YOU OPERATE. WE RECOVER. ™
You Operate. We Recover.
Our Team
Our dedicated team is comprised of legal and medical professionals with decades of experience in ERISA and state law, commercial insurance, billing, and coding, and federal and state regulatory agencies. Our reputation for successfully handling claims, especially reviving claims that our clients have written off, is a direct result of our team’s collaborative approach to each and every claim.
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Leslie Howard, Esq.
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
Leslie Howard, Esq.
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
Leslie Howard, Esq., is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Cohen Howard, a law firm dedicated solely to representing out-of-network providers, to increase their reimbursements from commercial insurance companies and third-party administrators. Being in the trenches every day with the insurance companies, combined with her expertise in ERISA and state healthcare law regulations allows her to be nimble in overcoming the insurance industry barriers faced by providers today. She is a member of the New Jersey and New York bar for over 25 years.
A graduate of Fordham Law School, Leslie has worked in various niches across the law industry from an associate in the national insurance litigation law firm Anderson Kill Olick & Oshinsky to real estate and immigration before discovering her true passion for healthcare law. This passion derives from her desire to help right injustice, an ambition she has had since her early days of visiting the municipal courts with her father. She cites her own personal battle with insurance companies over her son’s health conditions as the profound moment she knew she needed to champion for change. Her flair for risk-taking and disregard for failure is seen in her drive to advocate for providers nationwide.
Aside from her business, her greatest life achievement is her two children, Jonathan and Alexandra, whom she shares with her loving and supportive husband of over 20 years, Matthew. She resides with her family in Little Silver, New Jersey. In her spare time, Leslie enjoys both singular and group exercising and physical activities as well as reading inspiring nonfictional journeys of people who have had to overcome great odds. A self-proclaimed “adventure seeker,” Leslie loves to try new things and seeks the company of those who enjoy adventure and laughter as much as she does.
Where She’s Been Featured
– (02/1/2022) On ReliasMedia.com – https://www.reliasmedia.com/articles/148935-underpayment-is-major-concern-for-eds-with-new-surprise-billing-law
– (12/30/2021) On New Jersey Business Podcast, Episode 19 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqlJZ9umTaM
– (04/28/2021) On BergenMama.com – https://bergenmama.com/article/leslie-howard-esq.-represents-doctors-with-vigor
– (04/14/2021) On Health.com – https://www.health.com/money/surprise-medical-bills
– (08/2021) On The GWSB Proud Podcast, Episode 22 – https://business.gwu.edu/gwsb-proud-podcast
– (06/11/2018) She spoke at the NJDPA Practice Enhancement Seminar – https://cohenhoward.com/blog/leslie-howard-speaks-at-the-njdpa-practice-enhancement-seminar/
– (06/01/2015) On AAOS.org – https://www.aaos.org/aaosnow/2015/jun/managing/managing1/
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Matthew Cohen, Esq.
Co-Founder, Partner
Matthew Cohen, Esq.
Co-Founder, Partner
As Co-Founder of Cohen Howard, Matthew plays an integral advisory role in the planning and execution of the law firm’s direction, including its business strategies to improve operations, profitability, management, and structure. In the 1990s, the Rutgers’ alumnus developed his skills and reputation as one of New Jersey’s rising attorneys in real estate and corporate, founding Two Rivers Title Company, LLC as well as becoming Co-founder of Cohen Howard. Matthew is a lifetime champion for political causes, conservation, and other non-profits. He currently serves as Vice-President of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation; is a board member for STEAMPark, a non-profit that provides educational, emotional, and wellness support for children in under-served communities; and serves on the New Jersey State Bar Association Board of Consultors, Real Property Trust and Estate Law Section, as well as is a Trustee for the Monmouth County Bar Association. Matthew is a lecturer and continuing education instructor on a range of subjects for the State and County Bars. Together with his wife, co-founder, Leslie Howard, they have a daughter Alexandra, a son Jonathan, as well as their pets, Romeo and Juliet.
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Robin Mack, Esq.
Senior Counsel
Robin Mack, Esq.
