Sarah Sweeney

Associate General Counsel – Professional Responsibility

Sarah advises clients on risk management, legal ethics and professional responsibility issues associated with the practice of law. Sarah also counsels firm attorneys on risk prevention and works to ensure the firm’s compliance with all applicable rules of professional conduct, with a specific focus on issues that arise in the context of new business intake and lateral integration. Prior to joining the firm, Sarah worked in the Office of the General Counsel at an Am Law 100 firm. 

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in pre-medicine from Pennsylvania State University and she earned her law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, treasurer of the International Law Society, and was recognized with such honors as the Beasley Law Scholar Award and Outstanding Oral Advocacy. Sarah is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and was recently appointed to serve as co-chair of the Committee on Professional Guidance of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Sarah is also an active participant in the firm’s pro bono efforts, primarily representing clients through Philly VIP and  the Support Center for Child Advocacy.

 

News

42 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

May 24, 2023

Super Lawyers has selected 42 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Joint Bar Association Ethics Opinion Aims to Prevent Fee-Handling Missteps

August 25, 2022

Sarah Sweeney was quoted in an article published by The Legal Intelligencer, which discusses the joint ethics opinion issued by the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations.

Philly, Pa. Bars Clarify How Attorneys Can Handle Advance Fees

August 25, 2022

Sarah Sweeney discusses the joint ethics opinion the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations issued in a Law360 article.

Publications

New Ethics Opinion Focuses On Legal Fees

September 23, 2022

Sarah Sweeney published an article in the Philadelphia Bar Reporter discussing the new ethics Opinion the Philadelphia Bar Association Professional Guidance Committee and the Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Legal Ethics released.

ABA Issues New Guidance on Lawyers’ Ethical Duties to Prospective Clients [Lawyers Representing Lawyers Blog]

October 28, 2020

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility (the “Committee”) recently issued Formal Opinion 492 (the “Opinion”), in which the Committee offers helpful guidance on navigating the duties to prospective clients under Model Rule 1.18. Attorneys and conflict-avoidance software...

Division of Fees Between Discharged Counsel and Successor Counsel in Contingent Fee Cases [Lawyers Representing Lawyers Blog]

September 09, 2020

When a client terminates, without cause, its legal representation in a contingent fee matter and subsequently retains new counsel from a different firm, the Rules of Professional Conduct related to the division and disbursement of fees impose certain requirements on the successor attorney. The...

Attys Shouldn't Overlook Obligations To Potential Clients

August 18, 2020

Sarah Sweeney and Thomas Wilkinson authored an Expert Analysis article in Law360 discussing how The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility recently issued Formal Opinion 492 and what this means for prospective clients.

Fee Division Between Discharged Counsel and New Counsel in Contingent Fee Cases [The Legal Intelligencer]

April 20, 2020

Sarah Sweeney and Thomas Wilkinson published an article to the Legal Intelligencer discussing when a client terminates, without cause, its legal representation in a contingent fee matter and subsequently retains new counsel from a different firm, the Rules of Professional Conduct related to the division and disbursement of fees impose certain requirements on the successor attorney.

Education

  • Temple University School of Law, J.D.
  • Pennsylvania State University, B.S.

Awards & Honors

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers "Rising Star" 2023

  • Pennsylvania

Co-Chair, Committee on Professional Guidance, Philadelphia Bar Association

Member, Committee on Professional Responsibility, Philadelphia Bar Association

Member, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL)

Member, Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association 

Member, Civility in the Profession Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association

Member, Professional Liability Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association