David Cohen – Partner

David J Cohen leads the Criminal Defense Division of the law firm, which was started with a prosecutor’s knowledge of the criminal justice system and a defense attorney’s zeal to protect the accused.

After graduating from Boston University School of Law in 1994, David began his career as a prosecutor in Brooklyn, New York.  Working as a prosecutor, he witnessed first hand the terrible injustices in the criminal justice system and made it his mission to help those accused of crimes.  In 1997, he left his prosecutor’s position to become a defense attorney in Manhattan.

For nearly ten years prior to starting Cohen and Forman, LLP, Mr. Cohen represented the indigent in crimes ranging from simple misdemeanors to murder.  Mr. Cohen has been extremely successful trying cases; freeing numerous clients from long periods of incarceration after juries have acquitted them of all charges.  Additionally, he has convinced judges to dismiss cases after the District Attorney’s Office has filed improper indictments.  Having lived, worked and taught at the University level in New York City for the last fifteen years there is not a crime or a client Mr. Cohen has not seen.  He has represented thousands of citizens and hundreds of non-citizens in both State and Federal court.  Whether you are charged with a crime or are being investigated by NYPD, FBI or some other governmental agency you can be assured that Mr. Cohen will have answers to your questions and the experience to guide you through the process.

David J Cohen is admitted to practice in the Southern and Eastern Federal District Courts in New York and is a member of New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and American Immigration Lawyers Association, (AILA).

Cory Forman is a partner and heads the firm’s Immigration Law Department. Prior to starting Cohen & Forman, LLP, Mr. Forman worked as a staff attorney in the Legal Aid Society’s New York County Criminal Defense Division.  While there, he represented thousands of people accused of crimes, many of whom were not citizens of the United States.  Because of his extensive representation of non-citizens accused of crimes Mr. Forman focused much of his energy on the complex world of United States Immigration law. Since his time at the Legal Aid Society he has expanded his practice to include representing non-citizens who want to live and work in the United States as well as defending non citizens in danger of being deported from the United States.

Cory Forman is a native New Yorker and a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law, where he was the recipient of the Judge Edward J. Hart Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Trial Advocacy.  He is currently a member of a number of associations dedicated to a competent, effective and ethical representation of non-citizens, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association, (“AILA”), the National Immigration Project and the Suffolk County Bar Association’s Immigration Law Committee.

Ben, a recent graduate of Brooklyn Law School, began working for Cohen & Forman as an intern while attending law school in October of 2009. During his time at the law firm, Ben has successfully researched and coauthored court filings that have lead to felony charges being dismissed against clients of the law firm. His research and interpersonal skills have been an asset to the firm and our clients since his first day here.

Focusing his energy on protecting individual rights and giving a voice to the Constitution in the face of the awesome power of government, Ben has committed himself to defending clients with diligence, creativity and zeal.

A graduate of Skidmore College in New York and native of Long Island, as well as a professional tennis instructor in East Hampton, Ben has been making Brooklyn his home for years.   

Carol is the Office Manager at Cohen & Forman, LLP. Having been with the firm since January 2009, Carol is intimately acquainted with the majority of our clients and is the partner’s right hand in running the business. A native of Brazil, Carol moved to the United States on her own at age 18 and understands first hand the difficulties immigrants face when moving to another country. Carol received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California Berkeley, a Master’s of Arts in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has formerly interned with the National Council on Crime and Delinquency and is currently a volunteer at a suicide prevention hot line. Carol speaks Portuguese fluently.

Luisa is a Legal Assistant at Cohen & Forman, LLP. Luisa rejoined Cohen & Forman, LLP in August 2010, having previously worked with the firm in the summers of 2008 and 2009. Luisa received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in 2007. During her undergraduate academic career, she studied at the London School of Economics and participated in a one-month study-abroad program in Dakar, Senegal.  Upon graduation, Luisa moved to France, where she was simultaneously teaching English at the pre-college and high school level, and playing professional soccer for Olympique Lyonnais.   Having lived and worked abroad, Luisa has experienced the difficulties that immigrants encounter in a foreign country, which enables her to approach each client with patience and sincere understanding.  As a result of her academic and international experiences, she has a global perspective and a keen interest in Immigration law.  Luisa is fluent in French.