Richard B. Cohen

Partner | Litigation

About

Mr. Cohen has litigated and arbitrated complex corporate, commercial, insurance, and employment disputes for more than 40 years, and is a trusted advisor to business owners and in-house counsel both in the United States and internationally. His clients have included Fortune 100 companies, domestic and foreign commercial and investment banks, Pacific-rim corporations and real estate development companies, as well as start-up businesses throughout the United States.


Practices

  • Appellate

  • Civil Pretrial and Trial Services

  • Employment and Labor

  • Litigation and Risk Management

  • Products Liability Litigation and Counseling

  • Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants

Admissions

  • New York

  • U.S. Supreme Court

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2d Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

  • United States Court of International Trade


Education

  • New York Law School; J.D., Cum Laude

  • Law Review Associate Editor

  • Harpur College of the State University of New York at Binghamton

Experience

  • FisherBroyles, LLP

  • Fox Rothschild LLP

  • Spengler Carlson

Presentations and Teaching Experience

  • Presenter, “Employment Topics Every Restaurant Company Should Consider Before 2020″, Industry Day for Fall 2019 Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, (October. 28, 2019)

  • Panelist, “The Future of HR is Today!”, EEOC Training Institute, Philadelphia, PA (August 20, 2019)

  • Panelist, “Significant Developments in the Workers Rights Landscape,” 29th Annual General Counsel Conference, New York, NY (September 27, 2017)

  • Panelist, “Creating S.M.A.R.T. Litigation Strategies,” Global Litigation Conference and Exhibition, New York, NY (October 1-2, 2014)

  • Speaker, “Race, Gender, Disabilities: What You Need To Know To Avoid Being Sued in the Workplace,” Webinar (May 15, 2014)

  • Speaker, “Employment Discrimination Webinar,” The Society for Diversity (September 18, 2013)

  • Moderator, “Hot Topics in Labor and Employment and Immigration,” New York, NY (March 14, 2012)

  • Speaker, “Negotiating Your First Contract,” Columbia University Medical Center , New York, NY (October 15, 2011)

  • Speaker, “Confused About the New Health Care Reform Law? Find Out What Employers Need to Know!,” Fox Rothschild and The Haberman Group, Westbury, NY (June 23, 2010)

  • Moderator, “Hiring Issues with Risk Management,” New York Staffing Association, New York, NY (April 27, 2010)

  • Speaker, “Introduction to Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Laws,” Hauppauge Industrial Association (September 2, 2009)

  • Moderator, “Advanced Business Metrics: How To Stay Ahead of the Economy,” New York Staffing Association (July 29, 2009)

  • Speaker, “Employment Law Concerns in a Turbulent Economy,” Yale Club in New York City (April 29, 2009)

  • Moderator, “Employment Issues and Immigration,” New York Staffing Association (March 11, 2009)

  • Speaker, “Introduction to Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Laws,” Sterling National Bank Lecture Series (October 15, 2008)

  • Moderator, “Disaster Planning and Recovery,” New York Staffing Association (March 18, 2008)

  • Speaker, “Avoiding Sexual Discrimination Claims in the Workplace,” Hudson Valley Bank Seminar Series (May 9, 2007)


In the News

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, Employers face tough call on vaccine exemptions (November 16, 2021)

  • Quoted, EHSToday, Racial Discrimination is Pervasive in America’s Workplaces (June 2020)

  • Appointed, Lexis Practice Advisor Board, (February 2020)

  • Quoted, Forbes, What The Victoria’s Secret Harassment Allegations Teach Us About Retaliation (February 5, 2020)

  • Cited, Complete Guide to Human Resources and the Law, 2019 Edition – Shilling – Google Books

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, EEOC mandate stalled by lack of commissioners (September 24, 2019)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, Google age bias suit settlement could prompt additional litigation (July 30, 2019)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, No Consensus Seen for High Court Ruling on LGBT Protections, (April 30, 2019)

  • Quoted, Forbes, Looking For A Digital Native To Fill A Vacancy? A Word Of Caution, (March 11, 2019)

  • Quoted, ACWI Newsletter, A Simple Way to Stop Harassment, (June 3, 2018)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, Age bias cases may be headed to Supreme Court, (May 8, 2018)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, One year later: Trump administration continues regulation cuts, (January 30, 2018)

  • Quoted, Corporate Counsel, When Can a Health Care Provider Fire an Employee for Refusing a Flu Shot?, (December 01, 2017)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance Article, “Cyclist Fired for Showing her Opinion of Trump May Have No Case“, (November 14, 2017)

