Cohen And Wolf Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

DANBURY — Cohen and Wolf, PC, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Founded in Bridgeport in 1951 by Herbert L. Cohen and Austin K. Wolf, the firm was grown to include more than 30 lawyers in offices in Bridgeport, Danbury, Westport, and Stamford.

The Danbury office was established 24 years ago with the vision that this region would be key to Connecticut’s growth.

 “Other law firms probably thought we were crazy, but I think we’ve proved them wrong,” said Neil Marcus, a partner in the firm who, along with Newtown resident David Grogins, opened the Danbury office.

“Danbury was an under-served geography, and the big law firms had ignored the area,” Mr Marcus said. “There was no judicial district as yet and the practice was predominantly real estate in this area.  From the beginning we saw the potential to bring multiple expertise into Danbury and to stay here and grow with the city.

“We expanded the traditional practice areas, tax and estates, litigation, real estate, and corporate law, to fulfill the needs of this community,” Mr Marcus said. “We added areas such as municipal law, land use, employment and labor law, among others, as the needs of our clients became more complex and as the firm grew.”

Still active in the firm, founder Austin K. Wolf has encouraged his staff to be active in their communities. Over the years, Cohen and Wolf lawyers have served on or headed the boards of many charitable, cultural, and civic organizations, including Bridgeport Hospital, Danbury Hospital, The United Way, the YMCA, the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, Chambers of Commerce and various business councils, schools, and religious organizations.

 This year, the law firm will sponsor a series of community projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary. The plans include building an aviary for “rehabilitated” raptors at the Beardsley Zoo; donating legal services for the home ownership program of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bridgeport; a work project for Habitat for Humanity; a benefit event for Connecticut Legal Services; and a work project at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury. These efforts involve both the staff and attorneys.

“It is important to make a statement about who you are and what you value,” said Mr Wolf. “We make this statement every day through our profession, through our community involvement, and through our business presence in Danbury, Bridgeport, and other towns.”

The Danbury office of Cohen and Wolf, located at 158 Deer Hill Road, is the home base for six of the firm’s 30 lawyers, David L. Grogins, Neil R. Marcus, Joseph G. Walsh, Monte Frank, and Robin Kahn, as well as associate Marnie Rubin. The firm offers services in the areas of business transactions, commercial litigation, employment and labor, family and matrimonial, land use, municipal, personal injury law, physicians’ practice, real estate, securities, taxes, trusts, and estates.