Merrill Robyn Cohen

Merrill Robyn Cohen

4.5
Rating: 8.4

Licensed for 33 years

Immigration Lawyer at New York, NY
Practice Areas: Immigration, Family

7 Penn Plaza Suite 1602, New York, NY

About Merrill

Biography

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

Immigration 95%

Law firm specializing in complex business and family immigration and uncontested matrimonial matters. Our clients include research hosptials, large and small business as well as artists (actors, musicians, painters, etc.), athletes, research scientists and business people who have reached the very top of their field.

33 years | 500 cases

95%
Family 5%

Our firm also handles a substantial amount of matrimonial matters including prenuptial agreements, separation agreements and uncontested divorces.

15 years

5%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in New York for 33 years

State: New York

Acquired: 1992

Currently Registered

No misconduct found

Location

Merrill R. Cohen & Associates, PC

7 Penn Plaza Suite 1602, New York, NY, 10001

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Merrill Robyn Cohen's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.5 /5.0

8 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (8) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Responsiveness

Posted by Josh Benjamin | April 09, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Immigration

EB-1A Approved in 7 Days + No RFE!

I partnered with Merrill Cohen in July 2023 in the hopes of submitting an EB-1A self-petition green card application. Merrill assessed my case, highlighting its potential while candidly addressing areas requiring bolstering. It took me several months to secure additional examples to support my case, ...and in December 2023, Merrill and her associate, Tanya, began crafting my case. Navigating the USCIS Premium Processing fee hikes in February 2024 was a challenge, but Merrill and Tanya managed the added time pressure, and were extremely responsive throughout the process. The meticulousness with which Merrill and Tanya laid out my case left no doubt in my mind that we had presented the strongest possible case. My EB-1A self-petition case was submitted on February 26th 2024 and was approved with no RFE just a week later, on March 4th 2024. Merrill and Tanya also oversaw my I-485 Adjustment of Status, I-765 Employment Authorization and I-131 Travel Document applications, and were diligent about submitting before additional USCIS fee increases in April 2024, further showcasing their commitment to their clients. When it comes to immigration matters, nothing is guaranteed. Partnering with Merrill and Tanya provided the best chance of success. It is ultimately the responsibility of the individual to take their advice and collaborate with them to present the case in the most compelling manner to a USCIS adjudicator. I look forward to working with Merrill and her team when the time comes to naturalize as a US citizen. Merrill and Tanya, I can't thank you enough!

Merrill Cohen

Replied last April 10, 2024

Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to write such a detailed review - it was great working with you, too!! And I'm so happy for the fast Approval on your I-140, classifying you as someone at the top of your field! I hope it brings you much peace of mind, and paves the way for continued, great success!! You richly deserve it! Best, Merrill

Posted by Gondre | December 30, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Immigration

unprofessional, clumsy, lazy

First time I contacted Merrill showing my career & background information, she said it looks like a strong case for the EB1. So I paid her to start working on my case. She replies my emails pretty well, only if the email is about questions. But whenever I request her to do something such as draft...ing letters, her response gets delayed pretty long and often. So for the 6 months ever since I hired her, all I got was 3 letters. The majority of sentences of the letters were made directly out of my research putting a lot of efforts and time by myself. Later on, when I requested her to prepare drafts for some awards' associations, she sent me samples that she used to use for her previous clients. She even attached the client's I-140 with his full personal information like copy of his visa & passport by accident. Plus, there are many typos in the drafts she prepared so I had to carefully find and let her fix them. Right before she filed my I-140, I printed all materials out by myself because she said she doesn't know how to print them out on online. When I visited her office, she doesn't even remember I left those piles of prints a week ago and I saw the prints left next to the window. I have to admit that she really looked into my case and put her efforts only for the last single week before filing. My case got denied, which I don't really care. But more important thing is her work attitude.

Merrill Cohen

Replied last December 30, 2019

Dear Client, So sorry you were disappointed in our representation. However, far from lazy, my associates and I worked tirelessly on your case, taking the time necessary to submit a fully-approvable I-140 EB1 petition. And in large part, we succeeded: USCIS agreed that you met not only 3, but 4 categories of evidence -- more than required. However, USCIS wrongly found that the Gold and Silver-level international awards you won are not ‘major internationally-recognized prizes’ despite clear & compelling evidence we presented. And USCIS wrongly determined that you did not show sustained national/international acclaim despite substantial evidence from numerous sources. That evidence included detailed letters that I drafted which were signed by two major international organizations confirming the awards they granted were specifically in recognition of your designs and that each organization has been continuously aware of you and your work since 2014 and 2015, respectively. In short, this is an erroneous decision which is appealable, as I emailed you. It is standard for our artist-clients to print their own materials in color, and I appreciate that you did so. I apologize for any typos in my DRAFT letters which I forwarded for your review and input, and any delays at the beginning. Our office filed the case shortly after we received the quality and quantity of evidence required for the best chance for a successful EB-1 petition. I hope that, with proper perspective, you’ll see that your case was in fact expertly handled, and that only the decision is at fault. If you should decide to appeal, my law office will be pleased to represent you.

Posted by Chris | November 13, 2014 | Immigration

Positive Results!

Merrill and her team were fantastic while handling my case. Her team was very knowledgeable and used there many years of experience to get a positive result in my case. She was there with me every step of the way and went above and beyond in times when it was needed. I would highly recommend Merri...ll to anyone who has an immigration issue and needs legal advice.

See All Client Reviews

Merrill Robyn Cohen's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Merrill
Somair Syed Alam headshot
Somair Alam

Immigration lawyer | Feb 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Ms. Cohen is a highly capable attorney committed to providing clients experienced, knowledgeable and aggressive representation."

Nicole M. Hartnett headshot
Nicole Hartnett

Immigration lawyer | Jul 09

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Merrill Cohen is an excellent attorney with expertise in all areas of immigration law. She is particularly adept at working with "extraordinary" foreign nationals in business, the arts, and athletics. I wholeheartedly endorse Ms. Cohen."

View All Endorsements
Nicole M. Hartnett headshot
Nicole Hartnett

Immigration lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.4 (Excellent)

Honors

2018

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2017

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2016

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2015

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2014

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2013

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2009

Two National Leadership Awards., Presidential Commission, Congressional Medal of Distinction, Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal

Associations

1998 - Present

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

EB-1 Extraordinary Ability in the Arts, Sciences, Business, Education or Athletics

Approved

See More Legal Cases

Education

1991

Yeshiva University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1986

City University of New York, Brooklyn College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution