Biography

Alexander Cohen is a partner in Armstrong Teasdale’s Securities Regulation and Litigation practice area. Alex has significant experience representing corporate and individual clients facing government and internal investigations as well as advising on compliance matters related to federal securities laws and SRO rules. He regularly represents clients before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and state securities regulators across the country.

Alex also has deep experience handling complex securities and commercial litigation matters. His clients have included large private corporations, publicly traded companies, financial institutions and associated individuals. He has handled civil litigation cases for clients across state and federal courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution matters such as FINRA arbitrations, involving various claims such as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation, and fraud.

Alex’s practice reflects a deep understanding of matters arising under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, and the Advisers Act along with related SEC, FINRA and other SRO rules. Throughout his career, he has led and managed high-stakes investigations for many of the world’s largest financial firms that implicate at least one of the federal securities laws or industry rules.

Alex served on secondment for approximately one year in the legal department of a major international broker-dealer, where he had the opportunity to handle securities related matters involving their core businesses such as investment banking, trading, wealth management, and equity research. Among his professional achievements as outside counsel include the negotiation of an AWC on behalf of a major broker-dealer in what was one of the first settlements entered during FINRA’s Rights of Reinstatement sweep review.

Services and Industries

Background

Prior to joining Armstrong Teasdale, Alex spent over a decade at two AM Law 100 firms where he was an integral part of their securities enforcement and regulatory practice. Alex is formerly a member of a Chambers-ranked Securities Enforcement and Regulatory practice and has worked closely with some of the most experienced attorneys in the industry – including former leaders of SEC and FINRA Enforcement as well as former senior in-house attorneys of major brokerage firms – in defending clients against regulatory investigations and potential disciplinary action.

While at Rutgers University, Alex participated in the Undergraduate Associates Program offered by RU’s historic Eagleton Institute of Politics, which focused on the study of cutting-edge issues in politics and government with nationally recognized scholars and other industry leading figures. During law school, Alex participated in volunteer teaching opportunities at local high schools in Albemarle County through UVA’s Street Law Program. Alex remained passionate about community investment and educational development while developing his legal practice in New York City. Alex was a steady volunteer for the Read Ahead program early in his career, and during the pandemic, helped an academic and professional development support program at City College of New York called The City Tutors spin off into a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization now based in Queens. Alex immediately joined the Board of Directors for The City Tutors upon its formation and continues to serve in this capacity. Today, CT services thousands of learners from historically underserved neighborhoods across New York City and boasts a volunteer corps of professionals, educators, and city residents who participate in remote and in-person programs with the support of various corporate and individual partners.

Education

University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 2015)
- The Journal of Law and Politics, Editorial Board
- UVA Pro Bono Legal Challenge
Rutgers University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2011)
- Political Science and Philosophy Major
- Eagleton Associates Program
- Pi Sigma Alpha
- SAS Academic Scholarships
- Boxley Fellowship