Christopher B. Cohen
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND
ADMISSIONS TO PRACTICE
LAW
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
JD May, 1967 University
of
BA May, 1964
RECORD OF EXPERIENCE
2/98-Present Principal
COHEN LAW FIRM – Glencoe
Responsibilities: Government regulation law including
legislative liaison, issue management, real estate assessment reduction for
commercial and industrial properties and zoning; administrative hearing trials
regarding municipal violations and Medicare payments; traffic & criminal
defense; author, lecturer, trainer.
7/03-Present Hearings
Referee [Administrative Law Judge] Intermittent
Illinois
Department of Employment Security –
Responsibilities: Preside over seven trials per day,
hearing appeals as forum of record from agency decisions granting or denying
unemployment compensation benefits to claimants separated from employment. Rule on evidence admission and
objections. Prepare written decisions for
all cases by day’s end.
7/02-Present Secretary’s
Representative
Illinois
Secretary of State – Chicago
Responsibilities: Contract attorney introducing
evidence and questioning petitioners in formal hearings held to determine if
revoked drivers licenses of individuals convicted of Driving Under the
Influence of alcohol or drugs should be replaced by Restricted Driving Permits
or by full restoration of driving privileges or if licenses should remained
revoked.
3/00-Present Arbitrator
Cook
Responsibilities: Member or chair of 3-lawyer panels
hearing mini-trials under $30,000 and rendering decisions prior to trials
before Circuit Court Judges under county court’s mandatory arbitration program;
6-8 hearings per year.
2/85-2/98 Partner,
Chair Government Law Department
HOLLEB
& COFF – Chicago
Responsibilities: Government regulation including real estate assessment reduction and
exemption, zoning, health care, issue management and lobbying at federal, state
and municipal levels; writer, teacher & trainer.
8/82-1/85 Attorney
CASSIDAY, SHADE & GLOOR –
Chicago
Responsibilities: Representation of hospitals, physician groups, and HMO's on numerous
corporate issues, by‑law revision, non‑profit tax problems,
contract preparation and defense of medical malpractice litigation.
3/81-8/82 Attorney
HINSHAW,
CULBERTSON, MOELMANN, HOBAN & FULLER – Chicago
Responsibilities: Representation
of physicians,
health care providers, hospitals and HMO's on financing, corporate reorganizations,
certificate of need and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement issues. Legislative representation of corporations
before city, state and federal governments.
Clients included those in cable TV, aviation equipment and bio‑fuel
production.
11/77-2/81
US
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES –
Responsibilities: Personal representative of Health
and Human Services for Secretaries Joseph Califano and Patricia Harris for six
Midwestern states.
Liaison
to state, local and federally elected officials, including 106 Midwest Members
of Congress. Heavily involved in government relations, government affairs,
community affairs, public affairs & customer service. Policy analysis.
Administration of staff operations and
supervision of real estate and personnel for 13,000 HHS employees located in
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan – the largest
federal regional office.
Involved in project management, strategic planning, systems design, systems
engineering and compliance. Region V expenditures exceeded $30 billion in fiscal year 1980.
11/77-2/81 Member
FEDERAL REGIONAL COUNCIL – Chicago
Responsibilities: Work with Regional Directors of Cabinet level federal agencies to
solve inter‑agency issues referred by the White House or raised by
governors or mayors. Involved in
compliance efforts & strategic planning.
2/73-11/77 Attorney
SCHWARTZBERG,
BARNETT & COHEN – Chicago
Responsibilities: General practice in mortgage corporate law, foreclosure, collection of
funds, criminal, probate, divorce in Cook, DuPage,
4/71-11/77 Alderman
46th WARD
‑
Responsibilities: Representation of 68,000 persons in both legislative and
administrative city governmental issues.
Elected in 1971 and again in 1975.
Significant involvement in system engineering, strategic planning,
project implementation & customer service.
