Cozen O'Connor

With 31 offices across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, Cozen O’Connor is a full-service law firm. The firm’s client list ranges from Fortune 500 and middle-market firms to startups and individuals.

Supersized

Cozen O’Connor was founded in 1970 by Stephen A. Cozen. The firm was originally staffed with four lawyers practicing insurance and commercial litigation. Today, the firm boasts more than 825 lawyers around the world with experience in dozens of practice areas.

From Hard Hats to Policy

Although the firm’s main practice areas are litigation, corporate and regulatory law, and government relations, Cozen O’Connor provides legal assistance in matters ranging from aviation, bankruptcy, cannabis, construction, employment, maritime, and products liability to real estate. 

The firm’s litigators pride themselves in being trial lawyers, and many Cozen O’Connor attorneys are members of the American College of Trial Lawyers. They advise on antitrust, appellate, commercial, construction, criminal, intellectual property, international arbitration, labor and employment, products liability, real estate, securities, and transportation matters. The firm relies on lean staffing in its litigation matters to boost cost efficiency and accountability.

Cozen O’Connor also has substantial experience in government work. The firm’s government and regulatory practice lawyers are experienced in advising clients about antitrust, trade regulation, consumer protection, privacy, energy, environmental, healthcare, and transportation issues. The firm’s lawyers collaborate with Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, a lobbying firm with more than 40 professionals.

The firm’s construction group advises a variety of clients, including architects, building/land owners, construction managers, contractors, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers. Firm attorneys assist with litigation matters arising from construction—including breach of contract, defects, payment disputes, and defective design—in addition to offering project development consulting.

Focus on Diversity

For two decades, the firm has sponsored a diversity and inclusion committee comprising attorneys and staff members from all offices. The Asian Attorney Resource Group, Black Attorney Resource Group, LGBTQ Attorney Resource Group, Hispanic/Latin Attorney Resource Group, Different Abilities Attorney Resource Group, and Veteran Attorney Resource Group have been established. In addition, the firm launched the Cozen O’Connor Women’s Initiative in the 1990s, and it formed a Steering Committee and subcommittees consisting of women from the firm’s offices. In October 2022, the firm earned Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification status. Cozen O’Connor has signed on for the Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification process for 2022-2023.

The Bernard Lee Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholars Program has been established by the firm for first-year law students. According to the firm, “Eligible candidates must be a member of a diverse population that historically has been underrepresented in law firms and [must] demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

• Representing all plaintiffs in the multi-district litigation, In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, seeking to hold accountable alleged material sponsors and supporters of the terrorist organization responsible for the attacks.
• Obtained a First Amendment victory before the Supreme Court of the United States in Manhattan Community Access Corporation v. Halleck, in which the Court clarified when private parties can be deemed "state actors".
• Developed a comprehensive state attorney general (AG) strategy for DraftKings, in an environment of scrutiny that threatened the fantasy sports industry, by resolving multiple state AG investigations and helping establish a regulatory framework for daily fantasy sports.
• Represented the founder/CEO, as a minority owner, and the management team of the popular streetwear brand Supreme in its acquisition by VF Corporation in a transaction valued at $2.1 billion.

• Named 2024 Best Law Firm for Women and Diversity by Seramount
• Named Law Firm of the Year Finalist by The Legal Intelligencer
• Firm’s Cannabis Practice Selected as Law360 Practice Group of the Year
• Named to America’s Most Loved Workplaces by Newsweek
• Named Pennsylvania Powerhouse Law Firm by Law 360
• Firm’s Commercial Litigation Department Selected as a 2023 Litigation Department of the Year Finalist by The American Lawyer