Edward Cohen
Edward Cohen Neutral
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Overview

Edward Cohen

Ed Cohen is a mediator who has spent most of his career focusing on a national litigation practice addressing and resolving complex lawsuits, most of which have involved environmental issues. He has been a partner at Thompson Coburn LLP for more than 30 years, splitting much of his time between St. Louis and Chicago offices.

Ed’s practice has focused primarily on complex environmental and business disputes, including class actions and mass torts; in addition, he has handled insurance coverage disputes, property damage, personal injury, product, fraud, covenants not to compete, and constitutional claims. His environmental cases have run the gamut in all media (soil, water, air) and have involved all major federal environmental statutes, including but not limited to multi-party CERCLA (Superfund) actions and Clean Water Act lawsuits. He has also served as settlement counsel in substantial matters with multifaceted environmental issues. Ed also spent four years on active duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Admitted to Practice: Bar and Court Admissions

  • Missouri 9/18/1982
  • Illinois 11/6/1986
  • Illinois USDC, Central District 8/30/1999
  • Illinois USDC, Northern District  8/31/2005
  • Illinois USDC, Southern District 2/20/198
  • Indiana USDC, Northern District 4/23/2009
  • Indiana USDC, Southern District 10/15/2012
  • Michigan USDC, Eastern District 7/25/2016
  • Missouri USDC, Eastern District 4/29/1987
  • US Ct Appeals, 7th Circuit (IL, IN, WI) 12/17/1999
  • US Ct Appeals, 8th Circuit (AR, IA, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 1/25/1989
  • US Ct Appeals, 9th Circuit (AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, Guam, M. Isles) 4/6/2012

Education

  • Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1982
    • Editorial Board, Washington University Law Quarterly
  • Tulane University, B.A., cum laude, 1979
  • University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Honors Program For Junior Year Abroad Program, 1977-1978

Professional or Trade Affiliations

  • Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
  • Missouri Bar Environmental and Energy Law Committee
    • Past Chair
  • American Bar Association
    • Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
    • Section of Dispute Resolution
    • Litigation Section
  • The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
    • Prior Chair and Co-chair, ARCH Committee
    • Former Chair, Young Lawyers’ Section
  • American Arbitration Association
    • Formerly on Panel of Neutrals
  • Pinnacle Arbitration & Mediation Services
    • Formerly on Panel of Neutrals

Representative Matters

  • Ed has represented clients in two of the country’s largest multiparty Superfund river sediment cases. Both matters involved allocation and other issues to address billions of dollars projected for cleanup costs.
  • Ed served as lead counsel for a client involved in one of the nation’s largest vapor intrusion/indoor air quality class action lawsuits.
  • Ed served as settlement counsel for clients in substantial matters with multifaceted environmental issues.

Honors & Awards

  • Chambers USA (2009-2024 by Chambers & Partners)
  • The Best Lawyers in America (2012-2025, including 2024 and 2015 “Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Environmental” for St. Louis and 2017 “Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Law” for St. Louis by BL Rankings)
  • Listed in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (by Thomson Reuters), 2005-2020
    • Top 50 Lawyers in St. Louis, 2011-2012
  • Listed in Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law (by Lawdragon Inc. ©), 2023-2024

Publications

  • Co-Author, “How the Atlantic Richfield Decision May Impact the EPA Model Consent Decree Template”
    • Thompson Coburn Insights, May 29, 2020 © 2025 Thompson Coburn LLP Attorney Advertising
  • Co-Author, “EPA Reveals First 10 Chemicals to be Reviewed Under a More Robust Toxic Substances Act”
    • Thompson Coburn Insights, December 2016
  • Author, “REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals: An Overview of the EU’s New Directive”
    • Thompson Coburn LLP, 2007
  • Co-Author, “New EU Regulations Cover Wide Range of Electrical Products”
    • Midwest In-House, July 2006
  • Co-Author, “The Supreme Court Severely Limits Cost Recovery Options for
    • Environmental Cleanups”
    • Midwest In-House, January 2005
  • “Litigation Involving Mold Problems is on the Rise”
    • Thompson Coburn LLP Envirobrief, 2002
  • “Mold: Common Questions and Answers”
    • American Bar Association Section of Real Property Probate & Trust Law, “E Dirt” Electronic Newsletter, December 2002
  • Co-Author, “Challenging Agency Enforcement Actions: New Developments and Some Not-So-Common Approaches”
    • The St. Louis Bar Journal, Summer 1998 presentation 