Senior Counsel
With more than 25 years of legal experience, Robin heads the firm’s prelitigation department, representing medical providers pursuing insurance reimbursement once administrative appeals have been exhausted. Her expertise in ERISA and state healthcare regulations enables her to craft innovative arguments while maintaining the respect of the insurance companies, resulting in favorable settlements for her clients. Before joining Cohen Howard, the New York native worked as an in-house counsel for a real estate firm, then took a career break to raise her children. She received her J.D. from New York Law School after completing undergraduate studies at SUNY Binghamton and now resides in Marlboro Township with her husband, Brian, and their sons, where they enjoy rooting for the Giants and Mets.
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Michael Fried, Esq.
Senior Counsel
Michael Fried, Esq.
Senior Counsel
Michael F. Fried manages Cohen Howard’s Litigation Department. In this role, Michael is dedicated to representing out-of-network providers in disputed medical claim reimbursement matters. Prior to joining Cohen Howard, Michael was a partner at a law firm that represented medical providers nationwide in disputes with commercial health insurance companies. Michael has over twenty years of experience working on sophisticated litigations against commercial health insurance companies that resulted in settlements valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
During his career, Michael has practiced law at two of the largest law firms in New Jersey and served as General Counsel for a publicly traded company. He has litigated insurance, commercial, partnership, and employment law cases in both State and Federal courts. Michael has also represented physicians in transactional matters, and he has handled securities, corporate, and real estate law matters.
Michael attended The George Washington University Law School. He is a member of the Bars of New York and New Jersey, and he is admitted to the District of New Jersey, the Southern District of New York, the District of Colorado, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Michael lives in Highland Park with his wife, three kids, and two dogs.
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Kathleen Ryan, Esq.
Associate
Kathleen Ryan, Esq.
Associate
Kathleen Ryan, Esq. has been a member of the New Jersey Bar since 1990. She received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and her B.A. in Communications from Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is a pivotal member of the firm’s prelitigation department and is focused on settling matters that are not resolved during the administrative appeal process. Prior to joining Cohen Howard, Kate worked at the law firm of Reisman and Sharp, which specialized in medical malpractice defense and then as a Claims Supervisor for Zurich American Insurance Company, working on medical malpractice claims. She also spent several years working in the area of bankruptcy law. Kate and her husband Dan are the proud parents of three amazing daughters and a Yorkie. In her spare time, Kate volunteers for Make Some Noise Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and loves books, film, and theater.
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Amy Wilkins
Chief Operating Officer
Amy Wilkins
Chief Operating Officer
Amy Wilkins is Chief Operating Officer at Cohen Howard, a law firm that specializes in maximizing reimbursements for under-reimbursed and denied out-of-network medical claims on behalf of providers, nationwide. Amy oversees all matters and leads a cross-functional team of legal professionals and medical specialists servicing over 150 clients with more than $500 M in disputed medical claims. With extensive knowledge of commercial insurance, ERISA, and her unparalleled drive to exceed client expectations, Amy is laser-focused on maximizing revenue on each case submitted to the firm. Prior to joining Cohen Howard in 2013, Amy worked for Clifford Chance US LLP, one of the largest international law firms, located in New York City where she concentrated on operational excellence and developed her strong business acumen. Amy, a New Jersey native, grew up in Monmouth County. She and her husband Chris are raising their two daughters in Middletown, New Jersey, and enjoy all aspects of living near the shore.
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Kelley O’Connor
Director, Business Development and Marketing
Kelley O’Connor
Director, Business Development and Marketing
Kelley brings over 15 years of experience in marketing strategy, planning, and execution and is focused on elevating Cohen Howard’s brand identity and market presence as an industry leader in maximizing claim reimbursements. As the Director of Marketing and Business Development, she is responsible for driving all marketing efforts to achieve business growth and service excellence. Prior to joining the firm, Kelley served as Operations Manager for Hackensack Meridian Health, where she launched various programs to increase operational efficiencies, improve service recovery, and guide vulnerable patient populations on self-management of chronic conditions. She cultivated her strong business acumen over her 10 years of progressive management and leadership roles at AT&T and strives to infuse ‘grace, grit and gravitas’ in all that she does. Kelley holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Manhattan College. Kelley is a sports enthusiast and enjoys golf, tennis and yoga.
