Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, Family Law; view more
Licensed in Colorado since: 1996
Education: University of Missouri School of Law (Columbia)
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023 Call today:
720-445-9779
Peak Legal Services, LLC
600 Grant StreetSuite 206
Denver, CO 80203 Visit website
Details
The founder of Peak Legal LLC, Douglas T. Cohen is a former Colorado prosecutor and, therefore, knows how prosecutors think and assess defendants. He focuses his practice on criminal defense, specializing in sex crimes and DUI offenses, as well as other felonies and misdemeanors, civil child abuse and custody proceedings. He provides effective and aggressive advocacy for clients throughout the state of Colorado from the firm’s offices in Denver. Admitted to practice in Colorado since 1996, Mr. Cohen also has expanded his practice into Wyoming, where he has an office in Cheyenne.
He has represented clients in high-level sex offense and sex crime cases throughout Colorado's Front Range, Mountain region and Western Slope. This includes such cases in Adams, Arapahoe, Arvada, Aspen, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Broomfield, Castlerock, Centennial. Colorado Springs, Cortez, Denver, Glenwood Springs, Fort Collins,Greeley, Lakewood, Montrose, Sterling, and many other cities and counties.
Mr. Cohen’s also has represented clients charged with murder, manslaughter and vehicular homicide and major drug offenses. In the recent past he obtained a total dismissal in a First Degree Murder case in Denver and a plea to a misdemeanor in a DF1-Special Offender Drug case.
Prior to founding his current firm, Mr. Cohen spent over 12 years as a prosecutor in Colorado’s 1st and 4th Judicial Districts, including serving in the sex crimes and family violence units. His track record of obtaining favorable and reasonable plea bargains as well as acquittals and dismissals reflects his experience working on both sides of the justice system. It has led to Mr. Cohen’s receipt of a 10.0 “Superb” peer review rating through Avvo along with his being named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100.
Mr. Cohen majored in journalism as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1986. After spending several years as an investigative and general assignment reporter, he attended the University of Missouri School of Law, and he was inducted into the Order of Barristers before being awarded his Juris Doctor in 1996.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Family LawFocus areas
Alimony & Spousal Support, Criminal Law, Custody & Visitation, DUI/DWI, Domestic Violence, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Felony, Misdemeanor, Murder, Sex Offenses
- 60% Criminal Defense
- 30% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10% Family Law
First Admitted: 1996, Colorado
Professional Webpage: https://www.peaklegalllc.com/attorneys/douglas-t-cohen-esq/
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center volunteer Guardian Ad Litem - attorney (2007-2011)
- Provide Bono legal services for Alight, a non-profit organization that assists survivors of human trafficking in resolving outstanding, high-impact legal issues, 2021
- Represented immigrant defendant in jefferson County, Colorado District court on criminal felony warrant from 2012. Got case dismissed and instead of keeping legal fees, donated fees to an immigration support organization in Denver, 2019
- Represent developmentally disabled adults in criminal defense who transitioned from youth foster care system into adult services and sometimes improperly charged despite being mentally incompetent to stand trial, 2021
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Author of comment/article in University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law's Journal of Environmental and Sustainability Law Review regarding the need for Congress to better define terms within the Endangered Species Act to assist is assuring the act's renewal, Author, Taking Words For Granted: Why Congress Should Expressly Define Terms Within the ESA's Taking Provision, scholarship.law.missouri.edu, Academic, Environmental, Government, Legal, 1985
- Co-presented with Colorado attorney and clinical therapist on the coordination of experts and resources in prosecution of child abuse cases and victim support, Speaker - Co-Presenter, Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance - 25th Annual Conference, Psychology, Criminal Law, Government, Legal, 2013
- Co-presented with Colorado Prosecutor and Expert Witness/Clinical Psychologist on resources and coordination in prosecution of child abuse cases, Faculty - Co-Presenter, 18th International Conference on Violence, Abuse & Trauma (IVAT), Government, Legal, Prosecution, Criminal Defense, Psychology, 2013
- Co-presenter on ethics and compliance issues in criminal law practice, Speaker - Faculty, Colorado District Attorneys Council - Annual Conference, Legal, Government, 2012
- During tenure as Senior Attorney at Qwest Communications' Ethics and Compliance office, co-presented at PLI San Francisco Conference on internal corporate investigations best practices and methods for compliance with Federal Regulations and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines regarding in-house compliance programs, early detection, self-reporting and remediation measures, Speaker - Co-Presenter, Practicing Law Institute - San Francisco Conference, Ethics & Compliance, Government, Criminal Law, Corporate, Legal, 2010
- Educated conference attendees on the new U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FARS) reporting rules, federal government interpretation of the rules and scope of contracts subject to the rules. Identified best practices and potential, practical compliance efforts. Engaged audience in discussion about how corporations can mitigate risk by taking a well-reasoned, balanced compliance approach, Speaker at Society Corporate Compliance & Ethics - Utilities and Energy Compliance & Ethics Conference, FAR Compliance: Mitigation Risk by Balancing Best Practices and Practicalities, Legal, Utility, Energy, Corporate Compliance, 2010
Educational Background:
- University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law. Selected to Order of Barristers for trial advocacy skills. Moot Court regional finalist. Dean's List 1996., 1996
- Northwestern University - Medill School of Journalism, 1986
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Obtained Top Security Clearance from Department of Defense-related tor review of government contracts and legal compliance as an attorney with Qwest Communications, 2011
