Legal Profession Services

When lawyers and law firms find themselves in the client seat, Cozen O’Connor’s Legal Profession Practice Group, led by reputable and skillful attorneys with invaluable experience in the legal intricacies of law firms and lawyering, provides a one-stop shop to meet their needs. Whether defending a complex legal malpractice suit, navigating a murky ethical obligation, drafting governance documents for a fledgling law firm, or anything in between, our team of experienced attorneys stands ready to assist with the unique and often sensitive issues in-house counsel, outside lawyers, and law firms face.

Our general areas of focus include:

  • legal ethics and professional responsibility conflicts
  • the business of law
  • legal fee challenges
  • risk management
  • cybersecurity
  • legal malpractice defense
  • mediations and arbitrations

Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Conflicts

Ethics questions can be intricately nuanced and fraught with uncertainty, from age-old ethical questions, to the ethical use of artificial intelligence, to addressing issues related to the burgeoning cannabis industry. Our experienced team of lawyers provides advice and counsel to lawyers and law firms in connection with the full spectrum of ethical issues. We also represent attorneys in disciplinary matters and oppose disqualification motions and/or third-party subpoenas. Additionally, because issues involving conflicts of interest can stymie even the most sophisticated lawyers and law firms, our team includes attorneys whose practice is dedicated to analyzing and helping to resolve conflicts.

Learn More

To learn more about our Legal Profession Services team, nationally recognized for resolving legal ethics, malpractice, or law firm merger and integration need, click here.

The Business of Law

We help our clients navigate the business of law, so that they are free to focus on practicing law for their own clients. Our Legal Profession team includes transactional lawyers who provide practical, timely, and prudent counsel on the full spectrum of transactional issues our clients might face, from the solo practitioner looking to hang her first shingle, to a multinational firm looking to complete a substantial merger, to a firm in the throes of dissolution.

Legal Fee Challenges

Challenges to a lawyer’s fee are increasingly common and often involve a number of issues, primarily involving the duties of professionals, the reasonableness of underlying attorneys’ fees, and the actions of underlying counsel in representing its client. Our attorneys analyze fee disputes, the attendant fee reasonableness issues, and available options to secure resolutions in our clients’ favor. We base our strategies on each matter’s unique facts and on Model Rule 1.5 factors governing the fees and transactions inherent to client-lawyer relationships. As proven trial lawyers who have spent years refining our litigation prowess, we are more than prepared to take a fee dispute to court when necessary.

Risk Management

Lawyers and law firms are beset with risk on many fronts. Whether you need help navigating the quagmire that insurance coverage can present, handling a sensitive situation with a firm lawyer that places the firm at risk, or anything in between, Cozen O’Connor can help.

Cybersecurity

As frequent targets of hackers, it is crucial for law firms to ensure that their cybersecurity is airtight. To meet this need, Cozen O’Connor offers cybersecurity consulting services through our affiliate, Cozen O’Connor Cybersecurity Services, LLC (COSEC).

Legal Malpractice Defense

Our team has decades of experience defending legal malpractice claims of all kinds. And unlike legal malpractice boutiques, we have direct access to the collective substantive knowledge of a full-service law firm. We understand that successfully defending a malpractice claim requires mastery of the law of malpractice and substantive understanding of the law governing the predicate matter. We bring both to the table for our clients.

Mediations and Arbitrations

Our experienced team of lawyers includes seasoned attorneys who serve as arbitrators and mediators across the country. We made our name as a trial firm with litigators trained to see both sides of any argument, and we bring this skill to bear in our role as mediators and arbitrators. Similarly, our transactional attorneys are second to none. When these lawyers take on the role of third-party neutral, they bring unparalleled substantive knowledge to bear on the resolutions they broker. Our team is respected for their impartiality, ability to get to the core of the matter quickly, and substantive mastery of the matters before them.

Our Legal Profession Practice Group understands and respects the stakes involved when lawyers need lawyers, and we handle each matter with the sensitivity and finesse required when a lawyer’s or law firm’s reputation and/or ability to practice and prosper is on the line.

 

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Experience

Publications

A Vapid Argument on Vaping [The Legal Intelligencer]

January 03, 2025

Stephen A. Miller, an attorney in Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation department, and Leigh Ann McGeever, counsel for the firm’s legal profession services group, discuss the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision in U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, where the high court will consider whether changes to FDA guidance on approval of new flavored e-cigarette flavors led to arbitrary and capricious denials of manufacturers’ applications.

Why States Should Adopt ABA's 'Duty To Inquire' [Law360]

November 20, 2024

Deborah Winokur contributed an Expert Analysis to Law360, discussing the American Bar Association’s Formal Opinion 513, and the need for states to review and adopt similar rule changes in their jurisdictions.

What Pennsylvania Can Expect From Anti-SLAPP Law [Law360]

October 04, 2024

Thomas Wilkinson contributed an article to Law360 discussing the new Pennsylvania anti-SLAPP Act, designed to enhance the free speech protections of individuals and organizations for statements made or positions taken on matters of public concern.

Lawyers Must Be Careful When Using Listservs [Law360]

July 22, 2024

Deborah Winokur contributed an Expert Analysis to Law360, discussing the drawbacks of using listservs for client matters and how to mitigate the risks by protecting confidential information.

