Richard J. Cohen

Richard Cohen, a founding partner of Goldberg Segalla, has been the firm’s managing partner since its inception and has led its dynamic growth from a team of seven attorneys into one of the largest law firms headquartered in the United States. Rick oversees all of the firm’s operations across its more than 20-office footprint, and is responsible for developing and implementing the firm’s strategic direction, driving its geographic expansion, and cultivating leadership within the firm and throughout the greater business community. He plays a primary, active role in the recruitment of all lawyers and administrative leaders firm-wide, equipping Team GS with high-caliber professionals who embody the firm’s core values of collaboration, team-orientation, and extraordinary service.

Rick has served as chair of the firm’s Management and Professional Liability Practice Group and its Global Insurance Services Practice Group, which is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. He is also a member of the firm’s Sports and Entertainment Practice Group. An AV-rated trial lawyer with 30 years of experience, Rick’s practice primarily involves sophisticated insurance coverage and bad faith matters, reinsurance, and D&O and E&O litigation. He is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, and North Carolina, including the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits. He is also admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, and is a registered foreign lawyer in the United Kingdom. Rick splits his time between the firm’s Manhattan and Buffalo offices.

Rick is very well published, and has lectured across the country and in Canada on a wide range of topics involving insurance coverage, bad faith, reinsurance, E&O and D&O issues, and sports law issues. Among other things, he has several times authored the annual Survey of New York Insurance Law published in the Syracuse University Law Review. He has also written for both Mealey’s and Appleman’s, including the chapter “Calculating the Amount of Coverage” in New Appleman on Insurance 3d Edition.

Rick is the former national co-chair of the Insurance Company Relations Subcommittee of the 22,000-member Defense Research Institute (DRI), and is the former chair of the National Committee for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). He was a CPCU instructor and lecturer for well over a decade. He has on multiple occasions been selected for New York Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and the Legal Elite of Western New York, and is one of a select group of lawyers in the United States inducted into the invitation-only American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel. Rick has also been named by Business First as among the most influential leaders in Western New York.

Honors & Awards

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent

Best Lawyers in America, Insurance Law, 2014-20

Business First‘s Power 250, 2016-19

Business First‘s Legal Elite of Western New York; Legal Leader, 2013-19

Business First‘s C-Level Executive Award, 2017

Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation, American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2014

Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law, American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2013

Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition

Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2007-19

Business First‘s Legal Elite of Western New York (Insurance)

Mr. Cohen is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales, and an attorney at law, admitted in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, and North Carolina, U.S.A.

Community Involvement

•Mathewson-McCarthy Babe Ruth Youth Baseball League (Amherst, New York): Board of Directors, 2005-06
•Roswell Park Alliance Board, 1996-2001
•Executive Committee, 1999-2001
•Corporate Committee: Co-Chair, 1996-2001
•CPCU and AIC Programs: Instructor, 2000-03

Publications & Events

Publications

•Interviewed in Berbay Marketing and PR’s podcast, Law Firm Marketing Catalyst, “ Getting to the Finish Line: Overcoming Rebranding Challenges”
•Rick Cohen Highlighted in “ Why This Am Law Firm Kept Partners in the Dark on a Branding Overhaul, ” New York Law Journal, June 20, 2019
•Profiled in “ Law Firm Leaders: Goldberg Segalla’s Richard Cohen, ” Law360, March 27, 2019
•Quoted in “ What Drove Firms with the Most New Lateral Partners in 2018, ” Law360, February 22, 2019
•Profiled in “ Growing Right: Goldberg Segalla Expands When Opportunity Knocks, ” Buffalo Business First, February 19, 2019
•Quoted in “ Communicating Staffing Changes and Finding Talent in Law Firms: Comings and Goings, ” National Law Review, February 5, 2019
•Featured in “ Goldberg Segalla’s Growth Quick Yet Methodical, ” Buffalo Law Journal, December 27, 2016
•Co-Author, “Litigating and Protecting the Insurance Claim,” Preparing for and Trying the Civil Lawsuit, 2d Ed. , 2016 Rev., New York State Bar Association
•Quoted in “ Partnership Is the ‘Holy Grail’ for Law Firm Associates, ” Buffalo Law Journal, February 1, 2016
•Quoted in “ Legal Presence Goes Beyond WNY Borders, ” Buffalo Law Journal, March 16, 2015
•Featured in “New Jersey Powerhouse: Goldberg Segalla LLP,” June 24, 2014
•Quoted in “The Site of Two Growth-Minded Law Firms,” Buffalo Law Journal, June 3, 2014
•Quoted in “A Paradigm Shift,” Intelligent Insurer Monte Carlo Edition, September 2013
•Co-Author, “Asset Managers Do Not Owe Fiduciary Duty to Note Holders,” Chartis Legal Insights, Fall 2012
•Author, “Calculating the Amount of Coverage,” New Appleman on Insurance 3d Edition, Chapter 47, LexisNexis, Spring 2011
•Co-Author, “Topps Turns the Lights Out on Cool Papa Bell,” NYSBA Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Summer 2008
•Co-Author, “Insured’s Failure to Provide Any Notice of Claim When So Required for Coverage Under the Policy,” Mealey’s Expert Commentaries, May 2008
•Co-Author, “The Rangers’ Gloves are Off in a Digital Tussle with the NHL,” NYSBA Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Spring 2008; Entertainment and Sports Lawyer, Winter 2008
•Author, “Cedant’s Latitude in Allocating its Defense and Indemnity Obligation Amongst Policies to be Reinsured: The Follow the Settlements Doctrine Examined,” Mealey’s Expert Commentaries, March 2008
•Co-Author, “Conflict of Laws in the United States,” Canadian Defence Lawyers’ National Insurance Coverage Symposium, Toronto, ON, February 2008
•Co-Author, Life Insurance Chapter for the Renowned Insurance Treatise, New Appleman’s Insurance Law Practice Guide, Matthew Bender & Co., LexisNexis Group, 2008
•Co-Author, “When is an Indemnity Agreement Not an Insured Contract? - Contractual Contribution and the Construction Contract Conundrum,” DRI, The Voice, February 2007
•Co-Author, “Chapter - Discovery in Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Disputes,” Insurance Law Practice, New York State Bar Association (2006 Edition)
•Co-Author, “Construction Site Personal Injury Litigation - New York Law Sections 200, 240(1), 241(6),” New York State Bar Association publication, 2006
•Co-Author, “Discovery and Bad Faith Cases,” Insurance Law Practice, Second Edition, New York State Bar Association, 2005
•Contributing Author, Preparing for and Trying the Civil Lawsuit, 2d Ed., 2004 Rev., New York State Bar Association

