Howard B. Cohen

Howard Cohen is Managing Partner at the law firm of Gross, Shuman, Brizdle & Gilfillan, P.C.  in Buffalo specializing in personal injury and labor law. He has been recognized for his outstanding service to clients by being selected as one of the SuperLawyers of Upstate New York, Best Lawyers of America, and has received the highest rating available for a lawyer from Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.  Mr. Cohen also serves as Adjunct Professor of Law at the University at Buffalo Law School, where he instructs Trial Techniques. In addition, he is involved with the American Association for Justice, the New York State Trial Lawyers Academy, the Ethics Committee of the Erie County Bar Association, and the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. Cohen is dedicated to community service, serving on the boards of numerous organizations including Compass House of Buffalo, Headway Inc. of Western New York, Kids Escaping Drugs, the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the Amherst Senior Citizens Foundation, Inc., the Heritage Oak Foundation, and Lou Gehrig Youth Baseball. He also has been very active in youth sports coaching baseball, softball, and hockey.

As a student at Williamsville South, Mr. Cohen was on the wrestling team and credits his coach, Joseph Rotundo, for believing in his potential and
pushing him to succeed. After graduating from high school, he attended the State University College of New York at Oswego earning a bachelor’s degree in communications.  He went on to California Western School of Law, graduating with honors in 1983.

His wife, Elizabeth, is a school nurse at Heim Elementary and his three children, Jen, Matt, and Rachel, all attended Williamsville schools.