Rachel Cohen on “The Practice of Bravery”

Rachel Cohen will speak about “The Practice of Bravery” followed by a conversation and Q&A moderated by Elsa Westerlund.

March 11, Langdell North; 12:20 – 1:20; lunch provided.

Rachel A. Cohen is an HLS alum and former associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she specialized in finance law. In March 2025, she garnered international attention when she organized law firm associates to pressure their firms to stand firm in the face of Trump administration attacks on the profession, ultimately publicly resigning from Skadden in protest of the firm’s inaction. Shortly after her resignation, Skadden entered into an agreement to provide $100 million in free legal services aligned with the Trump administration agenda.

Following her departure from Skadden, Cohen joined Lowell and Associates, a new law firm that aims to challenge government overreach at a time when it is increasingly difficult for clients to find counsel willing to go up against the government. Cohen continues to advocate for Constitutional rights in the U.S. and against authoritarianism. Her work has been honored by organizations including the Rosenstrasse Civil Courage Foundation and Principles First, and she was the inaugural recipient of the Konrad Redeker Prize for Rule of Law, Courage and Resilience. Cohen discusses American politics and law frequently on TikTok and Instagram at @cohen.489 and as a contributor to MeidasTouch’s LegalAF network on YouTube.