 

Speaking Engagements

  • “Citizen Suits: A Primer”
    • Guest lecture at Washington University School of Law; January 2025 and multiple prior years
  • “Environmental Justice in Action”
    • Co-presented in Houston, TX; July 2022
  • “Contracts: 601 Level Course”
    • Co-presented in Dallas, TX: October 2021
  • “Citizens Get Active – Vapor Intrusion, Environmental Justice, and Emerging Litigation”
    • Co-Presented with Eric E. Boyd, The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Hot Topics Program; Chicago, IL; June 2019
  • “Citizen Suits – What Does This Mean to Your Company?”
    • The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and the Gateway Society of Hazardous Materials Managers; October 2017
  • “How to Prevent Your Project From Being Stopped by a Citizen’s Group Lawsuit: The Story Behind the Story of the RTC Southwest Connector Litigation”
    • APWA Nevada Chapter, 2017 Fall Conference; September 2017
  • “Vapor Intrusion: Federal Illinois and Missouri Issues”
    • The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and Gateway Society of Hazardous Materials Managers, St. Louis, MO, September 10, 2015
  • “Environmental Litigation and Compliance: Things to Remember to Avoid Environmental Disputes”;
    • Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago, Chicago, IL, February 20, 2014
  • “Brownfields: How to Get Off on the Right Foot”
    • Illinois Tax Increment Association Fall Conference, Chicago, IL, October 18, 2012
  • “Environmental Litigation and Compliance”
    • Miscellaneous Locations, Tokyo, Japan, October 2012
  • “REACH”– Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals: Annual Update on the EU’s “New” Directive”
    • The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, Chicago, IL, February 20, 2014
  • “Nuisance Suits in the Environmental Context: Are They Just A ‘Nuisance’ or Something More Substantial?”
    • 2011 Missouri Environmental Conference at the Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, July 28, 2011
  • “Enforcement and Citizen Suits”
    • The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, January 27, 2011
  • “Managing Legal and Communication Issues in Environmental Emergencies”
    • 2009 Missouri Environmental Conference at The Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Osage Beach, MO, July 31, 2009
  • “Expert Witness Admissibility”
    • 2009 National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators Regional Seminar, April 14, 2009
  • “Hot Legal Topics”
    • 2008 Missouri Environmental Conference at The Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Osage Beach, MO, July 31, 2008
  • “REACH– Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals: An Overview of the EU’s New Directive”
    • The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, Chicago, IL, April 9, 2008
  • “Environmental Law Update”
    • 2006 Missouri Environmental Conference at The Lake, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Osage Beach, MO, July 27, 2006
  • “Environmental Caselaw Update”
    • Missouri Bar Association, Jefferson City, MO, November 18, 2005
  • “Mold Litigation: Who is being sued, Why and What can you do about it?”
    • Louis, MO, January 9, 2004; March 19, 2004

 

Community Involvement

  • Washington University
    • School of Law Eliot Society Committee, 2023 – present
    • University Alumni Board of Governors, 2011-2017
    • Past President, Law School Alumni Association
  • Trailnet
    • Past Member, Board of Directors
  • MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries
    • Past Member, Board of Directors, Executive Committee
  • Leadership St. Louis Class of 2005-06
  • ABA High School Peer Mediation
    • Project Past Instructor
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 150 Bike Ride
    • “Lifetime” Rider/Fundraiser”

 

Rates and Fees

Rates - Edward Cohen

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact

Mediation Rates
2 Party Case: $450 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $400 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $350 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation Admin Fees
St. Louis Mediation Admin Fee - $250 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $500. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.