Deborah Cohn
Principal, Paley Rothman
Debbie Cohn’s keys to professional success are as diverse as her eclectic client base that consists of professionals, business owners, retirees, and non-U.S. citizens. Yet perhaps her most critical—and comforting—characteristic is an ability to explain complex concepts in a way her clients can understand. Debbie’s approach to estate planning is equal parts pragmatic and creative, which helps put her clients at ease with the knowledge that their families will be cared for and protected, and their asset protection and wealth management goals will be met. And her wealth of experience and vast knowledge of the law allow her to blend her tax planning skills with a genuine compassion and empathy for a wide range of families.
As a member of the firm’s Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration and Tax practice groups, Debbie concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, business planning and taxation. She works extensively on the estate, gift and other tax concerns of non-U.S. citizens, U.S. citizens owning property abroad and beneficiaries of overseas funds. Many of her clients include foreign nationals employed by The World Bank and other similar international institutions.
Debbie was Chair of the Estate & Trust Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association from 2012-2013, a position in which she supported the section’s charter to promote the interests of both the public and Estate & Trust Section bar members. In this role she worked with other section members to continually improve the law, further legal education among judges and attorneys and coordinate with the Register of Wills to improve the administration of estates. In addition, she assisted legislators in shaping estates and trusts legislation and testifies before committees of the Maryland General Assembly on legislation impacting Maryland estate and trust law.
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Tax Law
- Business Taxes, Criminal Tax Litigation, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Planning
- Estate & Trust Administration
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Bar
-
- Maryland
-
- English: Spoken, Written
- Principal
- Paley Rothman
- Current
- The George Washington University Law School
- J.D. (1978)
- Honors: With Honors
-
- Bryn Mawr College
- A.B. (1974)
- Honors: Cum Laude
-
- Best Lawyers in America (2015-2018)
- Best Lawyers (2015-2018)
- Maryland Super Lawyers (2014-2018)
- Maryland Super Lawyers
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (2014-2018)
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (2014-2018)
- “Washington’s Best Lawyers,” Trusts and Estates,
- Washingtonian Magazine (2017)
- Top Estate Attorneys,” Washington Metro Area (2012, 2016)
- Washingtonian Magazine
- Maryland State Bar
- Member
- Current
-
- International Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP-USA)
- Member
- Current
-
- Washington D.C. Estate Planning Council
- Member
- Current
-
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- - Fellow; Member, Financial Action Task Force on Money-Laundering (2012-present); International Estate Planning Committee
- - Current
-
- District of Columbia Bar
- Member
- - Current
-
- Estate and Trust Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association
- Past Chair
-
- Website
- Paley Rothman
