LAWYER
Abbi L. Cohen
Partner | Philadelphia
Abbi L. Cohen

Abbi L. Cohen, is an environmental transaction partner in the corporate and securities practice at Dechert LLP, resident in the Philadelphia office. She has been recognized as a leading environmental lawyer by Chambers USA for more than 20 years, focuses her practice on evaluating environmental liabilities associated with corporate, real estate, and financing transactions—including with respect to energy—and providing both state and federal permitting and regulatory compliance advice. She has assisted clients in siting and permitting industrial facilities, including resource recovery and cogeneration facilities, as well as power plants.

Ms. Cohen has provided environmental advice with respect to thousands of business transactions. She has also advised clients on structuring transactions to minimize environmental liabilities, negotiating strategies, and in preparing relevant provisions in transaction documents in connection with acquisitions, divestitures, and financings. She has participated in supervising environmental consultants throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Ms. Cohen is consistently recognized by Chambers USA, the International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America as a leading environmental lawyer. In 2023, Ms. Cohen was inducted into The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Environment: Transactional. Ms. Cohen was noted as being “outstanding,” that “she's so knowledgeable on environmental law” and “distills very complex issues into the key points and focuses on what really matters." In previous editions, she has been recognized for her “high-quality work” and ability to “break down complex legal issues so executives can understand and appreciate the risks.” Clients have described her as a “real subject matter expert” that is “very client- oriented and very commercial,” praising how “she combines intellect, legal knowledge and a deal- oriented demeanor.” Others have described Ms. Cohen as “an intelligent, hard-working and responsive attorney” who has “an incredible ability to work well with all parties to get good results.”

As Dechert’s Deputy Chair of Diversity and Inclusion, Ms. Cohen oversees firmwide policies, procedures and initiatives that uphold the firm’s core values for supporting diversity and inclusion. Prior to this role, she was the Chair of Dechert’s Global Women’s Initiative, which aims to identify and implement initiatives that promote opportunities for women to advance and lead throughout the firm.

