Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that 25 of the firm’s lawyers are included on the 2024 New York Metro Super Lawyers list and 13 lawyers are included on the 2024 New York Metro Rising Stars list across a range of practice areas.

Super Lawyers once again named C&G co­-founder Mark S. Cohen and partner Jonathan S. Abernethy to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.

Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:

• Jonathan S. Abernethy, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Kwaku Andoh, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Luke Appling, Civil Litigation: Defense
• Elizabeth Bernhardt, Business Litigation
• Karen H. Bromberg, Intellectual Property
• Jason Brown, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Joanna K. Chan, Securities Litigation
• Mark S. Cohen, Business Litigation
• Gale Dick, Business Litigation
• Christian R. Everdell, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Robert J. Gavigan, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Lawrence T. Gresser, Business Litigation
• Oliver S. Haker, Business Litigation
• Johannes Jonas, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Nicholas J. Kaiser, Real Estate
• David F. Lisner, Business Litigation
• Ellen Paltiel, General Litigation
• Douglas J. Pepe, Business Litigation
• Matthew V. Povolny, Business Litigation
• Bonnie J. Roe, Securities & Corporate Finance
• Stephen M. Sinaiko, Business Litigation
• Mark Spatz, Civil Litigation: Defense
• Daniel H. Tabak, Business Litigation
• Scott D. Thomson, Business Litigation
• Alexandra Wald, Business Litigation

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:

• Sharon L. Barbour, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Randall W. Bryer, Business Litigation
• Shannon A. Daugherty, Business Litigation
• Drew S. Dean, General Litigation
• Christine M. Jordan, General Litigation
• William Kalema, Business Litigation
• Phoebe King, Business Litigation
• Sri Kuehnlenz, Civil Litigation: Defense
• Marvin J. Lowenthal, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Barbara K. Luse, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Alexandra Theobald, Business Litigation
• Myia Williams, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Benjamin Zhu, General Litigation

   

Cohen & Gresser has been recognized for excellence in dispute resolution, and lawyers Mark S. Cohen, Douglas J Pepe, John Roberti, and Daniel Tabak have been named “Litigation Stars”, in the 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation.

The “Stars” featured in the guide are recognized through Benchmark Litigation’s independent research as some of the foremost litigation practitioners in the United States. The selection process involves in-depth interviews with litigators, dispute resolution experts, and their clients, along with a thorough review of significant cases and firm developments. Lawyers named as “Stars” are highly respected by their peers and stand out for their impressive case track records and positive client feedback.

Since its inception in 2008, Benchmark Litigation has been the only publication on the market to focus exclusively on litigation in the United States.

Lawdragon has recognized six Cohen & Gresser partners in its 2025 "500 Leading Litigators in America" guide:

• Mark S. Cohen – Commercial Litigation, including Real Estate, Antitrust, and White Collar
• Lawrence T. Gresser – Complex Commercial Litigation
• Melissa H. Maxman – Litigation, including White Collar and Antitrust
• Douglas J. Pepe – Complex Litigation, Law Firm Malpractice, Blockchain
• John Roberti – Antitrust & Competition Law, including Litigation
• Ronald F. Wick – Antitrust & Competition Litigation

This year’s Lawdragon guide highlights "the best litigators the U.S. has to offer" across various categories, following an extensive review of a record number of submissions. The guide focuses on lawyers who have made a significant impact, particularly in recent high-profile matters. The selection process includes in-depth analysis of major litigation and the attorneys consistently sought for key cases.

The Legal 500 United States 2024 edition has recognized Cohen & Gresser’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices for excellence across multiple categories, including Antitrust Litigation, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Crime, Commercial Litigation, and Securities Litigation. Testimonials included in the guide praise the firm for being a “litigation powerhouse” and for its “devotion to the needs of the clients, its creativity, and its perseverance.”

Mark Cohen is once again recognized as a Leading Partner in both Securities Litigation and Corporate Investigations & White-Collar Crime: Advice to Individuals.

The 2024 guide also recognizes Lawrence T. Gresser, Jonathan Abernethy, Jason Brown, S. Gale Dick, Christian Everdell, Jeffrey Lang, Alisa Lu, Melissa Maxman, Douglas Pepe, John Roberti, Daniel Tabak, and Ronald Wick as recommended lawyers.

