H. Rodgin Cohen
Encyclopedia
Henry Rodgin Cohen is a prominent corporate lawyer whose practice focuses on commercial banking and financial institutions. Following graduation from Harvard College
(1965), Harvard Law School
(1968) and two years in the U.S. Army, Cohen joined Sullivan & Cromwell
LLP in 1970. Cohen served as Sullivan & Cromwell
's Chairman from 2000 through the end of 2009. The Financial Times has called Cohen "one of the biggest players on Wall Street". The Wall Street Journal refers to Cohen as "arguably the country’s leading banking lawyer". He has been called "the trauma surgeon of Wall Street."
Cohen participated in the bank negotiations in January 1981 that resulted in the freeing of the Americans held during the Iran hostage crisis
. Cohen has also been a key player in the resolution of most major bank failures in recent decades, including Continental Illinois, First City, Southeast, Franklin National Bank
and Bank of New England and, at the recommendation of the Federal Reserve, the Ohio
thrift crisis during the U.S. Savings and Loan crisis
in the 1980s. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks
, Cohen was a leader in the Wall Street
community rallying support for Lower Manhattan
. Cohen is a trustee of Deerfield Academy
, New York Presbyterian Hospital, the Hackley School
, Hampton University
and The Economic Club of New York
, and is a member of the advisory boards of Wall Street Rising, United Way of Westchester
-Putnam
and the University of Charleston
.
In 2009, Cohen was rumored to be considered for the post of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Obama administration.
Regarding the worst economic crisis in 80 years, Cohen defended the financial system and Wall Street: “I am far from convinced there was something inherently wrong with the system."
Cohen was played by Robert J. Hogan
in the 2011 film adaptation of Too Big to Fail
.
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
(1965), Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
(1968) and two years in the U.S. Army, Cohen joined Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is an international law firm headquartered in New York. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers in 12 offices, located in financial centers in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. Sullivan & Cromwell was founded by Algernon Sydney Sullivan and William Nelson...
LLP in 1970. Cohen served as Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is an international law firm headquartered in New York. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers in 12 offices, located in financial centers in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. Sullivan & Cromwell was founded by Algernon Sydney Sullivan and William Nelson...
's Chairman from 2000 through the end of 2009. The Financial Times has called Cohen "one of the biggest players on Wall Street". The Wall Street Journal refers to Cohen as "arguably the country’s leading banking lawyer". He has been called "the trauma surgeon of Wall Street."
Cohen participated in the bank negotiations in January 1981 that resulted in the freeing of the Americans held during the Iran hostage crisis
Iran hostage crisis
The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian...
. Cohen has also been a key player in the resolution of most major bank failures in recent decades, including Continental Illinois, First City, Southeast, Franklin National Bank
Franklin National Bank
Franklin National Bank, based in Franklin Square in Long Island, New York was once the United States' 20th largest bank. On October 8, 1974, it collapsed in obscure circumstances, involving Michele Sindona, renowned Mafia-banker and member of the irregular freemasonic lodge, Propaganda Due...
and Bank of New England and, at the recommendation of the Federal Reserve, the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
thrift crisis during the U.S. Savings and Loan crisis
Savings and Loan crisis
The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s was the failure of about 747 out of the 3,234 savings and loan associations in the United States...
in the 1980s. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, Cohen was a leader in the Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
community rallying support for Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
. Cohen is a trustee of Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is a four-year college-preparatory school with approximately 600 students and about 100 faculty, all of whom live on or near campus....
, New York Presbyterian Hospital, the Hackley School
Hackley School
Hackley School is a private college preparatory school located in Tarrytown, New York and is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League. Founded in 1899 by wealthy philanthropist Mrs. Caleb Brewster Hackley, Hackley was intended to be a Unitarian alternative to the mostly Episcopal boarding...
, Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
and The Economic Club of New York
The Economic Club of New York
The Economic Club of New York is a non-profit and non-partisan membership organization located in New York City and founded in 1907. Its stated purpose is the promotion of the study and discussion of social, economic, and political questions....
, and is a member of the advisory boards of Wall Street Rising, United Way of Westchester
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
-Putnam
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
and the University of Charleston
University of Charleston
The University of Charleston is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia, United States of over 1,300 students.-History:The school was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church...
.
In 2009, Cohen was rumored to be considered for the post of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Obama administration.
Regarding the worst economic crisis in 80 years, Cohen defended the financial system and Wall Street: “I am far from convinced there was something inherently wrong with the system."
Cohen was played by Robert J. Hogan
Robert J. Hogan
Robert J. Hogan is an American actor. While not a stranger to the big screen or the stage, Hogan is best known to audiences for his highly prolific career in American television which began in 1961...
in the 2011 film adaptation of Too Big to Fail
Too Big to Fail
Too Big to Fail is a television drama film in the United States broadcast on HBO on May 23, 2011. It is based on the non-fiction book Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin. The TV film was directed by Curtis Hanson...
.