Emily R. L. Cohen

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, Board of Trustees, The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House

• 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
• Pro Bono Volunteer, JustCause (formally known as Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, Inc.)

HONORS & AWARDS

• Selected by peers for inclusion in 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Finalist, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce IGNITE Award, 2021
• 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

NEWS

• Featured, "Legality of Mergers & Acquisitions in the COVID Era," Rochester Business Journal, November 27, 2020
• 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

Press Releases

• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Best Lawyers in America© and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, August 19, 2021

• Emily R.L. Cohen Named 2021 Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award Finalist, July 15, 2021

• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorneys Honored by The Daily Record, May 18, 2020
• Harter Secrest & Emery Appoints Three Senior Associates, January 8, 2020
• Harter Secrest & Emery Attorney Emily Cohen Earns Pro Bono Honor, October 14, 2019

PUBLICATIONS

• Co-Author, “Preparing for a PPP Loan Audit - Completing the Loan Necessity Questionnaire,” Rochester Business Journal, March 17, 2021
• 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

PRESENTATIONS

• Co-Presenter, "Q&A Session: The New Stimulus Package and its Implications for Small Businesses," Harter Secrest & Emery/DeJoy, Knauf & Blood webinar, January 13, 2021
• Co-Presenter, "Drafting and Negotiating Legal Opinions in Finance Transactions," Monroe County Bar Association, October 29, 2020
• 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