Bret Cohen 

Place of Employment: Mintz Levin, Boston

When did you arrive in Boston? 1997. I had been working in St. Louis four years by that time and, for personal reasons, chose to move to Boston. I was offered an associate position at a labor and employment law boutique in Boston.

How was the transition from life in the Midwest to the East Coast? In the beginning things were a little crazy. During the week I would study for the bar from 7 to 9 a.m., attend bar review courses from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., work from 12:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., and study from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. - for two months straight. I moved to another firm - Todd and Weld LLP - and was there for three years. Then I moved to Pepe & Hazard LLP, and started the firm's Labor and Employment Law Group, which grew from just me to six lawyers and a paralegal in eighteen months' time. Now I’m a partner in Mintz Levin’s Employment, Labor and Benefits Section, where I represent employers in labor and employment litigation, including claims arising under FLSA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, Massachusetts General Laws chapter 151B, Massachusetts Wage Act, as well as state common law, breach of contract, wrongful termination and defamation claims.

What are some of the things of which you’re most proud? My two children, Mackenzie and Clayton. Also, being selected by Massachusetts Weekly as one of the top five up-and-coming lawyers in the state and being ranked as one of Massachusetts' top employment defense attorneys by Chambers USA.

The best advice you ever received? Before I became a lawyer, my father Stuart Cohen, who is a partner at Gallop Johnson & Neuman in Clayton, Missouri, gave me great advice: "Always, always, always act in the client's best interest. You will make less money in the short term, but you'll be able to look yourself in the mirror and have a long, successful career with loyal clients." Another mentor of mine, J. Owen Todd of Todd & Weld, told me: "To be a good trial lawyer you have to have an uncanny appreciation for the truth. You have to be able to be uncompromisingly honest with your clients. It may be harsh, but that's what clients appreciate over time. You're being straight with them. They know they can trust you even though you may have to tell them something they don't want to hear." Also, I believe in being reliable at all times. I always keep my commitments. In life, there aren't many people who fall into that category. People begin to recognize you have that characteristic and they know they can count on you. That has always served me well.

How did you become interested in the law? It came from watching my father practice as a labor lawyer. I chose Saint Louis University School of Law because of the William C. Wefel Center for Employment Law. I was eager to earn a certificate in Employment Law, and enter a field filled with very interesting work and the best cocktail conversations. I believe my chosen area of the law is one impervious to fluctuations in the economy. Employers are always going to have employment issues.

What do you still believe? I believe I still have got a lot further to go. I'm barely scratching the surface of experience in this profession. You have to keep your eyes open to be a lifelong learner, really learn from other people's mistakes or successes. I'm not jealous of someone else's success - I want others to have success. I'm a big pie kind of guy. Somebody else's success just makes the pie larger.