As a Founding Partner, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Merchants, Cohn brings over 35 years of expertise in legal and financial aspects of the restaurant, hospitality, and real estate industry. Cohn’s acquired knowledge goes far beyond the essential business aspects necessary to run a successful restaurant and real estate company. Cohn is responsible for negotiating highly competitive leases, loan documents, partnerships and joint venture documents, franchise agreements, supervising financial deals, reviewing marketing, advertising, and planning materials, heading litigation on issues concerning trademark, union, landlord and tenant, labor, wage and employment, international programs, the State Liquor Authority, and a myriad of administrative aspects inherent in the business. Cohn’s contribution to the Company wildly surpasses each title attributed to him, whether as Partner, Counselor or Executive Management Team Member. It is Cohn’s seasoned level of industry specific legal and operational knowledge that allows the Company to successfully operate and expand. Cohn is attributed with building and maintaining the corporate team, ensuring the Company efficiently complies with any and all requisites for its multitude of properties.Along with Abraham Merchant, CEO and President of the company, Cohn is credited with contributing to the revitalization and renewal of Lower Manhattan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks devastated the area. Cohn has the honor of being appointed by the Hon. Chairman Whitehead to be a member of the Restaurants, Retailers and Small Business Advisory Council to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.Through this capacity, Cohn has interacted with many members of the community who have contributed to the ongoing revitalization. Cohn made the well-known restaurant SouthwestNY at the World Financial Center available on a complimentary basis to host various seminars and presentations conducted by the LMDC, the New York State Economic Development Corporation, the World Trade Center Tenant’s Association, The Consortium for Worker Education, and many others. It has been an honor and privilege for Cohn and SouthWest NY to host an annual complimentary buffet for the families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack from 2002 through 2011. Cohn lives just outside Manhattan with his wife and three sons, enjoys cycling and skiing. Cohn competes annually in the NYC Triathlon.