Steven Paul Cohn

Steven Paul Cohn

4.7
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 45 years

Employment and labor Lawyer at San Jose, CA
Practice Areas: Employment & Labor, Sexual Harassment, Personal Injury

2084 Alameda Way, San Jose, CA

About Steven

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Employment and Labor 70%

Discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, whistleblowing, unpaid wages, labor law violations, harassment, employment contract and severance agreement reviews, independent contractor agreement reviews, misclassification of salaried vs. hourly employees, misclassification of employees of independent contractors

14 years

70%
Sexual Harassment 20%

Sexual harassment and discrimination, retaliation for making complaints of sexual harassment, constructive discharge

14 years

20%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 375-395 per hour

Contingency

33%-45%


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 45 years

State: California

Acquired: 1980

Inactive

No misconduct found

Location

Advocacy Center for Employment Law

2084 Alameda Way, San Jose, CA, 95126-1002

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Steven Paul Cohn's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.7 /5.0

46 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 19 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by khyung | May 08, 2018 | Employment & Labor

Knowledgeable employee lawyer overbooked and unprofessional

Steven P Cohn is a knowledgeable attorney specialized on helping employees in lawsuits against employers. Although his advertised hourly retainer seems reasonable and tempting, he takes too many cases simultaneously and cannot afford special attention to individual cases. Because of his extremely o...verload, Cohn fails to keep clients informed and often delivers subpar results in an unprofessional manner. During the initial consultation, Steven Cohn took many unannounced interruptions to talk with a building contractor, who was also in the office surveying the building. Cohn also took telephone calls during the initial consultation. After the consultation, Cohn told me that the initial consultation would be applied to the retainer agreement. Steven Cohn agreed to a modified retainer agreement and in fact cashed the retainer check. Yet he did not start work until over a full month after cashing the retainer check. Cohn chose his own hours for office appoint but repeatedly canceled his appointments with less than half hour notice. Publicly Cohn required clients to cancel 24-hours in advance or pay a penalty. But when Cohn cancels on clients, he makes no apologies. After repeatedly delaying my case by over a month, Cohn made excuses and promptly withdrew from my case. Cohn claimed that I willingly forced him to resign and refuse to refund fees in full. I am still trying to get a refund from this unprofessional lawyer.

Steven Cohn

Replied last May 08, 2018

This is a four-year old concluded dispute with a consult client who has misrepresented virtually every fact claimed. Mr. Cohn promptly resigned at 30 days into the case due to a complaint of harassment by this new client by our female paralegal and our inability to communicate with this hostile client. Mr. Cohn immediately voluntarily offered and issued this client a full refund. Two and a half years later, after the client filed a claim against the next attorney who tried to help him, and with no further contact with our office, the client filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau seeking our refund, which had already been voluntarily provided at the time that Mr. Cohn declined the case. The BBB promptly held in Attorney Cohn's favor, followed immediately thereafter by this client's Avvo posting. We have represented over 6000 individuals over a 30-year career. You can't please all of the people all of the time but we should be able to expect that, when Mr. Kyung was found to be wrong, he will not slander us to the public simply because we declined to represent him. We have been consistently named as one of the top firms in the Silicon Valley and take pride in our record of fighting for employment rights.

Posted by Ella | April 15, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Business

Don't know how we could have done it without your help!

Steven Cohn's office is a very professional organization. Their staff has done an excellent job of helping us set up our legal office operations. They are all considerate and experienced. I really appreciate their depth of knowledge and their ability to get us established. I would recommend him and ...his staff to anyone. Thank you Steve Cohn and your wonderful staff for the countless hours of support.

Posted by anonymous | October 23, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Integrity/Honesty/Empathy - Top Notch, Results Driven, Powerhouse Attorney

I have hired Attorney Cohn twice now to represent me in highly complex situations. After losing all hope and a great deal of money with another attorney, I was at my wits end. When I first met Attorney Cohn, his demeanor and interpersonal communication skills immediately put my mind at rest. Th...is man is the quintessential professional and as smart as a whip. There is a genuine air of concern/compassion which makes initial conversation casual and not daunting. His ability to effortlessly make sense of the large volume of complex information and paperwork with which I presented him was impressive. I was expecting that process to take hours alone. But not so, his excellent analytical skills hit the target straight away. I felt a lead weight had been lifted. Attorney Cohn was able to swiftly comprehend the pertinent information and took the time to outline logically the steps that needed to be taken, and believe me, I asked him the same questions multiple times due to the severity of my situation and inability to comprehend all details necessary. Each time, Attorney Cohn calmly talked me through the process once again. That's when I realized I'd quite possibly hired the most patient Attorney on the planet. And, that the details were no longer a necessary burden for me. He genuinely understood my need to understand, based on his appreciation that I'd had an extremely negative experience with the prior attorney. Attorney Cohn prepared a legal strategy on that very first visit, after which, he kept me updated every step of the way, promptly responding to my questions. I knew that I had a strong ally fighting in my corner and indeed that was unequivocally proven. My recent case required many hours of work with heavy research and immense attention to detail. I know Attorney Cohn and his staff performed many more hours than declared. The entire team are enthusiastic and results oriented. Honestly, I couldn't feel happier or more blessed to have been represented by Attorney Cohn. My case was resolved with an outcome far beyond my expectations. I would highly recommend Attorney Cohn for his integrity, honesty and empathy. Well, the list could go on... Don't waste your time with anyone else.