PA Finally Adopts Anti-SLAPP Legislation:  New Law Protects Those Facing Lawsuits Over Speech on Matters of Public Concern [Lawyers Representing Lawyers Blog]

July 19, 2024

Pennsylvania is the latest state to adopt a law designed to protect citizens who are faced with lawsuits aimed to impede their right to speak about matters of public concern. Both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature unanimously passed House Bill 1466 (the “Act”), and Governor Shapiro signed...

Differences In Enforcing Oral Settlements In NJ And Penn [Law360]

July 16, 2024

Thomas Wilkinson and Thomas DePaola, a 2024 summer associate in the firm’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office, contributed an article to Law360 discussing a New Jersey state appellate ruling that drew a line on whether oral settlements reached in mediation are enforceable.

Are Oral Settlement Agreements Reached in Mediation Unenforceable? [Lawyers Representing Lawyers Blog]

June 27, 2024

Oral settlement agreements are typically enforceable, provided that the parties are able to show a meeting of the minds regarding terms that comply with their jurisdiction’s statute of frauds, and that can be performed within one year.[1] However, when the oral settlement is reached during a...

Pennsylvania’s New Disciplinary Rule Prohibiting Harassment And Discrimination In The Practice Of Law [PBA Quarterly]

April 03, 2024

Thomas Wilkinson contributed an article to the Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly discussing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s order to adopt Pennsylvania’s version of the ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(g).

Litigation Funding Needs Regulating To Meet Ethics Standards [Law360]

March 25, 2024

Deborah Winokur contributed an Expert Analysis to Law360, discussing third-party litigation funding, which is not specifically regulated under federal law.

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Events & Seminars

Past Events

Generative AI Best Practices for Law Firms

September 05, 2024 - Chicago, IL
[+] [View All Events]

In The News

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Leadership, OMPs, Other Promotions

March 11, 2025

Cozen O’Connor announced today new practice group leadership, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives.

Billboard Wars: How Personal Injury Lawyers Took Over Philly

February 01, 2025

Thomas Wilkinson was quoted in a Philadelphia Magazine article discussing personal injury law firm billboards and whether Pennsylvania’s Rules of Professional Conduct mandates a level of decorum in legal advertising.

Cozen O’Connor Recognized as a “Best Law Firm” in 31 Practice Areas Nationwide, 54 Practice Areas Regionally

November 07, 2024

In 2024, Best Lawyers received more than 100,000 client references and observed a 65% increase in client participation in their survey.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Thomas Wilkinson Appointed to the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility

August 07, 2024

Thomas Wilkinson, a member of the firm’s Legal Profession Services practice, has been appointed to the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility for a three-year term from 2024-2027.

31 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 11, 2024

Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys are named Super Lawyers; only 2.5 percent of attorneys are listed as Rising Stars.

Thomas Wilkinson Selected to Receive the PBA Civil Litigation Professional Excellence Award

April 12, 2024

Thomas Wilkinson, a member of the firm’s Legal Profession Services practice, has been selected to receive the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Civil Litigation Professional Excellence Award.

Lessons Learned from Lincoln Shape Civility, Professional Conduct

January 26, 2024

Thomas Wilkinson was quoted in a Pennsylvania Bar News article discussing Abraham Lincoln’s career as a lawyer and politician, highlighting his influence on shaping the ethics, standards, and civility in the legal profession.

Pa. Disciplinary Board Floats Rule Barring Lawyer-Client Sexting

September 05, 2023

Deborah Winokur was quoted in a Law360 article discussing a possible rule proposal by the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board that would clarify restrictions on attorney-client sexual relations to include a bar on sexual communication.

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Contacts

Brian P. Flaherty

Senior Counsel

bflaherty@cozen.com

(215) 665-4647

Thomas G. Wilkinson, Jr.

Member

twilkinson@cozen.com

(215) 665-3737

People

Awards

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Leadership, OMPs, Other Promotions

March 11, 2025

Cozen O’Connor announced today new practice group leadership, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives.

Cozen O’Connor Recognized as a “Best Law Firm” in 31 Practice Areas Nationwide, 54 Practice Areas Regionally

November 07, 2024

In 2024, Best Lawyers received more than 100,000 client references and observed a 65% increase in client participation in their survey.

31 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 11, 2024

Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys are named Super Lawyers; only 2.5 percent of attorneys are listed as Rising Stars.

PBA Names 2020 Commission on Women in the Profession (WIP) Award on Behalf of H. Robert Fiebach

March 11, 2021

The Pennsylvania Bar Association has named its 2020 Commission on Women in the Profession (WIP) Award on behalf of H. Robert Fiebach, senior counsel in Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation Department and co-chair of the firm’s Legal Malpractice Group.

Thomas Wilkinson Reappointed Chair of the DRI Lawyers' Professionalism and Ethics Committee

October 16, 2020

Thomas Wilkinson, member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department and Legal Profession Practice Group, has been reappointed as chair of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Lawyers' Professionalism and Ethics Committee.

Cozen O’Connor Recognized As a Best Law Firm in 24 Practice Areas Nationwide, 106 Practice Areas Regionally

November 05, 2019

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from leading attorneys in their field.

64 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 21, 2019

Super Lawyers has selected 64 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

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