This 17th edition of The Legal 500 United States guide, which identifies the “true superstars of the profession,” involved a detailed assessment of various factors, including work conducted by law firms over the past 12 months and historically; experience and depth of teams; and client feedback.

Founded in 2002, Cohen & Gresser’s New York office serves as the firm’s headquarters. Our New York attorneys are particularly strong in complex litigation, investigations, and transactions. The firm’s Washington, D.C. office handles a range of commercial litigation and regulatory enforcement actions, with a focus on domestic and foreign antitrust issues.

Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that 29 of the firm's lawyers are included on the 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers list and 11 lawyers are included on the 2023 New York Metro Rising Stars list across a range of practice areas.

Super Lawyers named C&G co­founder Mark S. Cohen one of the Top 10 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Partners Jonathan S. Abernethy and Karen H. Bromberg have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Additionally, Karen has been recognized as one of the Top 50 women lawyers within the same region.

Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:

• Jonathan S. Abernethy, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Kwaku Andoh, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Luke Appling, Civil Litigation: Defense
• Elizabeth Bernhardt, Business Litigation
• Colin C. Bridge, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Karen H. Bromberg, Intellectual Property
• Jason Brown, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Joanna K. Chan, Securities Litigation
• Mark S. Cohen, Business Litigation
• S. Gale Dick, Business Litigation
• Christian R. Everdell, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Robert J. Gavigan, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Lawrence T. Gresser, Business Litigation
• Oliver S. Haker, Business Litigation
• Johannes Jonas, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Nicholas J. Kaiser, Real Estate
• Jeffrey I. Lang, Civil Litigation: Defense
• David F. Lisner, Business Litigation
• Ellen Paltiel, General Litigation
• Douglas J. Pepe, Business Litigation
• Matthew V. Povolny, Business Litigation
• Nathaniel P. T. Read, Business Litigation
• Bonnie J. Roe, Securities & Corporate Finance
• Stephen M. Sinaiko, Business Litigation
• Mark Spatz, Civil Litigation: Defense
• C. Evan Stewart, Securities Litigation
• Daniel H. Tabak, Business Litigation
• Scott D. Thomson, Business Litigation
• Alexandra Wald, Business Litigation

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:

• Sharon L. Barbour, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Randall W. Bryer, Business Litigation
• Shannon A. Daugherty, Business Litigation
• Drew S. Dean, General Litigation
• Jesse Greenwald, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Christine M. Jordan, General Litigation
• William Kalema, Business Litigation
• Sri Kuehnlenz, Civil Litigation: Defense
• Marvin J. Lowenthal, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Barbara K. Luse, Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Benjamin Zhu, General Litigation

Cohen & Gresser partner Douglas J. Pepe was once again mentioned in Law360 for his representation of law firm Milberg LLP in a class action, Bobbitt v. Milberg et al., alongside co-counsel Gregory P. Joseph and Gila S. Singer of Joseph Hage Aaronson LLC and Michele G. Thompson of the Udall Law Firm LLP. A $32 million settlement in the yearslong malpractice action received preliminary approval from a federal judge in April, and class counsel has now asked the court to approve $9.6 million in attorney fees.

Tokenized Insider recently featured the insights of Douglas J. Pepe, partner at Cohen & Gresser, on the July 13 decision in SEC v. Ripple Labs, which held that XRP, a cryptocurrency and the native token of Ripple, is not an “investment contract” within the meaning of the securities laws.

As Doug writes, the implication of the analysis conducted in this case is that XRP can be freely traded on secondary markets like Coinbase, Kraken and Bitstamp without complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which is a “devastating blow to the SEC’s position in secondary market exchange cases.”

With over 2,000 subscribers, Tokenized Insider is an “essential guide to profitable opportunities in tokenized real estate and real-world assets.”

