Leon S. Cohan, Attorney

Leon became counsel to Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker in 1993 after 20 years as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Detroit Edison (a Fortune 500 company), and 14 years as the Deputy Attorney General of the State of Michigan. His practice concentrates on corporate, regulatory, ethics and governmental matters. On behalf of boards of directors he conducts internal corporate and institutional investigations. He also represents governmental agencies and private entities on important public issues. In addition, he acts as an arbitrator for large complex corporate and commercial issues.

Representative Cases / Transactions
Conducted successful internal ethical investigations for corporate and institutional boards of governance

Planning, negotiation, government relations and closing of refinancing of major public-private projects

Counseled governmental agencies on major issues

Acted as chair and neutral arbitrator in major multi-million dollar controversies

Areas of Practice
Corporate Law
 
Bar Admissions
Michigan, 1953

Education
B.A., Wayne State University, 1949

J.D., Wayne State University, 1952

Honors and Awards
Champion of Justice Award, State Bar of Michigan

Distinguished Alumni Award, Wayne State University Law School

Distinguished Service Award, Wayne State University Board of Governors

NAACP-Detroit Branch's Judge Ira W. Jayne Award

Israel Histadrut Menorah Award for leadership and achievements

Fellowship Award of the American Arabic and Jewish Friends of Metropolitan Detroit

Knights of Charity Award, Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions

Judge Learned Hand Award, Institute of Human Relations of the American Jewish Committee

Governor's Arts Award for Civic Leadership in the Arts

Michiganian of the Year, Detroit News, 1993

Professional Affiliations
Admitted to practice, State Bar of Michigan; United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; United States Supreme Court

Member, Professionalism Committee, State Bar of Michigan

Member, Large Complex Case Panel, American Arbitration Association

Civic Organizations 
Member, Special Committee, Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan

Member, Open Justice Committee, State Bar of Michigan

Member, Board of Directors, ArtServe of Michigan

Arts Commissioner, City of Detroit

Chairman, Citizens Merit Selection Committee (to recommend individuals to presidential appointment as federal judges in the southeastern district of Michigan), 1976, 1993, 1997

Board of Directors, University of Michigan Musical Society

Board of Trustees, Michigan Cancer Foundation

Board Memberships

Board of Directors, Oakland Commerce Bank

Representative Publications
"Surprise! A Merit Selection Process That Works!", Michigan Bar Journal, vol. 75, no. 9, p. 914

"Annual Survey of Michigan Law- Regulatory Law", Wayne State University Law Journal