Senior Counsel

Leonard H. Cohen

p: (413) 443-9399
c: 413.442.9399
f: (413) 442-9399

One of the preeminent lawyers in Massachusetts, Lenny Cohen has been practicing criminal law for 54 years. He rose to prominence by serving as the criminal defense attorney in more than 5,000 cases, including 50 first-degree murder cases and hundreds of high-profile proceedings. In 2009, Lawyers Weekly recognized him as one of the most influential lawyers in the state and a powerhouse within the criminal law community. He has also been selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America.

Lenny was drawn to his specialty while still a student at Boston University. Between classes, he would visit the nearby Suffolk Superior Courthouse and watch trials, studying the “ultimate contest” of comprehensive legal knowledge, meticulous interpretive skill, and quick wits. After serving for several years as an assistant public defender in Pittsfield, he joined a large local law firm and presented hundreds of important cases before district, county, and federal courts, including the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2009, he cofounded Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook, and is often the top-referred criminal defense attorney from other firms in the region.

Because Lenny’s clients come to him during times of crisis, his approach combines compassion and sensitivity with extensive knowledge of the law and practical advice to lead them through what is often a life-changing process. In this way, he is able to make a difference in the futures of his clients and sometimes even in the future of the law itself.

Lenny’s long involvement in the local community has seen him play several important roles, including on Berkshire Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board, in Hospice Care of the Berkshires, and as the three-time president of Congregation Knesset Israel. He currently teaches at area law schools, performs volunteer work for several Berkshire organizations, and serves on the board of the Chamber Music Festival.

Experience Highlights

  • Guest lecturer, National Institute of Trial Advocacy
  • Instructor at Emory University Law School’s trial practice program.
  • Guest lecturer, Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Adjunct instructor at Berkshire Community College in the area of criminal and constitutional law.

Education

  • Boston University, B.S. in Business Administration
  • Boston University Law School, J.D.

Areas of Practice

  • Criminal Defense

  • Civil Litigation

  • Domestic Relations

Bar Admission

  • Massachusetts

Memberships

  • Berkshire Bar Association
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

Recent Presentations/Publications

  • Lenny is a regular speaker at the Berkshire Institute of Lifelong Learning and Elderhostel, discussing such topics as the death penalty and Roe v. Wade.