The Legal 500 United States 2023 edition has recognized Cohen & Gresser’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices for legal excellence in Antitrust Litigation, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Crime, Commercial Litigation, and Securities Litigation. Partner Mark Cohen received recognition as a Leading Lawyer in Securities Litigation and Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Crime: Advice to Individuals. The 2023 guide also recognized partners Lawrence T. Gresser, Jonathan Abernethy, Jason Brown, S. Gale Dick, Jeffrey Lang, Melissa Maxman, Douglas Pepe, John Roberti, Daniel Tabak, and Ronald Wick as recommended lawyers. This 16th edition of The Legal 500 United States guide involved a detailed assessment of various factors, including work conducted by law firms over the past 12 months and historically; experience and depth of teams; and client feedback. The guide highlights C&G’s “widespread global footprint” as being “crucial on multifaceted disputes work.” It praises the firm’s “ability to handle high-end and top-of-the-line cases” and “strength in bet-the-company litigation, contract disputes, fraud, and the financial services sector.” Founded in 2002, Cohen & Gresser’s New York office serves as the firm’s headquarters. Our New York attorneys are particularly strong in securities litigation and arbitration, international arbitration, regulatory investigations, patent litigation, and M&A transactions. The firm’s Washington, D .C. office handles a range of commercial litigation and regulatory enforcement actions, with a focus on domestic and foreign antitrust issues.

SmartBlocks recently spotlighted Cohen & Gresser’s Douglas J. Pepe on its list of top innovators and influencers in the tokenization industry. The Top 32 Influencers You Need To Know list specifically lauds Doug for providing tools for tokenizing real-world assets and NFTs on the blockchain and for his work in the Ravencoin ecosystem.

Smartblocks is dedicated to helping businesses unlock the potential of their assets through end-to-end solutions for security tokens, tokenization of large assets, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Cohen & Gresser partner Douglas J. Pepe was recently mentioned in Law360 for his representation of law firm Milberg LLP in a class action, Bobbitt v. Milberg et al., alongside co-counsel Gregory P. Joseph and Gila S. Singer of Joseph Hage Aaronson LLC and Michele G. Thompson of the Udall Law Firm LLP. A settlement in the yearslong malpractice action received preliminary approval from a federal judge.

International law firm Cohen & Gresser today announced that leading litigator and trial lawyer Douglas J Pepe will join the firm as a partner in its New York office.

Doug brings over 20 years of experience representing corporations, financial services clients (including hedge funds and private equity funds), law firms, and other clients in complex commercial litigation. His practice focuses on high-stakes securities litigation, legal malpractice cases, insurance disputes, mass torts, class action defense, and legal issues in the blockchain and digital currency space.

“I’ve co-counseled with Cohen & Gresser in the past and am thrilled to be joining a talented team with exceptional trial capabilities, high-quality work, and excellent judgment,” said Doug. “I look forward to building my practice here and to working with my new colleagues around the world on complex commercial disputes, professional liability defense, and blockchain advisory work.”

Doug has successfully litigated tens of billions of dollars in claims involving a wide variety of complex issues, including playing a leading role on the Court-appointed Executive Committee charged with directing the subrogation and property damage claims arising out of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

“I’m delighted to welcome Doug to the firm,” said Lawrence T Gresser, co-founder and global managing partner of Cohen & Gresser. “We know him well and like and respect him very much. He is a first-rate litigator and will be integral in providing elite client service and guidance in areas that are important to our clients, including growing our commercial and securities litigation practices, our professional liability practice, and our blockchain and digital currency group.”

Prior to joining Cohen & Gresser, Doug was a partner at Joseph Hage Aaronson LLC, a preeminent litigation boutique. Doug is a member of the American Law Institute and a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He also serves as a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University School of Law, where he teaches blockchain law and technology.

Blockchain has the potential to transform asset transactions and ownership tracking by reducing counterparty risk, speeding up settlements, and enhancing recordkeeping. As blockchain technology evolves and gains wider acceptance, its use is likely to expand across various asset types, including real and personal property and digital assets. However, unresolved legal issues in the U.S. may create uncertainty in blockchain transactions. This article, written by Douglas J. Pepe, Marvin J. Lowenthal, and Randall W. Bryer for the European Journal of Law Reform, explores key legal challenges and how courts and legislatures are addressing them.

On Sept. 13, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settled enforcement proceedings against the maker of the Stoner Cats web series arising from its sale of NFTs, reflecting a significant expansion of the SEC’s crypto enforcement efforts into the NFT space. In this C&G Client Alert, Douglas J Pepe and William E Kalema explore the SEC’s position in this instance and the broader implications of its stepped-up enforcement of crypto assets as securities.