Posted by Nicole | October 22, 2015 | Employment & Labor

Honest and Personable

I had an employment question regarding a wage and hour dispute with a former employer and Attorney Cohn helped me understand the different options I had to pursue additional back wages I was owed, such as contacting the California Labor Commission and described exactly what the process entailed. He w...alked through the specific remedies that applied to my case as well. He also was kind enough to call me back after office hours-- it is clear he is dedicated to helping others instead of just looking for your money. Thank you Attorney Cohn!

Posted by patricia | June 17, 2015 | Employment & Labor

tough case

I had a tough case against a former harassing boss who was very smart about always saying someone complained about me. Mr cohn cut right through to what I needed to do to win my claim with the unemployment insurance claim. He was very caring and listened he made the process understandable. He then wa...ived his fee out of a sense of justice. Thank you Mr cohn

See All Client Reviews

Steven Paul Cohn's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Steven
Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Unknown lawyer | Apr 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."

Arthur Albert Navarette headshot
Arthur Navarette

Unknown lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Brett A. Borah headshot
Brett Borah

Employment and labor lawyer | Oct 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I've known Mr. Cohn for over 30 years and worked with him on dozens of cases. He's the best! He is a knowledgable, hard working, caring attorney who represents his clients to the max. I send all of my labor and employment cases to him because I know my reputation is on the line and it's safe with him and his work. You simply can't do better in this field than Mr. Cohen."

Huan Dinh Ly headshot
Huan Ly

Employment and labor lawyer | Aug 27

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I met Mr. Cohn years ago when I was a court clerk observing a trial. Mr. Cohn ripped the defendant's rehearsed testimony to shred during cross-examination. He is a very skilled and respected attorney in the community, which I saw again firsthand when he and I represented opposing companies in a trade secret case. Furthermore, he's an all around decent guy, always willing to provide mentoring and advice to attorneys less experienced than him."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Personal injury lawyer | May 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Steven. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Gary Roger Brod headshot
Gary Brod

Personal injury lawyer | Apr 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. A highly skilled and respected lawyer in the legal community."

Thomas Carson Walker headshot
Thomas Walker

Employment and labor lawyer | Mar 20

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I found Steven’s advocacy skills and experience to be superior, and I endorse his practice. Not only does he earn respect from his clients and colleagues, my impression is he is very well regarded by local judges – which is an asset to his practice and of benefit to his clients. I have rarely witnessed counsel be as fluid and articulate arguing for his client’s position or negotiating a difficult settlement; and these are talents they simply can’t teach in law school."

Marc Lawrence Shea headshot
Marc Shea

Employment and labor lawyer | Sep 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly recommend Steven Paul Cohn for your legal needs in the area of Employment Law. I have known Mr. Cohn for more than 40 years, and I have had the opportunity to observe him in all manner of life’s situations. Mr. Cohn has a keen intelligence, a winning attitude, and a highly competitive nature. As a lawyer, Mr. Cohn applies all of his many talents to get to the root of the issue and to make persuasive and effective arguments for his clients, about whom he cares deeply. Marc L. Shea"

David John Luca headshot
David Luca

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Steven Cohn is my "go-to" guy for anything related to employment law. I have sent many of my own clients to him for legal advice and representation and I have NEVER had anything but positive feedback from them. His ability to explain the most complex legal issues in an easy to understand language is part of what makes him an excellent attorney. But, having had the privilege of actually watching him in Court has only strengthened my opinion that he is truly at the top of his class. I recommend him without reservation."

Bradley Michael Corsiglia headshot
Bradley Corsiglia

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Steve is an outstanding attorney and one of the top Labor/Employment attorneys in Santa Clara County; he has considerable experience in representing both employees and management which allows him to clearly identify both the strengths and weaknesses of a given case. Steve has considerable credibility among fellow attorneys which allows him to resolve most cases efficiently and timely. I would not hesitate to refer a client to Steve to consult on any labor/employment issue."

Randy Malcolm Hess headshot
Randy Hess

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 11

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Steve Cohn is a superb attorney, he has an amazing ability to cut through the case quickly, and reach a speedy and excellent resolution. As an example, in one matter I worked with him, he represented an employer, who was sued in what could have become a high profile and very expensive matter. Steve was quickly able to obtain a dismissal and complete resolution of the case, which saved the business. I highly recommend him."

Robert Herbert Bohn Jr headshot
Robert Bohn

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Steve knows his employment law and has been helping California's employees for a long time. I have referred many clients to Steve over the years."

