Mr. Cohen is recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in the area of White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations for the District of Columbia. In 2018 he was named one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America by Lawdragon and was also listed as one of Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Black Lawyers.

In December 2017, Mr. Cohen was honored with a Diversity Leader Award by Profiles in Diversity Journal for his commitment to diversity. The award series honors companies and individuals who create, develop and promote programs that support diversity and inclusion. Mr. Cohen, who leads Dechert’s Black Affinity Group, has worked to promote and safeguard a comprehensive commitment to diversity since he joined Dechert.

Mr. Cohen has also received the Director’s Award from the United States Secret Service for his contribution and commitment to the principles of responsible law enforcement and Walker Memorial Baptist Church recognized him with the Public Service and Humanitarian Award for his work in ensuring equal justice for the people of Washington, D.C. through his selfless community involvement.

Mr. Cohen serves as an instructor teaching trial advocacy at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop and is a frequent lecturer at Syracuse University, Georgetown University and Harvard law schools.

He has served as General Counsel and remains an active member of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. (Greater Washington), an organization focused on improving the quality of life of minority youth in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area through programs focusing on health and wellness, economic empowerment, education, and mentoring.

Mr. Cohen recently spoke on the topic of combatting corruption to a contingent of Brazilian prosecutors through the State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Program on Transnational Crime and Anti-Corruption.

Mr. Cohen’s arrival to the firm was noted by many publications including Law360, The National Association of Former United States Attorneys, Legal Bisnow, National Law Journal, New York Daily News, The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, and JD Journal.

EDUCATION :

• Syracuse University, B.A., 1992
• Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., 1995

ADMISSIONS :

• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• Supreme Court of the United States

MEMBERSHIPS :

• Board of Governors, Washington Bar Association
• National Association of Former United States Attorneys
• Advisory Committee of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
• The Innocence Project Lawyers Committee
• Board Member, Syracuse University Chancellor’s Advisory Board