  • Featured, The TechnoLawyer Community, “BigLawWorld: Leaving Bloated Big Law Behind Plus Lateral Moves and Promotions”, (September 5, 2017)

  • Quoted, BenefitsPro, “Can Employers Fire Racists? Should They?“, (August 15, 2017)

  • Quoted, Doit, Inc., Êtes-vous Subjectifs Dans L’embauche, (July 13, 2017)

  • Interviewed, MarketPlace, “When it Comes to Free Speech, Employers Have the Upper Hand“, (August 17, 2017)

  • Interviewed, KHSU Radio, “Chronologically Gifted: Richard Cohen on Work in Later Life“, (August 17, 2017)

  • Quoted, ABA Journal, “Can employees like those who took part in Charlottesville rally be fired?“, (August 15, 2017)

  • Quoted, Corporate Counsel, “Can An Employer Fire A White Supremacist?“, (August 14, 2017)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance Article, “Brutal Case Shows Protection Shortfalls,” (May 1, 2017)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance Article, “Sexual orientation deserves Title VII protections: 7th Circuit”, (April 5, 2017)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, “Fate of title VII sexual orientation question may lie with 7th circuit” (April 4, 2017)

  • Quoted, “Alive and Kicking at All Ages: Cultural Constructions of Health and Life …edited by Ulla Kriebernegg, Roberta Maierhofer, Barbara Ratzenböck”

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, “Student’s transgender bathroom case may impact the workplace” (February 28, 2017)

  • Quoted, The National Law Review, “Year-End Report Shows LGBT Discrimination Charges on the Rise at EEOC” (January 19, 2017)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, “Trump Presidency to Usher in New Era for Risk Managers” (January 2, 2017)

  • Cited, The Complete Guide To Human Resources and The Law, 2017 Edition, by Dana Shilling (Wolters Kluwer), p. 41-11

  • Cited, Lawyer’s Deskbook, 2017 Edition, by Dana Shilling (Wolters Kluwer), p. 3-147

  • Quoted, Corporate Counsel, “Workers are Venting Anonymously on Apps. What Can In-House Counsel Do?” (December 15, 2016)

  • Quoted, Corporate Counsel, “Can Companies Fire Trump Supporters?” (November 29, 2016)

  • Quoted, Corporate Counsel, “McDonald’s Settles with EEOC for Denying Deaf Job Applicant and Interpreter” (October 19, 2016)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, “Courts move toward transgender rights, but much depends on election” (July 25, 2016)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, “Dems’ intervention in sexual orientation bias case ’influential’” (July 11, 2016)

  • Quoted, Business Insurance, “Criminal Background Checks Create Dilemma for Employers” (March 15, 2015)

  • Quoted, Fordham International Law Journal: “Not ‘Fit’ for Hire: The United States and France on Weight Discrimination in Employment” [see footnote 14] (2015)

  • Featured, “Fox Rothschild Employment Discrimination Report Named to ABA Journal’s 8th Annual Blawg 100” (December 15, 2014)

  • Quoted, “Richard Cohen Explains What Fuels the Highly-Engaging Employment Discrimination Report,” The LexBlog Network (December 12, 2014)

  • Featured, “As ABA Blawg 100 Shows, Biglaw is finding the Handle on Quality Blogging,” The LexBlog Network (November 26, 2014)

  • Quoted, “Can You Tell Employees, ‘OK, Enough with the Piercing’ ?” Law Journal Newsletter (November 14, 2014)

  • Quoted, “Abercrombie & Fitch To Face Supreme Court Over Hijab Controversy,” Vice News (October 8, 2014)

  • Quoted, “Bullying in the Workplace,” The New Hampshire Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (October 4, 2014)

  • Quoted, “Legalizing Discrimination: Women’s Discrimination Around the World,” Profiles in Diversity Journal (September/October 2014)

  • Featured, “Sexual Harassment: One Mechanism Driving Women From Science,” Wichita State University Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (August 12, 2014)

  • Quoted, “It’s Easier to Prove Retaliation Than Discrimination,” Corporate Counsel (August 8, 2014)

  • Featured, “Recent Executive Order Forbids LGBT Discrimination, but Hobby Lobby Ruling May Rear its Head,” LXBN TV (August 5, 2014)

  • Quoted, “Employers Await New Workforce Training Overhaul,” Employee Benefit News (July 14, 2014)

  • Quoted, “ADA Claims On Rise,” Mondaq News Alerts and Northwest ADA Center (July 7, 2014)