•Co-Author, “Bad Faith - Baloney or Real Beef? (The Lurking Dangers of Bad Faith),” Canadian Defence Lawyers Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON, 2004
•Author, “Fishing at Chelsea Piers: Discovery in Coverage and Bad Faith Cases,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, New York, NY, 2004
•Co-Author, “2000-2001 Survey of New York Insurance Law,” 52 SYR L. Rev. 449, 2002
•Contributing Author, “Law and Practice of Insurance Coverage Litigation,” ABA Tort and Insurance Practice Section, 2002
•Co-Author, “The Special Investigation Unit - Determining Fraud Proactively,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Seminar, New York, NY, 2002
•Co-Author and Editor, “1999-2000 Survey of New York Insurance Law,” 51 SYR L. Rev. 563, 2001
•Co-Author, “New Trends in Declaratory Judgment Actions,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, IL, 2001
•Co-Author, “The Defense Rests . . . But on Whose Shoulders?” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, San Francisco, CA, 2000
•Contributing Author, “Law and Practice of Insurance Coverage Litigation,” Choice of Law, West Publications, 2000
•Author, “Shifting the Risk: Anti-subrogation and Additional Insureds,” DRI Construction, Surety, and Insurance Seminar, Phoenix, AZ, 1999
•Co-Author, “Insurance Coverage Concerns for the Millennium, The Defense Practitioner’s Guide to the Year 2000 Problem,” DRI Library Series, 1999
•Author, “Allocation of Defense Costs,” Understanding Allocation, DRI Library Series, 1999
•Co-Author, “The Innocent Co-Insured: Coverage under the Homeowners Policy,” DRI For The Defense, 1999
•Co-Author, “Coverage Minefield or Walk in the Park?,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Seminar, San Francisco, CA, 1999
•Author, “Controlling the Defense,” DRI Excess and Reinsurance Seminar, New Orleans, LA, 1999
•Author, “The Insured’s Selection of Defense Counsel,” DRI, Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, San Francisco, CA, 1998
•Co-Author, “Direct Actions - Current Developments,” Insurance Litigation Reporter, 1998
•Co-Author, “Anti-Subrogation, Additional Insureds and Other Related Issues,” Construction-Related Insurance Coverage Issues, DRI Annual Monograph, 1997
•Co-Author, “Loading and Unloading - The ‘Walton Rule’ (updated),” New York Department of Insurance Bulletin, 1997
•Co-Author, “The Anti-Subrogation Rule,” TIPS Journal, 1997
•Co-Author, “Direct Actions: Current Developments (a national perspective),” DRI, Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, New York, NY, 1997
•Co-Author, “A Tactical Approach to Declaratory Judgment Actions,” DRI For The Defense, 1996
•Co-Author, “Loading and Unloading - The ‘Walton Rule,'” New York State No-Fault/SUM Arbitration Reporter, 1996
•Co-Author, “The Insured’s Entitlement to Select Defense Counsel and the Retention and Use of Coverage Counsel,” DRI, Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, New York, NY, 1996
•Co-Author, “Contractual Liability Claims and Additional Insureds,” DRI, Insurance Conference, San Francisco, CA, 1995
•Co-Author, “Insurance Coverage for Emotional Distress Claims,” DRI, Insurance Claims Supervisors National Conference, Seattle, WA, 1994
•Co-Author and Editor, “1993-1994 Survey of New York Insurance Law,” SYR L. Rev., 1994
•Co-Author, “Effectively Preparing Claims Supervisors For Their Deposition and Trial Testimony,” DRI, Insurance Claims Supervisors National Conference, Boston, MA, 1993
•Co-Author, “Can The Puzzle Be Solved: Are Punitive Damages Awardable In New York For First-Party Bad Faith?,” 44 SYR L. Rev. 723, 1993

