Philadelphia Attorney Stephen A. Cozen Named Business Leader of the Year

Stephen A. Cozen, founder and chairman of the Philadelphia-based law firm Cozen O’Connor, is Drexel University's LeBow College of Business 58th Business Leader of the Year. He will be honored at a luncheon attended by hundreds of Greater Philadelphia’s top executives on Feb. 13, 2012.

Cozen grew his firm from only four attorneys in 1970 to now having 575 attorneys in 24 offices across the United States and in Canada and the United Kingdom.  Cozen O’Connor began as a boutique firm specializing in insurance related and commercial litigation. Today Cozen O'Connor is a full-service law firm serving its clients’ needs in business and corporate matters; securities; bankruptcy; insolvency and restructuring; real estate; tax; public and project finance; health law; labor and employment matters; intellectual property; government relations; and trusts and estates.

“I think Steve is a perfect recipient of this award because his legendary intellect and energy have extended well beyond vision and leadership for his law firm, into civic and development activities that have helped build a great climate for the people and businesses of the region,” said Drexel President John A. Fry.  “In support of his beloved Philadelphia, Steve played a major role in the creation of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, innovative programs at Project H.O.M.E., and the new National Museum of American Jewish History.”

Added George P. Tsetsekos, Ph.D., the R. John Chapel Jr. Dean of LeBow College: “Steve’s achievements as a lawyer and as an executive are equally remarkable. Even with his global successes, Steve has always put tremendous energy into being a civic leader in his hometown. I am delighted that we are honoring a man who is himself a case study of success in the areas of law, business and citizenship.”

Locally, Cozen led creation of the Samuel D. Cozen PAL Center and serves on the Board of Overseers at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where his firm established an endowed Chair in his honor.

Beyond his service on the USC Shoah Foundation Institute Board of Councilors, Cozen served as Chair of the project that brought the Shoah Foundation’s Annual Ambassadors of Humanity Award Event to Philadelphia, where a record attendance witnessed Steven Spielberg’s presentation of the award to Brian Roberts.

Cozen has established two charitable foundations --- The Samuel D. Cozen Memorial Fund, named in honor of his father, and The Cozen O’Connor Foundation.  Together, these foundations donate nearly $2 million each year to hundreds of worthy causes throughout the United States and, indeed, the world.

Cozen has also been active in a wide variety of civic and government affairs including appointments to local, state and federal investigative and oversight boards.  These appointments have been far-ranging, from gubernatorial transition teams to courthouse projects to U.S. Department of Energy task forces. 

Cozen is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a designation held by only the most respected and experienced court room practitioners, and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and Litigation Counsel of America. He is a consummate strategist and is frequently called upon for specialized appellate advice before state and federal appellate courts. Cozen also lectures nationally and writes about a wide variety of legal and litigation issues; judicial opinions frequently cite his articles and texts as authoritative references.

The luncheon honoring Cozen will be held at noon at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at The Bellevue. Proceeds from the event will support academic programs to advance Drexel's LeBow College of Business. For information or to purchase tickets, contact Darin Pfeifer at 215.895.0333 or dpfeifer@drexel.edu.