  • Featured, “UK Bias Cases Are Down. This Isn’t Good News,” Corporate Counsel (June 27, 2014)

  • Featured, “Do You Really Need a Lawyer for EEOC Matters?,” Corporate Counsel (June 26, 2014)

  • Quoted, “ADA Claims on Rise,” Society for Human Resource Management (June 26, 2014)

  • Featured, “Can You Tell Workers ‘OK Enough with the Piercing?’” Corporate Counsel (June 23, 2014)

  • Quoted, “Flexibility Is Key To Helping Employers Avoid Religious Discrimination Claims,” Business Insurance (June 22, 2014)

  • Quoted, “6 Top Priority Items for the EEOC,” Corporate Counsel (June 6, 2014)

  • Featured, “For Richard Cohen, Bringing in Commenters Builds Symbiotic Relationship,” The LexBlog Network (May 15, 2014)

  • Featured, “U.S. Laws Lag Behind, But Employer LGBT Acceptance Continues To Grow,” The LexBlog Network (May 14, 2014)

  • Quoted, “History of the Male-Female Salary Gap: A 95-Year-Old Problem,” Vault (May 2, 2014)

  • Featured, “Employment Discrimination Report,” ABA Journal (April 16, 2014)

  • Quoted, “College Athletes Union Raises Tax, Discrimination Questions,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (April 6, 2014)

  • Featured, “NYC Votes to Outlaw Discrimination Against Unpaid Interns,” Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (March 27, 2014)

  • Featured, “Federal Contractors Now Required To Ask Employees if They are Handicapped,” Construction Super Conference Newsletter (March 26, 2014)

  • Featured, “EEOC Roundup,” Overlawyered (March 18, 2014)

  • Featured, “Five Great Posts To Read To Make You a Better HR Manager,” Omega HR Solutions (March 12, 2014)

  • Featured, “Bizarre Retaliation Case,” HR Morning (February 14, 2014)

  • Featured, “School Offers Gay Man a Job, Changes Its Mind,” The American Lawyer (February 11, 2014)

  • Quoted, “How to Get Your Religion and Your Job to Coexist in Peace,” The Street (January 24, 2014)

  • Featured, “EEOC Targets National Origin Issues,” Business Insurance (November 18, 2013)

  • Featured, “Is Age Discrimination the Next Frontier?” Employers’ Alert (November 2013)

  • Featured, “Indefinite Leave? In New York City, It’s a Reasonable Accommodation,” TLNT (October 14, 2013)

  • Quoted, “Intesa Ruling Allows NYC Workplace Law to Flex Its Muscles,” Law360 (October 10, 2013)

  • Quoted, “Abercrombie Settles Hijab Discrimination Suits: Look, but Don’t Discriminate,” Lawyers.com (October 1, 2013)

  • Featured, “The Age Factor,” Human Resource Executive (September 19, 2013)

  • Featured, “The United States Supreme Court,” Behind the Shadows (September 18, 2013)

  • Quoted, “Background Check Rules Raise Concerns,” Business Insurance (August 30, 2013)

  • Quoted, “How to Keep the Work Party From Getting Too Crazy,”The Street (August 21, 2013)

  • Quoted, “Workplace Mediations: Q&A with Fox Rothschild Partner Richard Cohen,” Win-Win HR (August 19, 2013)

  • Quoted, “Workplace Not a Good Forum for Race Dialogue,” The National Law Journal (July 29, 2013)

  • Quoted, “50 Years after Equal Pay Act’s Passage, Gender Wage Gap Still Persists,” MSN.com (June 10, 2013)

  • Quoted, “Legalizing Discrimination: Women’s Discrimination Around the World” Profiles in Diversity Journal (June 1, 2013)

  • Quoted, “Employers Have No Business Seeking Genetic Data, Attorneys Say,” Law360 (May 28, 2013)

  • Featured, “Appellate Court Tosses Hofstra Sex-Harass Suit,” Long Island Business News (April 11, 2013)

  • Featured, “Common Worry Over Signing Agreement,” Lawyers.com (January 2, 2013)

  • Featured, “Standard Severance Agreement Won’t Protect You From EEOC Claims,” HRMorning.com (January 2, 2013)

  • Featured, “Employers Revise Hiring Policies Based on New EEOC Background Check Guidance,” Business Insurance (November 4, 2012)

  • Featured, “EEOC Continuing Its ‘Big Case’ Bias Enforcement Approach,” HR Morning (November 2, 2012)

