Stephen A Cozen

Stephen A. Cozen, 85, founder and chairman of the Cozen O’Connor law firm, which started five decades ago as a four-lawyer litigation shop in Philadelphia and grew to more than 900 attorneys across North America and the United Kingdom, died Thursday, Dec. 19, at a hospital in Boca Raton, Fla. Cozen was the founder and chairman of Cozen O'Connor, a Philadelphia-based law firm with 24 offices throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Under Steve's leadership, the firm has grown from just four attorneys in 1970 to its present complement with more than 600 attorneys. Originally a boutique firm specializing in insurance related and commercial litigation, today Cozen O'Connor is a full-service law firm serving its clients' needs in business and corporate matters; securities; bankruptcy; insolvency and restructuring; real estate; tax; public and project finance; health law; labor and employment matters; intellectual property; government relations, and trusts and estates. Steve served on numerous education and philanthropic boards, including The National Museum of American Jewish History, where he is first vice-chair elect, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Law School Board of Overseers. Steve also spearheaded the development of the Samuel D. Cozen PAL Center and is actively involved with the organization. He is chairman of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute Board of Councilors, Chairman of its Five Year Campaign Initiative, and currently serves on the boards of Franklin Square Holdings, LP, Haverford Trust Company, and ABR Reinsurance Capital Holdings, Ltd. Cozen was the oldest child born to Jean and Samuel Cozen and grew up in South Philadelphia until the family moved to Wynnewood. His father was a basketball coach at Drexel University, Steve earned his undergraduate degree and law degree, both with honors, from The University of Pennsylvania in 1961 and 1964, respectively. Steve was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania in 1964, before all of the courts of Pennsylvania, and in addition to many U.S. District Courts and U.S. Courts of Appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. In addition to his wife Sandra ‘Sandy’ Wexler, Mr. Cozen is survived by three daughters, Sheri Resnik, Lori Rosenberg, and Cathi Snyder, as well as seven grandchildren, and his sister Ellen Scarcelle.