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Attorneys
Elena L. Cohen - Partner
Honorifics: Dr., Prof. | Pronouns: she, her, hers
Elena L. Cohen is an attorney, Ph.D., and activist focused on civil rights, police misconduct, and gender justice. She is a founding partner at Cohen & Green PLLC, specializing in police misconduct, civil rights litigation, and defamation defense for survivors of sexual assault. Notable cases include Sow v. City of New York, which led to a historic settlement for mass arrests during the 2020 protests, and Edrei v. Bratton, ending the NYPD’s use of sound cannons.
Elena holds a Ph.D. in Political Theory from CUNY and is an Assistant Professor of Law at Delaware Law School. She has published on law, politics, and gender justice and formerly served as President of the National Lawyers Guild, providing extensive legal support to activists.
Education
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Juris Doctor
City University of New York
PH.D., Political Science
Bar Admissions
• New York
Activities & Affiliations
• National Lawyers Guild, President
• Previously co-chair of the NYC NLG Chapter’s Mass Defense Committee
Areas of Expertise
• Sexuality
• Non-human animals
• Comparative constitutional law
J. Remy Green - Partner
Honorifics: Mx., Prof., Rev. | Pronouns: they, their, them
J. Remy Green specializes in civil rights, defamation, free speech, consumer rights, and voting rights litigation. When they can, Remy gravitates towards cases that present novel or untested legal theories. Remy (or, if you're feeling formal, Mx. Green) has argued and briefed cases before courts at every level, ranging from New York Small Claims Court to the Second Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. Their legal scholarship has appeared in the Syracuse Law Review, North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology, and the Rutgers Law Record, and they have published numerous essays in various other fora. Remy also teaches courses at various schools about civil and constitutional rights.
Education
University of Chicago Law School
Juris Doctor, 2016
NYU Gallatin
B.A., 2010
Bar Admissions
• New York, New Jersey
• US District Courts for Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
• Federal Courts of Appeal for the Second and Seventh Circuits
• United States Supreme Court
Activities & Affiliations
• Adjunct professor and guest lecturer at several schools including Boston University School of Law, John Jay College, and New York University
• Co-author of Violated: Sexual Consent and Assault in the Twenty-First Century
Areas of Expertise
• Civil Rights
• Defamation
• Free Speech
• Consumer Rights
• Voting Rights Litigation
Jessica Massimi - Of Counsel
Honorifics: Ms. | Pronouns: she, her, hers
Jessica Massimi has a longstanding commitment to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of New York City residents through litigation on behalf of Plaintiffs. Jessica focuses on issues which impact vulnerable and marginalized New Yorkers, such as police misconduct, employment discrimination, and housing court issues.
Jessica’s practice includes representing Plaintiffs in situations where they have been sexually harassed, or discriminated against due to gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national original, pregnancy or disability. Jessica is particularly proud of her record in achieving substantial settlements for her clients even before litigation.
Jessica also has tremendous experience litigating police misconduct cases against the City of New York and the New York City Police Department. She has substantial experience litigating excessive force cases involving severe injuries, false arrest, malicious prosecution, denial of fair trial, and wrongful conviction. Collectively, Jessica has managed and aggressively advanced more than 175 cases with multiple plaintiffs, taking them through initial conferences, depositions, discovery disputes, settlement conferences, fee motions, dispositive motions, and trial.
Education
City University of New York School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2010
Fordham University
B.A., 2005
Bar Admissions
• New York
• United States District Courts for Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
Education
Fordham University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2019
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
B.A., 2015
Bar Admissions
• New York
• United States District Courts for Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
Education
Brooklyn Law School
Juris Doctor, 2023
New York University
B.S., 2016
Bar Admissions
• New York
Activities & Affiliations
• Super Lawyer Rising Star in Civil Rights Litigation, 2016-2020
• Police Accountability Project, member
• Civil rights Section of SDNY Federal Bar Association, past president
• Consumer Rights
• Voting Rights Litigation
Areas of Expertise
• Police misconduct
• Employment discrimination
• Housing Court
Leena Widdi - Of Counsel
Honorifics: Ms. | Pronouns: she, her, hers
Leena Mohmoud Widdi is a civil rights attorney with extensive experience in public defense, youth advocacy, and civil litigation. She currently serves as Of Counsel at The Aboushi Law Firm, conducting civil litigation consultations, representing clients in 50H hearings, and handling cases in misdemeanor court. Previously, Leena was an Assistant Public Defender in Maryland, where she defended youth in juvenile court and transfer hearings. Her work also includes experience with The Bronx Defenders, where she represented low-income parents in child neglect and abuse proceedings. Leena’s commitment to justice is reflected in her advisory role with Defying Legal Gravity, a nonprofit teaching law to NYC youth through a critical race theory lens, and her volunteer work with Defense for Children International – Palestine.
Activities & Affiliations
• Advisory Board Member & Mentor, Defying Legal Gravity
• Volunteer, Defense for Children International - Palestine
• Co-Chair, Fordham Law Defenders
• Co-Chair, Coalition of Concerned Students
• Member, National Lawyers Guild
•Volunteer, Fordham Law Immigrant Preparedness Project
Areas of Expertise
• Juvenile Defense
• Civil Rights Litigation
• Family Defense
Staff Members
Regina Yu - Associate Attorney
Honorifics: Ms. | Pronouns: she, her, hers
Regina Yu is a passionate attorney focused on civil rights and criminal law. She graduated in 2023 cum laude from Brooklyn Law School’s evening division with a Criminal Law Certificate with distinction. While in school, Regina was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society’s Executive Board and held several other leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund pro bono project. She also participated in Brooklyn Law’s Clemency and Pardon Clinic, where she filed pardon applications, each of which involved a long-term lawful permanent resident in jeopardy of deportation. Prior to becoming an attorney, Regina worked as a Law Clerk at Cohen & Green PLLC, where she contributed to civil rights litigation, as a Research Assistant to author and scholar Jocelyn Simonson, and as a Case Manager at Kreindler & Kreindler LLP, assisting 9/11 survivors. Currently, she oversees the firm’s Summer Associate Program, mentoring and managing law students throughout their summer internships.Regina continues to support Brooklyn Law’s Moot Court Honor Society as an alumni coach for the trial division.
Activities & Affiliations
• Alumni Coach, Moot Court Honor Society, Brooklyn Law School
• Member, National Lawyers Guild
• Member, NYC Bar Association
• Member, National Police Accountability Project
Areas of Expertise
• Civil rights Litigation
• Criminal Law
• Police Misconduct
• Pro Bono Advocacy
• 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Claims