  • Cited, Los Angeles Lawyer, Oct. 2012, p. 39

  • Featured, “U.S. Court Abused Discretion in Sex Harassment Case: Appeals Court,” Workforce.com (October 23, 2012)

  • Featured, “Blue Blood Star vs. CBS,” The Hollywood Reporter (October 23, 2012)

  • Featured, “EEOC Targets Pregnancy Discrimination,” Lawyers.com (October 22, 2012)

  • “U.S. Court Abused Discretion In Sex Harassment Case: Appeals Court,” Business Insurance (October 22, 2012)

  • Quoted, “Avoiding ADA Liability When Dealing with Obese Workers,” Inside Counsel (September 24, 2012)

  • Featured, “Employee Discrimination Lawsuits,” Behind the Shadows (June 21, 2012)

  • Featured, “Muslim Woman Wins $5.1M Judgment in Work Discrimination Suit,” Workforce Management (May 8, 2012)

  • Featured, “EEOC Guidance on Background Checks Leaves Some Questions,” Business Insurance (April 29, 2012)

  • Featured, “Transgender Individuals Protected by U.S. Discrimination Law: EEOC,” Business Insurance (April 26, 2012)

  • Featured, “Age Discrimination Guidance From EEOC Increases Employer Burdens,” Business Insurance (April 22, 2012)

  • Featured, “An Interview with Richard Cohen,” NYSA News (September 13, 2011)

  • Television Interview, “Discrimination in the Workplace,” Behind the Shadows (August 25, 2011)

  • Interviewed, “Q&A With Fox Rothschild’s Richard Cohen,” Law 360 (June 9, 2011)

  • Selected, “Law360 Employment Editorial Advisory Board,” Law360 (January 13, 2010)

  • Featured, “Muslim Prisoners Win Right to Diet Equality,” The New York Times (April 6, 2008)

  • Featured, “Religious Discrimination Settlement Receives Worldwide Media Attention,” The New York Times, New York Law Journal, and International Herald Tribune (March 28, 2008)

  • Quoted, “Public Interest Projects,” New York Law Journal (March 28, 2008)

  • Quoted, “US jail reaches deal on meals for Muslim inmates,” International Herald Tribune (March 22, 2008)

  • Quoted, “Fox Rothschild Settles Religious Discrimination Case between Muslim Inmates and Westchester County Dept. of Corrections,” (March 19, 2008)

  • Profiled, “Working on the fault lines,” The Deal, Vol. 5, No. 37 (December 03, 2007)


Publications

  • You Have Too Many Children. If You Get Pregnant You’re Fired, The eDigest: A Publication of the Arizona Paralegal Association (November 2016)

  • “Transgender Employment Rights: Front and Center for EEOC,” Human Resources Newsletter, page 5 (November/December Issue 2016)

  • “Another GINA Class Action Settled by EEOC,” Employee Benefit News (November 13, 2014)

  • “New ‘Bullying’ Decision: No Protected Class, No Case,” Employee Benefit News (September 18, 2014)

  • “Golly Gee Kids, Let’s Stop Workplace Bullying and Just Treat Each Other with Respect,” Workplace Bullying Institute (August 6, 2014)

  • “Same Sex Sexual Harassment Prohibited by Title VII, Even Though Sexual Orientation is Not a Protected Class,” Advisen (June 19, 2014)

  • “Employers and the Law,” Van Rye Publishing, LLC (May 15, 2014)

  • “Employer Accused of Yelling Expletives at Employees Settles,” Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (May 9, 2014)

  • “Workplace Bully Debate — Legislation or Proactive Company Policies?” Workplace Violence News (April 28, 2014)

  • “Court Upholds Claim that Obesity May Be a Disability Under the ADA,” Staffing Today (April 28, 2014)

  • “Dreadlocks: Alabama Court Rules It is a ‘Mutable Characteristic’ and Not a Racial One,” Staffing Today (April 3, 2014)

  • “NYC Votes To Outlaw Discrimination Against Unpaid Interns,” Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (March 27, 2014)

  • “Obesity: Merely ‘Undesirable’ and ‘Unprofessional,’ Like a Neon Green Mohawk, or a Disability?” Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (March 26, 2014)

  • “Should Stuttering be Classified as a Disability?” Corporate Counsel (March 25, 2014)

  • “Workplace Bullying Debate – Legislation or Proactive Company Policies,” Workplace Violence News (March 3, 2014)

  • “EEOC Settles First Systemic GINA Class Action,” Staffing Today (January 27, 2014)

