marccohen@kayescholer.com
Los Angeles
T: (310) 788-1223
Mr. Cohen serves as Chair of Kaye Scholer’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring practice group in Los Angeles. He has over 35 years’ experience in bankruptcy law and corporate reorganization, with particular emphasis on the representation of bondholders, secured creditors, creditors’ committees, and debtors-in-possession. He currently represents the California State Controller in disputes with life insurance companies regarding escheat matters, and LAX in connection with American Airlines Chapter 11.
He recently concluded the representation of the Official Committee of Participant Creditors in the California Power Exchange Corporation Chapter 11 proceeding and currently represents the Reorganized California Power Exchange Corporation in various matters, including those pending in the Pacific Gas and Electric Company Chapter 11 proceedings, and matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He also recently concluded the representation of the Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors of 25 Burger King restaurants and 70 Jack in the Box restaurants.
Mr. Cohen has represented clients in a variety of areas, including state and city agencies, energy, aviation, real estate and entertainment. Mr. Cohen has been involved in out-of-court acquisitions, and the purchase and sale of assets in chapter proceedings, including those resulting from plans of reorganization.
Mr. Cohen was named the 2006 Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year by the Century City Bar Association, and is cited in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2006-2011) as “an established bankruptcy specialist.”
He was a member of the Cornell University Council (July 2007–2011), is a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy, and a two term lawyer representative for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. He has served as chair of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and has served two terms as a member of the Insolvency Committee of the State Bar of California.
Over the past 35 years, he has given numerous lectures and written on bankruptcy issues, the most recent of which addressed the ongoing state bankruptcy debate, “Chapter 9 Municipal Bankruptcy: Municipalities Facing Financial Crisis,” American Bankruptcy Institute Battleground West Program, March 4, 2011; the energy regulatory markets in California, “The Aftermath and Jurisdictional Quagmire Following California’s Energy Crisis,” Business Law News, Spring Edition, Issue 2, 2005; and “The Jurisdictional Quagmire Continues – Calpine’s Bankruptcy Proceedings,” Business Law News, Spring Edition, Issue 2, 2006. He has also spoken on escheat issues, “Effective Auditing & Collection of Unclaimed Life Insurance Proceeds,” for the National Association of State Treasurers, May 16, 2012.
Mr. Cohen is also actively involved with the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition, and serves as the Chairman of the Model Adopt-A-Fire Station Program for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Mr. Cohen is Chairman of the First-In Fire Foundation and has been named an Honorary Fire Chief by the LAFD.