![]()
Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Barak Cohen '92 has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as senior counsel in the firm’s White Collar & Investigations practice. Cohen was most recently a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division, in Washington, D.C.
In jurisdictions throughout the country, Cohen tried numerous federal cases to verdict before juries, argued and drafted appeals and complex motions involving issues of first impression, managed sensitive grand-jury investigations that necessitated coordinating the efforts of multiple law-enforcement agencies, and conducted parallel investigations with other government regulators.
Prior to his DOJ service, Cohen was in private practice, defending high-profile clients against such allegations as violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), environmental crimes, and financial fraud. Immediately following law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Loren A. Smith of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.Cohen received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, his M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University, and his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduating from West Point, Cohen rose to the rank of captain and led two platoons in the 18th Airborne Corps’ 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), the U.S. Army’s sole rapidly deployable mechanized unit, through numerous deployments, including operations along the Iraqi border. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army's Ranger School and was hand-picked to serve on the regimental staff of the Old Guard, the U.S. Army’s Presidential escort and ceremonial unit.
Outside of the courtroom, Barak instructed law-enforcement officers and prosecutors in the laws regarding the search and seizure of electronic evidence. He also guest lectures on criminal justice at Harvard College and volunteers in the Wounded Warrior Mentor Program.
A USAA commercial aired during the 2013 football season that featured three service academy alums that have served their country as military veterans and now NFL players.
Of course, it's customary to have an "oldest grad" and a "youngest grad" at Founders Day celebrations. The West Point Society of San Francisco had the distinction of having THE oldest living graduate present. BG(R) Robert C. Tripp '33 and his wife, Liliane, were in attendance! Looking good, Sir!