  • Bregal Partners and TDBBS, a premium natural dog chews and treats company and portfolio company of Bregal Partners, on its sale of TDBBS to Central Garden & Pet, a recognized leader in the pet and garden industry.
  • Graham Partners, a private investment firm targeting advanced manufacturing companies, in its acquisition of Commercial Bakeries Corporation.
  • Graham Partners on its acquisition of Barcoding, Inc., an industry innovator in supply chain automation, delivering end-to-end technology solutions that enable clients to track and manage their inventory and assets more accurately and efficiently.
  • Court Square Capital Partners, a middle market-focused private equity firm, in the firm’s strategic capital investment into Five Star Parks & Attractions, a platform that partners with and invests in leading family entertainment centers.
  • Energy Harbor Corp., a highly reliable provider of carbon free baseload electricity, in its acquisition by Vistra Corp., a leading Fortune 500 integrated retail electricity and power generation company, pursuant to which Energy Harbor will merge with and into a newly-formed subsidiary of Vistra.
  • Graham Partners in its acquisition of Taoglas Group Holdings Ltd., a trusted provider of antennas, advanced IoT components, and custom design services that helps customers navigate complex RF and wireless systems and brings connectivity solutions to market.
  • Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., an international, research-focused biopharmaceuticals group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care, in its definitive agreement to acquire Amryt Pharma Plc, a global, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to acquiring, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for rare diseases, in an all-cash transaction valued at US$1.48 billion.
  • US Ecology Inc., a leading provider of environmental services to commercial and government entities, on its US$2.2 billion sale to Republic Services Inc., a leader in the U.S. environmental services industry.
  • Crown Holdings, Inc., a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, in its definitive agreement to sell its European Tinplate business to KPS Capital Partners, LP.
  • Hall of Fame for Environment: transactional – The Legal 500 US
  • Environment – Pennsylvania – Chambers USA
  • Environment – Who’s Who Legal
  • Diversity Leader Award 2020 – Profiles in Diversity Journal
  • 2020 Woman Leader in The Law – ALM Media
  • 100 Women Executives List – HERoes Women Role Models Lists 2019
  • Kirkland & Ellis 16th Annual Environmental Transactional Roundtable – New York, NY (June 24, 2022)
    Speaker, “Due Diligence Approaches and Hot Topics (PFAS; Product Stewardship; Health and Safety and ESG)
  • Penn Law Alumni Speaker Series: Best Practices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Legal Profession – Webcast (June 22, 2022)
  • Carve-Out Transactions: Practical Tips for Successfully Navigating Key Pitfalls, Practising Law Institute —  Webcast (March 25, 2019)
  • Environmental Law 2018 — Presented by the American Law Institute and Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC (February 8, 2018)
    Speaker, "Due Diligence and Disclosure: An Update for Environmental Lawyer."
  • Deal Makers Guide with Tools to Managing Environmental Risk for Complex M&A Transactions — RTM Communications, Inc., Philadelphia, PA (April 12, 2017)
    Speaker, special session on deal-making tools in play for transactions involving environmental risk, as well as measuring and managing the uncertainties – regulatory, legal, financial (cost allocation).
  • Rising Superstars: Navigating Complex Environmental Transactions — Environmental Energy and Resources Law 24th Fall Conference, Denver, CO (October 7, 2016)
  • Transactional Risk Transfer: Then and Now — ABA Section of Environment, Energy & Resources 23rd Fall Conference, Chicago, IL (October 29, 2015)
    Speaker, panel on environmental risk transfers in M&A transactions with emphasis on both the lessons from the past and what risk transfer tools are available today and how they might be used. 
  • Legal Developments and Case Law Affecting Financial Institutions and Business Transactions — Environmental Bankers Association, Charleston, SC (January 11, 2015)
  • Environmental Issues in Deal Documents — Environmental Bankers Association Meeting, Newport, Rhode Island (June 12, 2012)
  • Environmental Issues in M&A Transactions — RTM Conference, Boston, MA (May 1, 2012)
  • Environmental Issues in Deals — Environmental Bankers Association Conference, Stowe, VT (June 13, 2011)
  • Climate Change — Environmental Bankers Meeting, Alexandria, VA (June 1, 2010)
  • Green Building Diligence, Risks and Incentives — ABA Real Property Spring Symposia Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (May 7, 2010)
  • Conducting Business in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation Efforts — Sustainable Property Transactions: Retooling the Business of Contaminated Site Redevelopments Conference, Presented by RTM Communications with Sponsorship by Dechert, Philadelphia, PA (April 14, 2010)
  • Conducting Business in the Context of Climate Change Mitigation Efforts — Energy Law Foundation Winter Meeting, Sanibel, FL (February 1, 2010)
  • Environmental Due Diligence: What You Must Do and What You Should Consider Doing — EPA's 2009 Brownfields Conference, New Orleans, LA (November 16, 2009)
  • The Windfall Beneath My Liens — EPA's 2009 Brownfields Conference, New Orleans, LA (November 16, 2009)
  • Inside the Deal - Negotiating Tactics for Corporate Transactions — RTM Communications Inc./ Sustainable Property Transactions: Deal Making & Redevelopments of Contaminated Sites, San Francisco, CA  (November 12, 2008)
  • Alternative Due Diligence and Risk Management Practices for Corporate Acquisitions — Sustainable Property Transactions: New Trends, New Deals Conference, Philadelphia, PA (April 2, 2008)
  • Lenders' Role in Community Revitalization Through Brownfield Project Financing — Brownfields Workshop for Bankers, Philadelphia, PA (March 4, 2008)
  • Alternative Due Diligence and Risk Management Standards for Corporate Acquisitions — RTM's Contaminated Property Transactions: Promoting Sustainable Deals and Redevelopments Conference, San Francisco, CA (November 7, 2007)
  • Measuring the Effect of EPA's Negotiated Rulemaking on “All Appropriate Inquiry” Standard for Due Diligence — Contaminated Property Transactions - Structuring Successful Deals Conference sponsored by RTM Communications, Inc., San Francisco, CA (November 16, 2004)
  • Legal Strategies for Contaminated Property: The 2002 Brownfields Revitalization Act “As Applied” — Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania “The Business of Brownfields”, Pittsburgh, PA (November 8, 2004)
  • Reviewing Environmental Issues and Risk Management Tools for Lenders — Wilmington Trust's Loan Organization, Wilmington, DE (October 28, 2004)
  • All Appropriate Inquiry Panel — Society of Women Environmental Professionals, Princeton, NJ (October 21, 2004)
  • Workshop on Practice E1527/ EPA Regulation Update — ASTM International, Washington, DC (October 5, 2004)
  • Just the Facts - All Appropriate Inquiry Panel Discussion — Environmental Protection Agency's National Brownfields Conference, St. Louis, MO (September 20, 2004)
  • All Appropriate Inquiry — Mortgage Banker's Association, Nashville, TN (June 14, 2004)
  • Environmental Protection Agency's Proposed Regulations on “All Appropriate Inquiry” — Environmental Panel Presentation Sponsored by the Mortgage Banker's Association, Portland, OR (June 14, 2004)
  • Environmental Concerns Impacting Commercial Real Estate Transactions — Marsh Corporate Environmental Practice, Cleveland, OH (April 22, 2004)
  • Environmental Issues — Mortgage Bankers Association's Commercial Real Estate and Finance Conference, Orlando, FL (February 1, 2004)
Services Industries
    • Barnard College, Columbia University, B.A., 1980, magna cum laude, with High Honors in economics, Phi Beta Kappa
    • University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1983
    • Pennsylvania
    • Penn Law Alumni Advisory Board for Inclusion & Engagement
    • Mortgage Bankers Association, EPA’s negotiated rulemaking on the “All Appropriate Inquiry” standard for the federal superfund statute
    • BNA Environmental Due Diligence Advisory Board
    • Former Chair, “Appropriate Inquiry” Task Force for the Mortgage Bankers Association of America
    • Former Co-chair, Environmental Insurance Task Force for the Mortgage Bankers Association of America
    • Environmental Policy Committee of the Real Estate Round Table
    • Several national real estate, energy, and environmental organizations
    • Environmental Committee of ASTM, the industry standard setting organization, which has established a number of widely used environmental standards
    • Lectures and writes frequently on environmental topics in business transactions

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