Practice Areas
With experience representing criminal defendants in more than 30 state and federal jurisdictions throughout the United States, the attorneys at Philip Kent Cohen, APC are adept at handling all criminal defense matters, including complex and high-profile matters. Please see the representative cases page for further information on past and present matters our attorneys have been involved in.
Regardless of the crime the client is charged with, it is important to hire an experienced defense attorney who understands the procedures and brings a dynamic, proactive, and creative approach to each case, whether it is misdemeanor jaywalking or first-degree felony murder. The attorneys at Philip Kent Cohen, APC work tirelessly to find law enforcement error, trial error, inconsistency in evidence or witness testimony, ineffective prior counsel, and any other factor that might result in an acquittal, mistrial, or dismissal.
In addition to being an exceptional trial attorney, Mr. Cohen understands the sensitive nature of many of the high-profile cases he handles. Even minor crimes can have a significant impact on a person's life, and Mr. Cohen is skilled at handling media attention surrounding cases he handles. This preserves the privacy of his clients and allows them to focus on fighting the criminal charges and moving on with their lives.
Drug Crimes
Drug crimes vary in severity from misdemeanor possession of marijuana to felony trafficking and conspiracy at both the state and federal level. Mr. Cohen has significant experience handling all types of drug crimes and has obtained dismissals and acquittals in a wide variety of drug-related cases, including high-level conspiracy and trafficking charges and a case in which the defendant was found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine.
Economic and White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes, such as theft, fraud, and embezzlement, carry serious consequences that often include significant jail time. These cases are often complex and may involve millions of dollars and charges across several states. Mr. Cohen has successfully represented clients in economic and white collar crimes and is currently representing clients in multi-million and large-scale, multi-state insurance fraud cases.
Violent Crimes
Violent crimes range in severity from simple assault to more serious crimes such as domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, robbery, and homicide. In California, the most serious violent crimes are potentially punishable by the death penalty. Mr. Cohen has obtained acquittals, mistrials, and reversals on appeal for a wide variety of violent crimes, including first-degree felony murder in a case where his client's co-defendants were both convicted and a defendant was charged with assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer.
DUI
California takes driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) crimes very seriously, and even a single conviction can significantly impact a person's life. Mr. Cohen has secured acquittals and dismissals in numerous DUI cases, even where the defendants were measured as having blood alcohol levels significantly above the legal limit of .08.
Misdemeanors
Even misdemeanors such as jaywalking, public intoxication, and habitual traffic offenses can have serious consequences on a person's life. While these crimes might seem minor, it is still important to hire an experienced attorney who can successfully fight the charges. While Mr. Cohen's practice focuses in complex matters, he also has extensive experience successfully handling misdemeanor crimes.
Appellate and Post-conviction Proceedings
When the prosecution secures a conviction, the case is not over. Many times, a conviction can be reversed on appeal or through a writ of habeas corpus if errors were made during the initial trial. Habeas corpus is often most appropriate where the defendant's attorney at trial was ineffective or incompetent, or if the defendant suffered a violation of his or her constitutional rights. Mr. Cohen has successfully appealed numerous cases encompassing a wide variety of crimes, and he has successfully argued habeas corpus proceedings where the defendants' attorneys wrongly advised the clients.
Civil Litigation Matters
While the firm's practice focuses on criminal defense matters, Mr. Cohen is currently representing clients in an increasing number of civil litigation cases. He has successfully obtained jury verdicts in a wide variety of civil matters, including breach of contract, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, and business fraud.