A four-count indictment was recently brought by the DOJ and SEC against three individuals, including a former employee of Coinbase, for alleged insider trading of crypto assets. While the DOJ brought the criminal case under the wire fraud and conspiracy statutes, the SEC asserted its claims under the securities laws – marking the first time the SEC has alleged insider trading in violation of securities laws in the crypto context.

• The SEC action directly raises the question whether the tokens at issue qualify as unregistered securities, with significant implications for whether the platforms that facilitate trading in those tokens are potentially exposed to legal liability as unregistered securities exchanges.
• While Coinbase is not named in the SEC's complaint as an unregistered securities exchange, the nine tokens mentioned in the complaint were all traded on Coinbase, leaving it unclear what, if any, consequences will result from the SEC’s enforcement action for Coinbase.
• These are also the first cases to allege “tippee” liability for insider trading in the crypto sphere -- a "tippee" being a person who receives and trades on information obtained by someone else (the "tipper") in violation of the tipper's duty to a third party.

In this client alert, Douglas Pepe, Christian Everdell, and Jesse Greenwald discuss the myriad of issues this case presents for the crypto sphere and analyze the potential implications on crypto exchange if the SEC’s action is successful.

In this bylined article for The Blockchain Law Alliance, Doug Pepe discusses a recent four-count indictment brought by the DOJ and related SEC enforcement action against three individuals, including a former employee of Coinbase, for alleged insider trading of crypto assets. These are the first cases to allege “tippee” liability for insider trading in the crypto context.

In addition, while the DOJ brought the criminal case under the wire fraud and conspiracy statutes, the SEC asserted its claims under the securities laws – marking the first time the SEC has alleged insider trading in violation of securities laws in the crypto context. The SEC action directly raises the question whether the tokens at issue qualify as unregistered securities, with significant implications for whether the platforms that facilitate trading in those tokens are potentially exposed to legal liability as unregistered securities exchanges.

Underwood v. Coinbase Global, Inc., et al., a closely-followed putative class action in the Southern District of New York, alleges that Coinbase, a secure online platform for buying, selling, transferring, and storing cryptocurrency, is in violation of the securities laws for selling 79 securities on its platform despite not being registered as an exchange or broker-dealer.

• Coinbase recently filed a Motion to Dismiss that has significant potential implications for the statutory seller defense in the crypto context.
• In its motion, the company argues that it is not a statutory seller and therefore lacks privity with its customers, absolving it of all liability under the Securities Act and Exchange Act.
• The basis for Coinbase’s motion is contained in its user agreement, which specifically states that when users buy or sell assets on the Coinbase site, they are not buying or selling them "from Coinbase."
• The case presents an interesting question in the context of suits against crypto exchanges: can statutory seller liability be extinguished by a user agreement saying that customers are not transacting with the exchange, even though the exchange maintains the keys and controls the crypto at all times until it is transferred to the customer?

In this client alert, Doug Pepe analyzes the arguments in Coinbase’s recent Motion to Dismiss in Underwood v. Coinbase Global, Inc., et al., explores the key questions they raise, and offers insight into the potential implications for the statutory seller defense in the crypto context.

 

In this C&G client alert, Doug Pepe and Marvin Lowenthal examine the impact of the New York Assembly's bill and highlight the key factors that the responsible departments will use to assess the environmental impact of the mining industry in New York.

On April 4, 2021, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler gave a new speech on crypto-related issues at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The speech focused on three main topics: (1) crypto exchanges and other trading and lending platforms, (2) stablecoins, and (3) "Tokens."

• Chairman Gensler's speech provides new insight into the approach the SEC will be taking in each of these three key areas.
• We can expect inbound regulatory efforts in each of the three areas he addressed, with potential SEC-CFTC coordination on exchange registration requirements, and some form of regulation or increased enforcement efforts with respect to stablecoins and tokens.
• The SEC clearly intends to step up regulation and enforcement in these areas and, in particular, seems to be set on mandating registration for crypto trading platforms.

In this C&G client alert, Douglas J Pepe outlines the key takeaways from SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s speech on crypto-related issues and provides insight on what to expect regarding future regulation.

