Attorneys
Leslie Howard, Esq.
Leslie Howard, Esq., is the 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.
Job Title: Founder, Managing Partner
Email: [email protected]
Matthew Cohen, Esq.
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.
Job Title: Founder, Partner
Email: [email protected]
Robin Mack, Esq.
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.
Job Title: Senior Counsel
Email: [email protected]
Kathleen Ryan, Esq.
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 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. Prior to joining the firm, she spent the last several years working in the area of bankruptcy law.
Job Title: Associate
Email: [email protected]
Management
Amy Wilkins
Amy Wilkins has over 20 years of experience working in professional service organizations. In her current role as Chief Operating Officer, Amy leads a cross-functional team of professionals responsible for servicing over 150 clients with more than $500M in disputed medical claims. Her emphasis on organizational execution encompasses overseeing all matters, processes and work flows, client services, business development, marketing and business administration. With extensive knowledge of commercial insurance, ERISA, and her unparalleled drive to exceed client expectations, Amy is focused on maximizing revenue for both clients and the firm.
Job Title: Chief Operating Officer
Email: [email protected]
Kelley O’Connor
Kelley O’Connor 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 New Business Development and Marketing, 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 to 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 has 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.
Job Title: Director, Business Development and Marketing
Email: [email protected]
Karen MacDonald
Since 2016, Karen has been an integral part of the Cohen Howard team. Using her strong medical knowledge and experience, she has developed the processes and procedures for the pre-certification service department and plays a key role in researching claim denials and formulating medical arguments for complex administrative appeals.
Prior to joining Cohen Howard, Karen spent 14 years in the healthcare sector working at one of the largest insurance companies in the US as well as for a private practice, where she led the billing and coding operations.
Karen is an alumna of Monmouth University’s biology program, and she currently lives in Eatontown, New Jersey with her husband Bruce and their dog Ranger. She relaxes by reading non-fiction – mainly autobiographies.
Job Title: Complex Claims Analyst
Email: [email protected]
Heidi Hoffsommer
With over 30 years’ experience in the corporate insurance industry, Heidi Hoffsommer applies her insurance industry experience in supervising our highly skilled team of Appeals Specialists. Heidi previously worked at AIG and Prudential Financial where the scope of her supervisory responsibilities included researching and reviewing state healthcare laws and regulations, experimental and investigational healthcare procedures, and written appeals for the Claim Examining Unit.
Heidi volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and is an avid reader. She is a devoted and beloved mother of three grown children and resides in Metuchen, New Jersey.
Job Title: Supervisor, Appeals Department
Email: [email protected]