Providing effective legal services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals. An attorney at law representing clients in Seattle, Bellevue, King County and throughout the Puget Sound region.

Professional Summary

As a sole practitioner, Jerome O. Cohen represents and advises individuals, families, and small to medium sized businesses in their legal and business needs. His 38 years of providing legal services in Seattle bring solid experience and exceptional insight to his client’s needs particularly in the areas of business and real estate transactions, business formation and succession, estate planning, wills and trusts.

Mr. Cohen serves as arbitrator for the King County Superior Court and for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Dispute Resolution (formerly NASD Dispute Resolution). His reputation for fairness and impartiality makes him a sought after private arbitrator.

Extensive business experience provides Mr. Cohen with a unique ability to appreciate the challenges, risks, and rewards of running your company as well as your real estate investment needs.

• As the president of a building construction company with a multi-million dollar volume he was directly responsible for management, operation, and construction of substantial commercial and multi-family building projects in Washington and Alaska for both private developers and governmental agencies.


• As vice president and general counsel of construction and real estate development companies, Mr. Cohen was responsible for the legal review and documentation of tens of millions of dollars worth of commercial and multi-family residential development, construction, and management. These projects were financed through conventional methods or through HUD 221(d)(3), Section 8, or Seattle Housing Authority Turnkey financing, and Section 241 refinancing.

A firm believer in the benefits of arbitration, Mr. Cohen served on the King County Bar Association Mandatory Arbitration Task Force to help legislate mandatory arbitration. He testified before the Washington House Judiciary Committee and mobilized the support of the Associated General Contractors and the Washington State Society of CPAs for the bill passed in the 2000 legislative session saving mandatory arbitration.

Numerous families and individuals have relied on Mr. Cohen for succession and estate planning advice, wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, family limited liability companies, and other estate preservation investment strategies. These services ensure that the client's succession goals are met both on a personal and business level with a minimum interference with governmental and taxing agencies.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Cohen conducts seminars on the laws and responsibilities of being a Notary Public for LMI Educational Services.

Mr. Cohen also serves as an active member of the Board of Directors of the Samis Foundation, a private nonprofit foundation, which owns, manages, and develops substantial commercial and multi-family residential projects in the downtown Seattle, the greater Seattle area, and other communities throughout the state of Washington.

Professional Experience

1989-PRESENT - LAW OFFICES OF JEROME O. COHEN

Private practice of law, legal services in Seattle, Washington. Commercial practice with emphasis on real estate financing, acquisition, development, construction, property management, landlord-tenant issues, business law, entity formation, employment issues, and contracts as well as succession and estate planning, wills, trusts and as an arbitrator.

1975- 1989 - ORVCO, INC. GROUP

This umbrella organization included two construction companies, a real estate development company and a real property management company, which developed, financed, constructed and managed apartment and condominium housing (HUD subsidized and conventional), commercial office buildings, governmental buildings, and retail commercial projects in Washington, Oregon and Alaska:

• Century Construction Company, Inc. - President, 1983-1989
  $45 TO $65 million annual volume general building contractor with projects ranging from $1 million to $18 million in both Washington and Alaska.
  
  Responsible for all company operations, including employment issues, marketing, bidding, negotiating, and completion of construction contracts for both private and governmental owners. Additionally, supervised litigation counsel involving multi-million dollar claims in Federal Court of Claims, U.S. Bankruptcy Court and State Courts.



• Century Construction Company, Inc. - Vice President/General Counsel, 1975 - 1982
  Responsible for all legal representation for the company. This included original work product as well as management and supervision of outside counsel. Duties included contract negotiation, agreement drafting, management and negotiation of contracts, claims and litigation.



• Mountain Pacific Development Company - Vice President/General Counsel, 1975 - 1989
  Provided legal services necessary to develop over 1,000 condominium units, both new and conversions, at least 1,500 apartment rental units and six office buildings. Responsibilities included negotiations and drafting of land purchase and development agreements, land use process, drafting and review of financing, purchase, sale and lease documents. Supervised outside counsel and represented principal in land use hearings.



• Washington Management Company, Inc. - Vice President/General Counsel 1975 - 1988
  Supervised four Property Managers with direct responsibility for rent-up and management of over 1,000 units of apartments, including HUD low income and conventional units. Property manager for commercial office building in Salem, Oregon.

1973-1975 - LAW OFFICES OF JEROME O. COHEN

General practice of law, Seattle, WA.

Education/Training

Juris Doctorate, University of San Diego, 1973
Bachelor of Arts, University of Washington, 1970
Certified Mediation Training, University of Washington School of Law
Certified Arbitration Training, NASD Regulation, Inc.
Certified Arbitration Panel Chair Training, NASD Regulation, Inc.

Professional Affiliations/Licenses

Washington State Bar Association
King County Bar Association
Licensed real estate sales person
Member FINRA Dispute Resolution Board of Arbitrators
King County Superior Court Arbitrator

Civic and Community Leadership

Board of Trustees, Samis Foundation
Former President, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce
Former President and Board Member, Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle
Former Board Member, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Former Member of the Board of Governors, CityClub of Seattle