College of Law Adds Vincent H. Cohen ’92, L’95 to Board of Advisors

Syracuse University College of Law is pleased to announce the addition of Vincent H. Cohen ’92, L’95—Partner at Dechert LLP, based in Washington, DC—to its Board of Advisors. Cohen is widely recognized and honored for his work in high-stakes litigation and investigations, representing global industry leaders in the technology, finance, and defense sectors. Also a member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees, he embodies the talent, leadership, and public service found throughout the College’s diverse alumni community.

“Vince Cohen’s service to the University, College, his community, and our nation is exemplary. His strong advocacy in matters of leadership, diversity, equality, equity, and ethics will serve us well,” says Dean Craig M. Boise. “I look forward to Vince’s invaluable counsel as we continue to innovate our curriculum, expand our reach, and prepare our students for a fast-evolving legal profession.”

“Vince has been lauded by his peers—and by the University and College of Law—as a standout leader and rising star in the legal profession, one whose legal and business acumen, client focus, and public service will be guiding lights for Syracuse law students,” says Board of Advisors Chair Robert M. Hallenbeck L’83. “I know I speak for the rest of the Board of Advisors when I say we are excited to get to work with Vincent and to propel our College forward.”

“I welcome this opportunity to deepen my commitment to Syracuse University and the College of Law and to add my perspectives—including those I bring from the SU Office of Multicultural Advancement’s Advisory Council—to Dean Boise’s and the Board’s initiatives. In my leadership role at Dechert, and through my clients, I have a front-row seat to how the legal profession and our business sectors are fast evolving, and I look forward to helping Syracuse continue to lead the way in adapting to these changes,” says Cohen. “Syracuse is a special place for me and my family. My father was an undergraduate and law school graduate, and my mother is from the city of Syracuse; it is where my parents met. It is an honor to serve my alma mater and to strengthen my bonds with this community.”

Before joining Dechert’s 125-strong White Collar team five years ago, Cohen was Acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia (2015-2016), the largest US attorney’s office in the nation. From 2010-2015, he served as the office’s Principal Assistant US Attorney. Last year, he was elected to Dechert’s Global Policy Committee, a 14-member body that oversees the firm’s 26 offices worldwide. Since joining Dechert, Cohen has chaired the Black Lawyers Alliance, a firm affinity group,

Cohen has received the Presidential Star Award from the National Bar Association for his contributions in the field of law. He also has received the Director’s Award from the US Secret Service and a Public Service and Humanitarian Award from Walker Memorial Baptist Church for his work in ensuring equal justice for the people of Washington, DC. He has served as general counsel and remains an active member of 100 Black Men of America Inc. (Greater Washington), an organization focused on improving the quality of life of minority youth in the nation’s capital. As an educator, Cohen is a trial advocacy instructor at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop and a frequent lecturer at Syracuse, Georgetown, and Harvard law schools.

Cohen is consistently recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in white-collar crime and government investigations for the District of Columbia, and he is listed by Legal 500 US for corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense. He was recently recognized by the Washingtonian Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Washington, DC.

Among other citations, Cohen was named as one of Savoy Magazine‘s Most Influential Black Lawyers in America; one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America by Lawdragon. The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) named Cohen a Rainmaker, describing him as “an exceptional diverse attorney whose business acumen and dedication to proactive client development set him apart as a leader in the legal profession.” In 2020, he was named one of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s first-ever Black Leaders Worth Watching and in 2018 the publication honored him with the 2018 Diversity Leader Award for his commitment to diversity.

In addition to his service on the University Board of Trustees, Cohen—a former member of the Syracuse University men’s basketball team—serves on the Board’s Athletics and Finance committees and the Office of Multicultural Advancement’s Advisory Council. He is a former member of the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association Board of Directors and received an inaugural Syracuse Law Honors Award from the College in 2015. In 2008, he accepted the Chancellor’s Citation for Distinguished Alumni Achievement in Law.

To honor his late father—Vincent Cohen Sr. ’57, L’60—Cohen has endowed an Our Time Has Come Scholarship for Syracuse Black and Latino students through the Office of Multicultural Advancement. The elder Cohen was an All-American and Syracuse Men’s Basketball All-Century Team basketball player who became a successful corporate attorney in Washington, DC, and who received the George Arents Pioneer Medal in 1986, the University’s highest alumni honor.