Emily represents corporate, financial, and institutional clients on a variety of financing transactions in connection with mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, restructurings, tax-exempt bonds, and large multi-bank or syndicated transactions, as well as drafting sale-purchase agreements, operating and partnership agreements, and revolving credit and term loan facilities. Emily has negotiated and closed a number of sophisticated financings, both domestic and international, including syndicated institutional loans, preferred stock, mezzanine finance, real estate finance, project finance, asset-based finance, and small business loans for local startup businesses.
Prior to joining Harter Secrest & Emery, Emily worked in New York City at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- Member, Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys (GRAWA)
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, Monroe County Bar Association
- Council Member, Monroe County Bar Association Business Law Section
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Member, VLSP Emerging Leaders Committee
Honors & Awards
- Recipient, "Up and Coming Attorneys" Award, The Daily Record, 2020
- Recipient, “Pro Bono Heros” - Emerging Leader Award, Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County (VLSP), 2019
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Order of the Barristers Honor Society
- Jonathan M. Ault Prize for Excellence in Trial Advocacy
- Paul J. Hergenroeder Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy
- Executive Board, Associate Coordinator, Case Western Reserve Law Review, 2011-2012
- Associate Editor, Case Western Reserve Law Review, 2010-2011
Publications
- Author, “COVID-19’s Continued Impact on Loan Markets and the Status of Federal Aid Programs,” Rochester Business Journal, July 17, 2020
- Author, "LIBOR is Ending: What That Means and Why You Should Care," Rochester Business Journal, November 4, 2019
News
- Featured, “How small business owners can access federal coronavirus relief funding,” Connections with Evan Dawson, WXXI-AM 1370, April 23, 2020
- Featured, “Discussing how people affected by COVID-19 can access assistance through the CARES Act,” Connections with Evan Dawson, WXXI-AM 1370, April 3, 2020
- Featured, “One Buffalo banker’s reaction to PPP running out,” Buffalo Business First, April 16, 2020
- Featured, "Pro Bono Attorney Emily Cohen Goes Above and Beyond for People in Need," Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County (VLSP) Blog, August 23, 2018
- Featured, "Woman to Watch: Emily Cohen," Democrat and Chronicle, July 29, 2017
Presentations
- Co-Presenter, "CARES Act Loan Programs Update: New Guidance on PPP Loan Forgiveness and Loan Certification," Harter Secrest & Emery/DeJoy, Knauf & Blood webinar, May 19, 2020
- Co-Presenter, "Navigating the Main Street Lending Program: Advice for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses," Harter Secrest & Emery/KeyBank webinar, May 11, 2020
- Co-Presenter, "Update to Loan Programs Under the CARES Act," Harter Secrest & Emery/DeJoy, Knauf & Blood webinar, April 16, 2020
- Co-Presenter, "Small Business Loan Provisions Under the CARES Act in a Nutshell," Monroe County Bar Association Webinar, April 13, 2020
- Co-Presenter, "Navigating the CARES Act: How Your Small Business May Benefit From Available Loan Programs," Harter Secrest & Emery/DeJoy, Knauf & Blood webinar, March 31, 2020
- Moderator, "Negotiating, Drafting, and Working with Bank Loan Documents," Monroe County Bar Association, March 5, 2019
- Presenter, "Get in the Zone: Opportunity Zone Investments" with HSE and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, January 30, 2019
- Presenter, Volunteer Legal Services Project Financing Workshop, November 2, 2017
Admissions
- New York
Education
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
- University of Rochester, B.A.