Shareholder Jeffrey A. Cohen has been named one of NJBiz's 2026 Leaders in Law in the Litigation Category.
This program honors legal professionals – lawyers and general counsels – whose dedication to their occupation and to their communities is outstanding. Following an open nomination period, the 60 honorees were chosen by a panel of independent judges with experience in the justice system.
Cohen is a member of the firm's Litigation & Disputes and Intellectual Property Departments, lead of the Sports Law Industry Group, and member of the firm’s Board of Directors.
He has spent more than 25 years serving as a trusted advisor to his clients. Cohen counsels clients in complex litigation disputes and provides proactive guidance to businesses to address potential issues even before they reach litigation. He is especially skilled in anticipating, addressing, and resolving the day-to-day challenges and pragmatic decisions business owners and executives face in today’s complex business landscape. Jeff works closely with them to ensure their partnerships are intact as well as identify potential risks and pitfalls that may occur during the business life cycle.
Cohen manages a variety of matters related to sports law issues, antitrust disputes, commercial contracts, shareholder and partnership agreements, trademarks, copyrights, patents (including Hatch-Waxman), insurance coverage, franchise disputes, and commercial construction.
As part of the NJBiz Leaders in Law nomination process, honorees provided their bios and responded to questions about their most significant contributions to their company’s success, a career challenge they’ve overcome, and their involvement in the community.
What do you consider to be your greatest contribution to your company’s/client's success?
My greatest contribution to my clients’ success is helping them navigate high-stakes legal challenges in a way that preserves not just their businesses, but the people and livelihoods behind them. While I represent companies of all sizes, including Fortune 500 organizations, I am most proud of my work with small and mid-sized, often family owned businesses. Several clients have come to me after facing significant litigation and shared that a favorable resolution allowed them to keep employees working, stabilize their operations, and, in some cases, retire or pursue long-delayed personal and family goals. One client told me that without our work together, they would have been forced to close their business rather than plan for retirement. Knowing that my counsel can protect a business, sustain jobs, and give clients the freedom to focus on their families is the most meaningful measure of success for me.
Describe a career challenge you overcame and the outcome.
One of the most significant career challenges I overcame was leading a small legal team in a complex, multi-year antitrust and intellectual property litigation matter against a large coalition of opposing counsel. The matter spanned multiple jurisdictions and involved high stakes for a major corporate client that intentionally chose a lean trial team. We faced approximately a dozen attorneys from three law firms, including highly decorated trial counsel, and litigated the case for nearly five years. The challenge was compounded by trying the case in an unfamiliar court, before a local jury, and spending an extended period away from home. As an out-of-state lawyer, earning the jury’s trust and overcoming the perception of being an outsider was critical. Through careful preparation, clear storytelling, and credibility with both the court and jury, we prevailed at trial, successfully defended the judgment at the Circuit Court of Appeals, and ultimately had the opposing party’s petition for certiorari denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. The outcome reinforced the value of strategic focus, resilience, and the ability to lead effectively under sustained pressure.
What types of charities, community involvement, or pro bono work are you a part of?
I am actively involved with Covenant House, an organization dedicated to supporting homeless and at-risk youth. My involvement began after hosting the local head of Covenant House, a former NFL player, on my sports talk radio show to help promote the program. Hearing the stories of the young people they serve and meeting both the residents and staff made the challenges they face very real to me. What resonated most was the realization of how small acts of support can have a profound impact, especially when basic needs like shelter and safety are not guaranteed. Since then, I have been deeply engaged in supporting Covenant House, including participating in their annual “Sleep Out” initiative seven of the last ten years and helping raise more than $50,000 for the organization. I have also been honored by Covenant House for my ongoing commitment. This work is meaningful to me because it directly supports vulnerable young people and creates lasting opportunities for stability and hope.
