Michael Cohan

Michael C. Cohan concentrates his practice on planning and problem solving for businesses, primarily in the areas of business-related litigation, all aspects of employment law, and title insurance issues. Mike has made the transition from a litigation attorney to a trusted advisor to many businesses and their owners. As a result, he is very involved, either directly or in close conjunction with other specialists in the firm, in helping business owners meet their goals, prevent problems, and increase profits. If you are a business owner and you lack a go-to person for legal and business advice, Mike can fill your need.

Mike has helped many businesses avoid costly litigation. If it arises, however, he provides goal-oriented, cost-effective help in matters such as breach of contracts, shareholder disputes, trade secrets and non-competition issues, real estate, and tax controversies. Mike has considerable experience in the defense of class action cases and other types of complex litigation.

In the area of employment law, Mike not only litigates the employment cases but also advises business clients on compliance with employment laws so as to minimize and avoid problems.

For many years he has also represented title insurance companies in handling claims under policies, coverage issues, and defending direct litigation against the underwriters, including major class action cases.

Early in his career, Mike successfully litigated a trade secrets case on behalf of an employer. The opinion in that case, entitled Pyromatics v. Petruziello, became one of the most frequently cited cases in Ohio in the area of trade secrets. Later, another of his cases, entitled Northfield Park Associates v. Northeast Ohio Harness, became the leading case in Ohio relied on by commercial landlords who seek to use self-help to recover possession of their property from a tenant.

For a list of his reported cases, click here.

Along with other members of the firm, Mike has participated in legal writing, as an author and editor of the Ohio Transaction Guide and Current Legal Forms. He has also lectured to various groups on topics such as trade secrets, non-competition agreements, injunctions, piercing the corporate veil, commercial evictions, title insurance, a variety of employment issues, and wage and hour issues.

Mike has been selected as an Ohio Super Lawyer from every year since 2009, Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation) most years since 2013, Cleveland’s Best Lawyers most years since 2013, and he has been selected as a Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer in Labor and Employment. In 2020 Mike became an honoree of the Irish Legal 100, which is widely recognized as the preeminent legal award for lawyers of Irish descent.

Mike is an active member of the Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State, and American Bar Associations, and the Ohio Land Title Association. He is also a Board Member of the Cleveland Animal Protective League (2014-Present).

Mike served as Chairman of the Litigation Department for many years and was the firm’s Managing Partner from 2006 through 2022.

Mike was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree (magna cum laude) from Boston College. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, where he served as an editor of the Loyola Law Review. Mike and his wife Sarah reside in Lakewood, Ohio.

Mike is admitted to the Ohio bar and various federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court and the United States Tax Court.