Debbi Cohen

Experience

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  National Labor Relations Board

  Jan 1985 - Jan 1988

  Staff Attorney, Office of Representation Appeals
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  Law Office of Debbi M. Cohen

  Jul 1992 - Jun 2004

  Attorney

  Solo management side labor and employment law practice. Clients included manufacturing, construction, distribution, and service-oriented companies and encompassed small family-owned businesses, nonprofit organizations and large well-known Fortune 500 corporations. Active in the DC Bar, leader in the Law Practice Management Section Solo and Small Firm Division. Developed and co-taught highly regarded courses for the DC Bar and other organizations on how to start and run a law practice, which included fundamentals of marketing; developing business plans; financial planning and budgeting; law office management; ethics; law office technology; client communications; and collecting fees, among other topics. Show less

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  Georgetown University Law Center

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1994

  Adjunct Professor

  Taught Legal Research and Writing for Foreign Lawyers

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  Mobil/Exxon Mobil Corporation

  Jan 1995 - Jan 2000

  Contract Labor Attorney

  Provided labor and employment law support, including advice related to contract negotiations and interpretation; handled grievances and represented the Company in arbitrations and before the National Labor Relations Board and other administrative agencies and courts. Assisted in ensuring no labor disruptions during the 1999 merger of Mobil and Exxon, the largest corporate merger in US history at the time.

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  NRG Energy, Inc.

  Jun 2004 - Nov 2005

  Director, Labor & Employment Practices

  Served as the labor relations strategic partner in developing, communicating, and overseeing processes to ensure a successful labor relations environment. Developed employee relations strategies to align employment practices, including policies, training programs, and communication tools, with business objectives following the Company's emergence from bankruptcy and the move of its corporate headquarters to Princeton, NJ. Implemented Sarbanes-Oxley controls and worked closely with Risk Management and Compliance. Show less

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  Mirant

  Jul 2006 - Jun 2010

  Associate General Counsel for HR

  Sole attorney for all labor relations and employment matters, including litigation. Supported development and implementation of a corporate-wide, multi-state drug testing program. Part of team that created and implemented pandemic response plan to ensure business continuity for a critical infrastructure business in the event of an epidemic, natural disaster, terrorism or other emergency circumstances. Facilitated restructurings, including divestiture of business units as necessary, without labor disruption. Show less

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  Siemens Industry, Inc.

  Jun 2010 - Jul 2015

  Senior Counsel - Lead Employment Attorney

  Successfully managed departmental budgets, and improved operational efficiencies such that year over year cost savings for practice group exceeded goals. Changed how decisions were made in the provision of legal services to the businesses, which reduced the use of outside counsel; helped attorneys and clients to identify and respond to issues leading to a sustainable 80% reduction in outside counsel costs for general labor and employment advice. Increased legal team and client productivity across U.S. businesses by leading standardization efforts in human resources policies and practices and implementing practices to utilize technology to provide clients with faster access to legal resources and consistent answers to common and recurring questions; decreased costs, minimized legal risks and increased client satisfaction. Instituted litigation management strategies that resulted in lower legal fees and expenses, and earlier resolutions at lower settlement amounts when cases settled saving the Company hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Provided lead legal support to US HR and business operations for labor relations and labor and employment law and policy, contract administration, grievance handling and resolution, employee discipline, during union organizing campaigns, and before federal, state and local government agencies, and related to labor and employment litigation. Show less

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  Debbi M. Cohen

  Jul 2015 - now

  Consultant, Advocate, Mediator, Arbitrator

  Provide counsel, strategic support, and alternative dispute resolution services to businesses and others seeking to enhance operations by minimizing workforce disruptions and resolving workplace disputes at the earliest possible opportunity and lowest possible cost. Services include labor and employee relations; strategic planning, particularly related to mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; and government contractor compliance. Provide expert labor relations counsel regarding policies, contract administration, grievance handling and resolution, including representation in labor arbitrations and before government agencies. Investigate employee complaints, including harassment and discrimination. Prepare effective employee communications; employment and related policy development; conflict management and early dispute resolution; legal project management; and HR practices audits. Develop and deliver customized workplace training either in person, online or via web services. I have experience developing and implementing corporate-wide pandemic response initiatives. Show less

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  Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

  Apr 2017 - now

  Arbitrator

  Member of the public roster of arbitrators for FINRA, the largest dispute resolution forum in the United States for resolving disputes arising between and among investors, securities firms and individual brokers.

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  Atlanta's John Marshall Law School

  Aug 2017 - Jul 2018

  Staff Professional, Office of Academic Achievement

  Helped students succeed by providing instruction, advice, and other program services to foster scholastic development, skills attainment, and intellectual growth that promoted academic achievement. Collaborated with doctrinal faculty and other academic support team members to establish processes to identify “at risk” students and to develop effective intervention strategies to engage students in assistive services. Developed and delivered a comprehensive lab program for first-year students on topics including critical reading, class preparation, study habits, case briefing, outlining, and exam taking. With input from first-year faculty members, designed and administered exercises in doctrinal subjects, and provided individual and group feedback to students to enhance skills performance in doctrinal subject areas. Provided individual academic counseling and small group workshops to other law students and supported bar preparation programs for third year students and recent graduates. Advised students with personal issues, including disabilities, that may adversely affect their academic success, and worked with them to identify potential resources and/or accommodations as appropriate. Show less