  • Cited, “Delimiting Title VII: Reverse Religious Discrimination and Proxy Claims in Employment Discrimination Litigation,” Vanderbilt Law Review (January 10, 2014)

  • “Beard Worth $50,000 to the EEOC,” Staffing Today (January 2, 2014)

  • “EEOC Meeting on National Origin Discrimination: Further Suits on the Way?” American Conference Institute (ACI) (November 19, 2013)

  • “EEOC Re-Commits To Protect ‘Most Vulnerable’ Workers And Settles Utah Case For Record $450,000,” Staffing Today (October 14, 2013)

  • “Perspectives: Employers Need to Keep Up with Changes in Criminal Background Check Rules,” Business Insurance (October 9, 2013)

  • “Pray That You Don’t Get Sued: Religious Discrimination Cases Abound,” Advisen (October 4, 2013)

  • “Employee Rejects an Offered Accommodation,” EEO Connection (October 2013)

  • “New EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Case Gives Life to Its General Counsel’s Warning to Employers,” Staffing Today (September 9, 2013)

  • “Fighting Disability Discrimination is a Priority for the EEOC,” Staffing Today (September 4, 2013)

  • “’Locker Room Talk Won’t Wash’ When It Comes to Offensive Racial Slurs,” Staffing Today (August 30, 2013)

  • “What Happens When An Employee Rejects An Offered Accommodation Because She Prefers A Different One?” Staffing Today (August 27, 2013)

  • “Should Gingerism Be Recognized As A Form of Racism?” Michael Rubenstein Publishing (August 15, 2013)

  • “New EEOC Suit Reminds Employers Not To Make Pregnancy-Related Inquiries,” American Staffing Association Journal (August 1, 2013)

  • “Australia Pregnancy Discrimination Laws To Be Broadened To Require Transfer to ‘Safe Jobs,” Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (July 14, 2013)

  • “Two Supreme Court Discrimination Decision Favor Employers,” Employee Benefit News (June 28, 2013)

  • “First GINA Suit by EEOC Quickly Settled for $50,000,” American Staffing Association Journal (May 10, 2013)

  • “Workplace Bullying Can Result in Lower Productivity,” American Staffing Association Journal (February 10, 2013)

  • “Company Fires ‘An Old Penny That Keeps Coming Back’,” American Staffing Association Journal (January 11, 2013)

  • Fire Qualified Employee Based on Fears, Myths, or Stereotypes,” American Staffing Association Journal (January 10, 2013)

  • “Weighing the Balance,” Los Angeles Lawyer (October 2012)

  • “What Constitutes Racial Harassment?” Employee Benefits News (July 13, 2012)

  • “Oregon To Pass Law Banning Discrimination Against the Unemployed; California Next?” AAAED Blog Spot (March 21, 2012)

  • “Code Words and Dog Whistles,” AAAED Blog Spot (March 21, 2012)

  • ‘Sexual Harassment’ or Just Simply Being ‘Socially Tone Deaf,” AAAED Blog Spot (February 27, 2012)

  • “No Urine, No Job,” international Paruresis Association (February 27, 2012)

  • Co-author, “DOJ Issues Final Regulations on ADA Accessible Design Requirements,” Labor & Employment Department Alert (October 2010)

  • Co-author, “U.S. Supreme Court Rules Unanimously That ‘Disparate Impact’ Claims of Employment Discrimination Are Revived Whenever an Employer Applies the Offending Policy,” Labor & Employment Department Alert (June 2010)

  • Co-author, “ADEA and Gross: Employers, Don’t Relax Yet,” (March 30, 2010) Author, “The Scope of ‘Adverse Employment Action’,” Law360 (December 15, 2009)

  • “Employment Discrimination and Its Evolving Impact on an Employer’s Relationship with Independent Contractors,” Bloomberg Law Reports (December 2009)

  • Author, “’Employment’ Discrimination Claims by Independent Contractors? Better Consider §1981,” www.hrspotlight corn (September 30, 2009)

  • Author, “To Be Retaliation, a “Materially Adverse Action” Must Be Injurious or Harmful, Not Merely Trivial,” www.hrspotlight.com (August 19, 2009)

  • Co-author, “Has ‘Burlington’ Really Changed Retaliation Law?,” Law360 (November 2008)

  • Co-author, “The New ‘Associational Discrimination’,” Employment Law360 (May 23, 2008)

  • Author, “’Reasonable Belief And Retaliation Under Title VII,” Employment Law360 (February 2008)

  • Author, “Ending Internal Discrimination Probe May Be Retaliation,” Employment Law360 (February 2008)