Meet The Team

Stephen Cohen

Stephen Cohen grew up in working-class Queens, where he learned the importance of hard work from his family and neighbors. He also saw firsthand that bad things can happen to good people – and that when they do, they often need a helping hand.

“I had an understanding that everyday people had accidents through no fault of their own,” he recalls. “I think that’s what pushed me into becoming a lawyer.”

After receiving his B.S. degree from Bradley University in 1971, Stephen enrolled at St. John’s University School of Law, earning his J.D. in 1974. He began his legal career at a small law firm before venturing to create his solo practice in a third-floor walkup in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.

Initially handling a wide variety of cases, Stephen quickly realized that personal injury law was his true passion. This focus has never wavered, and over the years, his commitment to helping everyday working people has remained steadfast.

Stephen eventually moved his practice to lower Manhattan. After starting a family and moving to Long Island, he decided to set up his office closer to home. He opened an office in Great Neck and later relocated to the firm’s current location in New Hyde Park.

Under his leadership, Stephen’s solo practice grew into a multi-lawyer firm that now boasts six attorneys and a support staff of more than 20. He believes that the key to the firm’s success and growth has been its focus on providing the best possible service.

“I take great pride that the firm is really people-related,” he says. “I want the firm to convey the idea that when they come in to see us, we’re no better than they are – that this is just what we do and that we respect what they do.”

Throughout his career, Stephen has represented thousands of injured parties in automobile accidents, trip and fall cases, construction accidents, and more. He has also divested the practice into No-Fault collection, representing healthcare providers against insurance carriers for the collection of bills related to the treatment of individuals injured in automobile accidents, both in arbitration and judicial forums.

Stephen Cohen’s journey from a working-class neighborhood in Queens to a leading personal injury attorney is a testament to his unwavering dedication to helping everyday people get the justice they deserve.

Richard Jaffe

Richard Jaffe began his legal journey as a paralegal, working alongside esteemed litigators, including his mentor and future law partner, Stephen Cohen. During his last year at Touro Law Center, Richard joined our firm as an associate attorney. Within five years, his dedication and skill earned him the position of junior partner.

Stephen M. Cohen was a solo practitioner when he hired Rich as a paralegal during his last year of law school. 

Stephen was so impressed with Rich’s work ethic and understanding of the law that he hired him as an associate attorney immediately upon his graduation. Rich’s ability to process work while understanding the bigger picture of growing the practice made it an easy decision to offer him a partnership. For the past twenty-five years, their commitment to the firm and, more importantly, to each other has never wavered.

In the early stages of their partnership, while they both handled a heavy caseload, Stephen concentrated on business development while Rich brought leading technology to our firm, allowing us to grow to where we are today and where we hope to be in the future.

Today, Richard serves as the managing partner and a key driving force at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP. As our lead trial lawyer, he oversees three associate attorneys and a support staff, ensuring the continued success of our practice in personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases.

With over 30 years of specialized legal representation, Richard brings a unique background to his role. He has experience as a firefighter, certified EMT (emergency medical technician), and is a certified brain injury specialist. Volunteering as a medic in Brentwood, he gained firsthand knowledge of the traumatic impacts of auto collisions and other accidents, which enhanced his ability to advocate effectively for maximum compensation for his clients.

Richard Jaffe has handled thousands of personal injury cases and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, recognized for achieving multiple settlements or verdicts exceeding $1 million. He holds an AV Preeminent* rating from the Martindale-Hubbell peer review system and was listed in the 2012 New York Super Lawyers for his professional standards and consistently favorable outcomes.

Licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, including federal courts in New York, Richard is a member of several professional organizations, such as the Nassau County Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He is also fluent in Spanish, allowing him to serve a broader range of clients.

The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP located in New Hyde Park, serves Long Island and nearby areas, including Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Queens. For a free personal injury consultation, call 866-924-1787 or contact us online.

*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.