Stephen B. Cohen attended Harvard College (A.B.), Vanderbilt University (J.D.) and Cambridge University (Downing College) in England (LL.M. in International Law and Diploma in International Law. Mr. Cohen is a member of the Indiana Bar and Illinois Bar, manages and supervises the activities in his Indiana office. Mr. Cohen has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell in both Indiana and Illinois. Mr. Cohen has a lifetime connection with the State of Indiana and for many years practiced with his Father, Cecil B. Cohen, (1900-1985). He continues the excellence and tradition of almost eighty (80) years of Cohen family attorneys in Lake County, Indiana. Stephen’s office is operated under the name of The Law Office of Stephen B. Cohen and is located at 900 Ridge Road, Suite K, Munster, Indiana.
Mr. Cohen is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law and has twice been included in the Real Estate Section of the book entitled “The Top Lawyers in America.” Mr. Cohen has worked with contractors and developers throughout the state of Indiana. His real estate practice includes the representation of parties in the sale and purchase of commercial properties, construction law developers and contractors, all aspects of residential real estate, and real estate litigation. Mr. Cohen is also a title agent for Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. in Indiana and several title companies in Illinois. His Real Estate practice in Indiana also includes representing property owners in Eminent Doman and Real Estate Tax Assessment matters, Probate and Estate Planning.
Mr. Cohen is on the official list in Indiana for Court appointment as a Mediator in civil cases. He has been mediating disputes since 1994, has represented numerous clients during the Mediation process, and is qualified as a Cook County Circuit Court Certified Mediator for Complex Cases in the Law Division and for court ordered Mediation in the Chancery Division, both divisions of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. Mr. Cohen has been chosen as an Arbitrator for private Arbitration of disputes in Indiana and is on a panel of the Lake County Bar Association for the Arbitration of Attorney/Client Fee disputes.
Stephen has a special interest in “Sport Law” organizations, eligibility, substance abuse and due process. Mr. Cohen has advised professional baseball players on the requirements of Double Avoidance Taxation Treaties. He has been involved in numerous controversies under the By-Laws, Rules and Regulation of the United States Cycling Federation and was a former member of the President’s Advisory Board for the United States International Speedskating Association (USISA/now USA Speedskating), acting as its Special Counsel for several matters. Mr. Cohen successfully represented USISA in a USOC decertification hearing under the Amateur Sports Act and in athlete Arbitration matters, has represented Amateur athletes on eligibility issues, has reviewed numerous contracts for professional athletes and National Governing Body Sponsorship Agreements, and favorably represented a National Governing Sports Organization in proceedings before the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Cohen played a significant role in structuring a merger of USISA and the Amateur Speedskating Union (ASU) to form USA Speedskating. He has consulted on the restructuring of other Amateur Sports Organizations. He is the immediate past President of the USISA Charitable Fund and its current Treasurer.
Mr. Cohen is a member of the “East Chicago (Indiana) Sports Hall of Fame”, a member of the Board of Directors of USISA Charitable Fund, a member of the Executive Committee of the Masters Division of USA Track and Field (USATF), is Midwest Regional Coordinator for USATF Masters, and is a member of the “Northbrook (IL) Park District Hall of Fame”. Mr. Cohen was President of the Northbrook Speedskating Club, the Northbrook Bicycle Club and The Northbrook Cycle Committee, and is still an active (a past National Indoor Shot Put Champion) participant in Masters’ Track and Field. Steve was an All-State football player and track athlete in High School, played Varsity football at Harvard College, held the Shot Put record at Harvard College and was an NCAA Shot Put Medal winner, and still hold the Cambridge University (England) Shot Put record.
Mr. Cohen is a past chairperson of the Indiana and Illinois State Bar Association, ADR Section Council, has planned and organized an ISBA (Illinois) Continuing Legal Education “Mediation” Seminar, and is currently a member of the Indiana Bar Association ADR Task Force formed to make recommendations on changes to the Indiana ADT rules. In addition, Mr. Cohen has participated as an Arbitrator for the Cook County Municipal Court Mandatory Arbitration Program and is now an Arbitrator for the new Cook County Circuit Court Law Division Pilot Program for Mandatary Arbitration of Commercial cases with an addendum of $75,000 or less.
As an attorney or mediator, he has been involved in mediated disputes concerning contract mattes, medical malpractice cases, personal injury disputes (including pre-suit mediation), medical association peer review and admissions matters, construction disputes, and sports law issues. His International Law exposure affords him the experience necessary to Mediate and Arbitrate disputes involving public Domestic or International Law controversies.
Before becoming active in Indiana Bar Association Committees (ADR, Litigation, Probate and Real Estate, Unauthorized Practice of Law, Ethics and Attorney Fee Dispute matters), Stephen was active in the Chicago Bar Association (Chair of the Real Estate Condominium Committee and member of the Executive Committee of the Real Property Law Committee) and was a Lecturer for Real Estate Seminars sponsored by the Illinois Institute for Continuing legal Education.