Deborah Cohn

Maryland

District of Columbia

J.D., With Honors, George Washington University National Law Center, 1978

A.B., Cum Laude, Bryn Mawr College, 1974

Best Lawyers in America - Best Lawyers (2015-2023)
     - Trusts and Estates

Best Law Firms – U.S. News & Best Lawyers
         - Tier 2 National Ranking for Trusts & Estates
         - Tier 1 Metropolitan (D.C. area) Ranking for Trusts & Estates

"Top Lawyers" - Washingtonian Magazine (2018, 2020, 2022)

“Washington’s Best Lawyers,” Trusts and Estates, Washingtonian Magazine (2017)

Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (2011-present)

Maryland Super Lawyers (2014-2023)

Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (2014-2020)

“Top Estate Attorneys,” Washington Metro Area, Washingtonian Magazine (2012, 2016)

“Best Estate Planning Attorneys in Montgomery County, Maryland,” Bethesda Magazine (2011)

AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

"Notes from the Chair: Maryland Legislative Update,” (article on legislative successes and ongoing legislative efforts of the Section in the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly), MSBA Section of Estate and Trust Law Newsletter, Vol. 22, No. 2 (2013)

“Notes from the Chair,” (article on a risk based approach to combating money laundering and terrorist financing), MSBA Section of Estate and Trust Law Newsletter (2013)

“Now About That Chalet in Grenoble? International Estate Planning,” Maryland Bar Journal, Vol. XLII, Number 5 (2009)

“Will Drafting,” Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (2009, 2007, 2005)

“Estate and Income Tax Planning for Non-U.S. Citizens,” Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (2008)

“Tax Traps and Pitfalls for Estates and Estate Planners,” Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (2006)

“Taking Maximum Advantage of Retirement Plan Assets,” co-authored, Maryland Bar Journal, Vol. XXXVI, Number 2 (2003)

“Retirement Plans and Deferred Compensation Plans for Tax Exempt Organizations,” co-authored, New York University - Review of Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation (2003)

“Non-Tax Practical Considerations in Estate Planning,” LORMAN (2002)

“Estate and Business Planning with IRAs and Qualified Retirement Plan Accounts,” Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (2002)

“Small Business and the Cafeteria Plan,” co-authored, New York University - Review of Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation (2002)

“Increasing Small Plan Formation: A Blueprint for Congressional Action for the Next Five Years,” New York University - Proceedings of the Fifty-Ninth Institute on Federal Taxation (2001)

“401K Safe Harbors Work for Small Business,” New York University - Proceedings of the Fifty-Eighth Institute on Federal Taxation (2000)

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel - Fellow; Member, Financial Action Task Force on Money-Laundering (2012-present); International Estate Planning Committee (2014-present)

Estate and Trust Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association - Past Co-Chair

International Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP-USA) - Member

Washington D.C. Estate Planning Council - Member

Estate and Trust Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association – Past Chair (2012)

United Jewish Endowment Fund - Trustee (2005-2011)

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington - Past Treasurer (2001-2004)

Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County - Vice President for Finance and Development

Jewish Community Relations Council, United Jewish Communities – Past Director

National Women’s Philanthropy Board, United Jewish Communities – Past Director

"Estate & Gift Taxes for U.S. Citizens," World Bank Pension Department Pre-Retirement Seminar (2017)

"International Estate Planning: Case Study," MSBA 2017 International Estate Planning Conference (2017)

“Estate Planning for U.S. Citizens, Residents and Non-Residents,” 1818 Society of the World Bank Group (2015)

“Elder Financial Abuse and Fraud,” Suburban Hospital Estate Planning Journal Club (2014)

“International Estate Planning,” World Bank Pension Department Pre-Retirement Seminars (2007-2015)

 “Who is in the Family? Changing Definitions of Child, Issue, Spouse and Marriage in Maryland,” Judicial Institute of Maryland (2013)

“Legislative Wins and Losses in the 2012 Maryland General Assembly,” Advanced Estate Planning Institute, Maryland State Bar Association (2012)

“What to Expect in the Maryland General Assembly in 2013,” Annual Meeting of the Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans’ Courts (2012)

“Understanding the Role of the Personal Representative,” National Business Institute (2011)

“Taking the First Steps: Filing an Estate in Probate Court,” National Business Institute (2011)

“Succession Planning for Business Owners,” The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce (2011)

“Basic Estate Planning for the Mid-Sized Estate of $2 Million to $10 Million,” District of Columbia Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (2011)

“Using and Drafting Trusts in Estate Planning: Marital Deduction Trusts and Life Insurance Trusts,” Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (2011, 2009, 2007, 2005)

“Eight Greatest Estate Planning Techniques in Maryland: Estate Planning for Non-U.S. Citizens, GRATs and Sales to Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts,” LORMAN (2003)