View All Endorsements
Corwin Zane Becker headshot
Corwin Becker

Employment and labor lawyer

James Anthony Dal Bon headshot
James Dal Bon

Employment and labor lawyer

Arthur Albert Navarette headshot
Arthur Navarette

Sexual harassment lawyer

Daniel Thomas Paris headshot
Daniel Paris

Real estate lawyer

Brett A. Borah headshot
Brett Borah

Workers compensation lawyer

Huan Dinh Ly headshot
Huan Ly

Car accident lawyer

Bruce Edward Zuchowski headshot
Bruce Zuchowski

Business lawyer

Thomas Carson Walker headshot
Thomas Walker

Wrongful termination lawyer

David John Luca headshot
David Luca

Divorce and separation lawyer

Fernando R. Zazueta headshot
Fernando Zazueta

Car accident lawyer

Stephen Donald Pahl headshot
Stephen Pahl

Business lawyer

Philip Steven Rosenblatt headshot
Philip Rosenblatt

Lawsuits and disputes lawyer

Thomas M Gosselin headshot
Thomas Gosselin

Business lawyer

Mark B. Fredkin headshot
Mark Fredkin

Mediation lawyer

Daniel Edward Hanley headshot
Daniel Hanley

Trusts lawyer

Richard George Maul headshot
Richard Maul

Debt collection lawyer

Thomas Caudill headshot
Thomas Caudill

Debt collection lawyer

Robert Herbert Bohn Sr headshot
Robert Bohn

Personal injury lawyer

Marc Lawrence Shea headshot
Marc Shea

Business lawyer

Bradley Michael Corsiglia headshot
Bradley Corsiglia

Medical malpractice lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2005

Best of the Best: The Attorneys of The Silicon Valley, San Jose Magazine

2004

Best of the Best: The Attorneys of The Silicon Valley, San Jose Magazine

2003

Best of the Best: The Attorneys of The Silicon Valley, San Jose Magazine

2002

Best of the Best: The Attorneys of The Silicon Valley, San Jose Magazine

2001

Best of the Best: The Attorneys of The Silicon Valley, San Jose Magazine

2000

Best of the Best: The Attorneys of The Silicon Valley, San Jose Magazine

1999

Best of the Best: The Attorneys of The Silicon Valley, San Jose Magazine

1996

Who's Who in American Law, American Registry of Who's Who

1996

Induction into Who's Who in the World, British Sterling's Who's Who

1992

Wiley W. Manual Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, State Bar of California

Work Experience

1994 - Present

Attorney, Advocacy Center for Employment Law

1994 - Present

Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association

1990 - 1992

Law Professor, Santa Clara University School Of Law, Santa Clara, Ca

1989 - 1994

Attorney, Bohn, Bennion, Cohn & Niland

1985 - 2013

Mediator, County of Santa Clara Superior Court

1980 - 1986

Attorney, Gassett, Perry & Frank

1978 - 1980

Attorney General Research Clerk, State Of California, Department Of Justice Attorney General's Office

Associations

2004 - Present

California Employment Lawyers Association

Member

1985 - Present

Consumer Attorneys of California

Member

1985 - Present

Consumer Attorneys of Santa Clara County

Member

1980 - Present

Santa Clara County Bar Association

Member

1996 - 2013

San Francisco Bar Association

Member

1980 - 2020

State Bar of California

Member

1980 - 2010

American Arbitration Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Confidential Settlement

$16,000,000 settlement setting records in Santa Clara County, State of CA and top 5 nationally

Rabago v. State of California

$3,000,000 in Merced County, record result, overcoming recreational activities and natural conditions immunities for the State of California.

Weisner vs. Santa Cruz County Civil Service Commission

Firing reversed; ordered to rehear for lesser discipline.

Campos vs. Sunnyvale School District

Firing overturned and federal case settled in confidential compromise.

Padilla vs. Santa Clara County

Pending deliberations, and indicating full reinstatement to job with back pay, case was settled.

Doe vs. State Farm

Case settled for approximately $225,000 without filing of suit.

Hahn vs. Adaptec

Case successfully settled with confidential amount. Following defense appellate motions, case settled with record confidential amount in Sexual Harassment

Doe vs. Barnes

Court approved settlement valued in the mid-seven figures, with establishment of a special needs trust for lifetime care.

Alvas vs. Superior Court

Case was defended and affirmed on appeal.

See More Legal Cases

Education

1980

University of San Diego School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1978

Oxford University

Certification in Civil Liberties

1975

University of California - Santa Barbara

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2008

Continuing Education Series

Employment Investigations

2008

Annual Employment Law Summary

Continuing Education Lecturer

2007

Western Regional Law Symposium

Employment Claims

2003

Continuing Education Series

Employee Leaves

Publications

2008

Lorman Education Services publication Human Resources Audits

2003

Lorman Education Services publication Time Off in California

1997

Lorman Education Services publication Employment and Labor Law in California

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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