6/69-4/71 Administrative
Assistant to the President (now Chief of Staff)
COOK
Responsibilities: Representing President George Dunne at various functions; prioritizing issues and organizing
information; responding to constituent casework requests. Involved in project management & systems
analysis.
5/70-4/71 Hearing
Officer
Responsibilities: Review and rule on liquor license applications; conduct formal on-the-record hearing on allegations of
ordinance violations prosecuted by Cook County States Attorney. Involved in legal & quasi-judicial
functions.
6/67-8/68 Clerk/Attorney
LEGAL AID
BUREAU – UNITED CHARITIES OF
Responsibilities: Initial interviewing of all civil
division clients; eligibility reviews, extensive Juvenile Count criminal
defense; property damage defense.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Winter 2004 & Lecturer
(Adjunct Professor)
Summer 1973 NORTHWESTERN
UNIVERSITY –
Responsibilities 2004: Teaching a seminar
for seniors in "Local Government Structure & Policies:
Responsibilities 1973: Teaching a graduate level
political science class in "Chicago Government and Politics" five
days a week.
Winter 1980 & Lecturer (Adjunct Professor)
Spring 1981
Responsibilities: Teaching "Policy
Analysis/Chicago Government and Politics" Seminar with Public
Administration graduate students - two semesters.
Winter 1981 & Lecturer (Adjunct Professor)
Winter 1982
Responsibilities: Teaching "Administrative
Law" with 30 Public Administration graduate students - two semesters.
Spring & Fall
1979 Teacher
Spring & Fall
1980
Spring 1981
Responsibilities:
Teaching "Chicago Politics" in adult education classes for five
semesters.
2001 & periodically Instructor
The Training Institute,
Responsibilities: Teaching
AFFILIATIONS
1987-1997 Member, Illinois Hospital Licensing Board (appointed by Illinois Governors)
1985-1990 Member,
Illinois Medical Center Commission (appointed by Chicago Mayor)
2001-2004 Member,
1996-2004 Member,
2004 Member,
1995-Present President,
Citizens for Better Transit,
Member:
·
Founding Member and former Chair, Hospital
and Health Care Law Committee;
Member, Criminal Law Committee;
Member, Real Estate Taxation Committee;
Past Vice Chair Urban Affairs Committee;
·
Illinois State Bar Association
Former Member, State & Local Government
Section
Founding Member and former Chair, Health Care
Law Section Council
Illinois State Bar Association Assembly
(elected for 1991‑1993 & 1993-1995)
Past member, Joint CBA/ISBA Committee on
Compensation of Judges
·
·
State Bar of
·
American Federation of State, County
& Municipal Employees, Local 1006
·
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Chicago, Government Affairs Committee
·
University of
PUBLICATIONS
You Can’t Get There
From Here, November, 1998,
Give Elected Officials
Reason to Be Honest,
Is This Any Way To Run
A Railroad?
Passenger Rail Jumping
the Track,
Get Amtrak Back on
Track,
Real Estate Tax
Legislation, 11/95, Tax Trends, ISBA
Bill to Trace
Explosives About To Pass, But Many Years Too Late,
IRS Examines
Tax-Exempt Status of Hospitals Nationwide, 11/92,
Buyer Beware: Due
diligence in Acquisitions Averts Disaster, 10/91, Contemporary Long Term
Care
Playing by the Rules:
National Practitioner Data Bank, 6/91,
Hospitals in the
Housing Market (Low Income Housing), 4/91,
Keys to Successful
Acquisitions, 3/91,
RESEARCH
BOOK MANUSCRIPTS
Constitution
& Institutions of France & the European Union: Understanding
Secrets
of Real Estate Tax Reduction: How the Assessment Process Really Works
Government
Incentives for
PERSONAL
Physical: 6'0", 200 pounds, good health
Status: Married to Judith Ann Calder, financial advisor
Children: Christina 20 and Elizabeth 16
Languages: French, Spanish
Office:
444 Greenleaf
Office: 847/867-8500
Fax: 847/835-0088
Home: 847/835‑4002
CBC/2060