The UK’s HM Treasury published its response to last year’s consultation on the UK regulatory approach to cryptoassets, stablecoins, and distributed ledger technology (“DLT”) in financial markets on the 4th of April 2022.

• The Response Document highlights the government’s post-Brexit push to drive transformational growth in the UK’s FinTech space through cryptoassets and DLT and confirms its plans to enact legislation to recognise stablecoins as a valid means of payment by bringing them into the existing regulatory perimeter.
• The Treasury’s move to make stablecoins a valid means of payment is the first in an array of measures set to be implemented to secure the UK’s status as “the world’s preeminent financial centre” and “a global hub for cryptoasset technology and investment.”
• The proposed changes should be seen as an effort by the UK to remain relevant in the FinTech space following its exit from the European Union and the damage to its reputation as an attractive business environment that accompanied it.

In this client alert, C&G’s crypto team provides key takeaways from the UK’s HM Treasury response document and offers insight regarding the government’s strategy to support the development of a “world-best crypto ecosystem.”

On March 9, 2022, President Biden issued an executive order on the “responsible development of digital assets.” He directed a “whole government” review of cryptocurrency assets, including directing the Secretary of the Treasury to convene the Financial Stability Oversight Council (“FSOC”).

• In conjunction with other agencies, the FSOC will study the risks and impact of digital assets and explore the possibility of creating a Central Bank Digital Currency in the United States.
• The order directs the executive agencies to explore creating a digital version of the U.S. dollar that could be used to facilitate digital transactions while still being controlled by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
• President Biden expressed concern about the impact of cryptocurrencies on the integrity of the financial system.

In this C&G client alert, Douglas J Pepe and Alexandra K Theobald review the details of President Biden’s executive order on the “responsible development of digital assets” and offer insight into what we can expect from the government in terms of future guidance and enforcement efforts.

Douglas J. Pepe participated on the "Staking Services – Risks and Opportunities" panel at Satoshi Roundtable X, which took place February 2024. The Satoshi Roundtable is characterized by high-level private discussions and brings together leading developers, CEOs, founders, scientists, academics, and investors.

Partner Douglas J. Pepe participated in the "Web3 & UCC Nexus: Navigating the New Digital Frontier" panel discussion as part of the New York State Bar Association's Second Global Law Symposium.

Douglas J. Pepe joined Buchanan's Sahel Assar, Blockchain & Digital Assets Practice Group Leader and Tax Counsel, in this Blockchain 101 CLE presentation.

They discussed the basics of blockchain and crypto technology, laws and regulations, and U.S. domestic crypto policy.

Partner Douglas J. Pepe, who is also a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University School of Law, participated as a panelist in The George Washington International Law Review’s annual symposium. This year’s theme was “Finance’s Final Frontier: The Role of Digital Assets & Cryptocurrency within the Global Economy.”

Other speakers participating in this symposium were CFTC Commissioner Kristin Johnson, GW Law Deans Rosa Celario and Michael Abramowicz, Scott Farnin of BetterMarkets, Dr. Mardoqueo Tóchez of the Embassy of El Salvador, and David Hirsch of the SEC Division of Enforcement, among others.

Doug and the other speakers discussed international law and policy challenges involving global technological advancement and economic shifts created by the rise of digital assets and their adoption as legitimate currency.

Douglas J. Pepe spoke with Mark Fidelman of Cryptonized in an episode titled “Demystifying Tokenized Security Laws.” They discussed blockchain asset law and the difference between a Bitcoin and a blockchain asset, and how blockchain assets are essentially an empty vessel that can be filled with legal rights and obligations.

Other topics discussed in the episode:

• The intersection between law and technology, and how blockchain can be used to enforce legal obligations.
• The Ice Wallet that Doug Pepe invented. The wallet is designed for cold storage and communication with a blockchain using optical technology.

View the full episode here.

Douglas J. Pepe guest lectured a Harvard Law School course called "Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Fintech” in December 2022.

Doug Pepe joined Stephan Unger, Professor at Saint Anslem College, for a conversation on the history, possibilities, and implications of living in a new era – the age of the decentralized ledger.

Douglas J. Pepe spoke on an installment of the award-nominated podcast The Hearing, a Legal Podcast with Joseph Raczynski, technologist and futurist for Thomson Reuters. The two discussed blockchain, tokens, and cryptocurrency.