- Appointed by Governor as representative to state-wide Child Fatality Review Team. (2012-2014), 2012
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Top Security Clearance - Department of Defense. Obtained Top Security Clearance in 2011 while working as a Senior Ethics & Compliance Counsel at Qwest Communications, with the responsibility to review internal corporate compliance with government contract requirements, 2011
- Based on tenure as Colorado attorney in good standing, was admitted by Wyoming Supreme Court to also practice in the State of Wyoming, 2020
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners member, 2019
Videos:
- Video blog about achieving not guilty verdict and full dismissal and expungement of criminal record for a client accused of sexual assault on a child in Denver District Court, and dismissal of a DUI case the same month, Denver DUI Dismissed and Sex Assault Not Guilty Verdict, 2018
- Video blog about achieving the dismissal of a 1st Degree Murder charge in District Court in Denver, Colorado that resulted in the total release and freedom of a client, as well as expungement of his record, and resolution of another 1st Degree Murder - traffic fatality case in Jefferson County the same week through a plea to a lesser charge that saved the client from serving life in prison, Denver Murder Case Dismissed, Legal, Criminal Defense, 2019
- Video blog that highlights the importance of defending clients and preserving their state and federal constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial in each and every case in times of sensational news media reports about accused sex offenders such as Jeffrey Epstein, Defending Sex Crimes in the Time of Jeffrey Epstein, Legal, Criminal Defense, 2019
- Video blog that discusses the importance of addressing underlying mental health issues when defending clients in DUI cases, especially those with multiple DUI arrests, DUI Defense and Mental Health, Criminal Defense, Legal, 2019
White Papers:
- An online article that gives a succinct overview of strategies and best approaches to parenting time modifications involving physical relocation of one or both parents, and governing law in Colorado, Relocation With Children, Family Law Attorneys And Clients, 2018
- Online article regarding the current state of the law in Colorado on the balance between public safety via restricting an accused or convicted sex offender of having contact with kids under 18, and a accused sex offender's constitutional liberty interest in having contact and raising his/her own child, Convicted Sex Offenders and Parental Rights, Criminal Defense Attorneys And Clients, 2020
- Online article discussing the critical importance of defense attorneys understanding the sentencing guidelines and plea bargaining procedures and the strategies used to mitigate risk and obtain the best outcome for clients legally and financially, Plea Bargaining and Sentencing: There's More Than One Way to Win, Criminal Defense Attorneys And Clients, 2019
- Online article regarding Colorado's new gun restriction law known as "Red Flag law" enacted in January 2020 and its impact on firearm possession and protection order cases, Gun Restriction Laws in Colorado, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Clients And Colorado Citizens, 2020
Representative Clients:
- Client was charged with a second felony offense in the same jurisdiction after recently being convicted of the same type of charge a month earlier. He retained me to represent him and, upon early investigation of the facts and evidence, I was able to convince the prosecution to dismiss the case based what clearly was an overlap in the two cases that should have been addressed in the first prosecution, 2020
- Most of my clients are either individual criminal defense clients or family law-divorce clients whose names remain confidential, 2019
Honors/Awards:
- , Client's Choice Award, Avvo, 2021
- Selected for "Ciient's Choice Award - 2018" and "Superb Client Rating - 2019" based on more than 50 five-star online reviews from clients, Superb Client Rating, Legal Directory, 2018
- National Trial Lawyers Association – Top 100 Litigators, 2020
- Selected by professional organization of attorneys as Top 100 Attorney in Colorado in the field of criminal defense, with a specialization is defense of sexual assault, Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney - Colorado, America's Top 100 LLC, 2019
- Selected as one of America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers Association, a professional organization from lawyers across the country comprised of criminal defense and civil plaintiff's attorneys, Top 100 Trial Lawyer - Criminal Defense, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2020
Transactions:
- Several felony sexual assault clients including complete dismissal of case based on defense investigation presented to prosecutor before trial. Sexual assault clients throughout Colorado jurisdictions including Denver metro, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Grand Junction/Mesa, Garfield, Routt, and Weld counties. , 2021
Verdicts/Settlements:
- Dismissal of felony sex assault case in Denver. CO, 2021
- Dismissal of civil child abuse/dependency and neglect case and no-file of related nolle prosequi (no prosecution) of criminal child abuse allegations in Denver County Colorado. (Client confidential), 2019
- People v. R. Dietz, Weld County District Court, Colorado - Settlement/plea of Attempted Murder charge to misdemeanor assault, 2019
- 2019 - People v. J. Mack, Denver District Court, Colorado - Dismissal of 1st Degree Murder charge, 2019
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association, 2021
- Wyoming State Bar Association, 2021
- Criminal Defense Bar - Colorado Bar Association, 2021
- Solo/Small Firm Subsection - Colorado Bar Association, 2021
- Family Law subsection - Colorado Bar Association, 2021
- Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2021
- Denver Bar Association, 2021
- Colorado Bar Association, Member, 2021
Industry Groups:
- Legal
Selections
3 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023
Additional sources of information about Douglas T. Cohen
Find me online
- Website - www.peaklegalllc.com…
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- Website - www.peaklegalllc.com/vide…
- Facebook - www.facebook.com/PeakLega…
- Blog - www.peaklegalllc.com/blog…
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