Presentations

•Co-Presenter, “Business of Law,” DRI Managing Partners and Law Firm Leaders Conference, Chicago, IL, September 7, 2018
•Presenter, “Emerging Issues,” CPCU Society Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., September 8-11, 2012
•Presenter, “The Additional Insured Illusion,” CPCU Society Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., September 8-11, 2012
•Presenter, “Emerging Issues - Information and Insight You Can Bet On!,” CPCU Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, September 2011
•Presenter, “Don’t Roll the Dice in Managing Agent and Broker E&O Exposures and Claims - The Lessons You Didn’t Learn in E&O Class,” CPCU Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, September 2011
•Presenter, “Hypothetically Speaking-Where is the Coverage?”, DRI Construction Law Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, October 2010
•Presenter, “24 Ways to Avoid Getting into Trouble - Best Practices for Managing Agent and Broker E&O Exposures and Claims,” CPCU Society Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, September 2010
•Presenter, “Emerging Issues for Today’s Insurance Professional,” CPCU Society Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, September 2010
•Presenter, “A Close Examination of the Wasa v. Lexington Decision and its Impact on the Reinsurance Market Moving Forward,” CPCU Society’s Reinsurance Symposium in Philadelphia, PA, March 2010
•Presenter, “Electronic Discovery - Don’t Let it Zap You,” CPCU Society Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, September 2009
•Presenter, “Coverage Evaluations and Declaratory Judgment Actions,” CPCU Society Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, September 2009
•Presenter, “Emerging Issues for Today’s Insurance Professional,” CPCU Society Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, September 2009
•Presenter, “Emerging Challenges of Electronically Stored Information and E-Discovery,” CPCU Society Webinar, May 2009
•Presenter, “Emerging Developments in Insurance Coverages,” CPCU Society Webinar, January 2009
•Presenter, “Coverage Evaluations and Declaratory Judgment Actions, A Practical Tactical Approach,” CPCU Society Workshop, June 2008; CPCU Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 2008
•Presenter, “The Duty to Defend, What Is It and What Does It Really Mean?,” CPCU Society Workshop, Philadelphia, PA, June 2008
•Presenter, “Conflict of Laws in the United States,” Canadian Defence Lawyers’ National Insurance Coverage Symposium, Toronto, ON, February 2008
•Presenter, “Fishing at Chelsea Piers: Discovery in Coverage and Bad Faith Cases,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, New York, NY, 2004
•Presenter, “Bad Faith - Baloney or Real Beef? (The Lurking Dangers of Bad Faith),” Canadian Defence Lawyers Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON, 2004
•Presenter, “The Special Investigation Unit - Determining Fraud Proactively,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Seminar, New York, NY, 2002
•Presenter, “New Trends in Declaratory Judgment Actions,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, IL, 2001
•Co-Presenter, “The Defense Rests . . . But on Whose Shoulders?” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, San Francisco, CA, 2000
•Co-Presenter, “Coverage Minefield or Walk in the Park?,” DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Seminar, San Francisco, CA, 1999
•Presenter, “Controlling the Defense,” DRI Excess and Reinsurance Seminar, New Orleans, LA, 1999
•Presenter, “The Insured’s Selection of Defense Counsel,” DRI, Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, San Francisco, CA, 1998

Recent Insights

Eric Fitzgerald Jumps to Goldberg Segalla, The Legal Intelligencer

January 23, 2020

Rick Cohen Interviewed in Law Firm Marketing Catalyst Podcast

September 25, 2019

Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Honored in 2019 Legal Elite of Western New York

September 23, 2019

Sustained, Organic Growth: Goldberg Segalla 2019 Hiring Highlighted in Law360

September 3, 2019

The Best Lawyers in America 2020 Names Thomas P. Bernier and Patrick B. Naylon Lawyers of the Year, Lists 37 Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Nationwide

August 15, 2019

Super Lawyers Honors Nearly Two-Thirds of Goldberg Segalla’s Upstate New York Attorneys

August 13, 2019