Legal Ethics

Oops. Ethics board leader forgot to renew his law license

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print.

Lobbyists and public officials who forget to register in New York can be fined by the state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics for failing to do so.

But a similar omission by attorney Robert S. Cohen, who serves is special counsel and director of ethics and lobbying for the commission, won’t result in a penalty, the Associated Press reports.

Cohen, whose law license lapsed in 2012, when he didn’t renew his attorney registration, took care of the problem as soon as he became aware of it, the article says.

“The Joint Commission expects every attorney on staff to strictly adhere to their obligations as members of the bar, and when Mr. Cohen was made aware of his registration status he immediately paid his required dues and rectified his oversight,” a spokesman told the news agency.

Cohen formerly worked for Kirkland & Ellis in Manhattan.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.