Every August, Sacramento Magazine publishes its list of the region’s top lawyers. This publication comes on the heels of July’s publication of Super Lawyers Magazine’s 2023 Northern California edition.
Cohen Defense Attorneys Selected by Sacramento Magazine
At the Cohen Defense Group, we are pleased that 4 of our attorneys were selected for Sacramento Magazine’s list of Top Lawyers:
See the full list from Sacramento Magazine here.
How the Sacramento Magazine Selection Process Works
Sacramento Magazine contracted with a professional research firm to ask Sacramento area attorneys to nominate three colleagues they would recommend in their area of law. These nominees are then evaluated on several criteria including legitimacy of licenses and good standing with The State Bar of California. Attorneys who receive the highest number of votes are featured in the final list.
Cohen Defense Attorneys Selected by Northern California Super Lawyers
We extend congratulations to two of our lawyers recognized by Northern California Super Lawyers:
- Susan Gellman, selected as a Super Lawyer.
- Zachary Merliss, selected as a Rising Star in DUI defense.
How the Northern California Super Lawyers Selection Process Works
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
The patented selection process starts with a peer nomination process, followed by independent evaluation of the nominees by a third-party research firm and peer evaluations by a blue-ribbon panel of highly credentialed attorneys, all of which lead to the final selections.
The magazine recognizes the top 5% of nominees as Super Lawyers.
Super Lawyers Rising Star candidates must be 40 years old or younger or have been practicing for 10 years or fewer. Only the top 2.5% of Rising Star nominees are selected for inclusion.
Susan Gellman
2023 Northern California Super Lawyer
2023 Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyer
Susan has been voted a Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyer for three years running and is a 2023 Super Lawyer. For more than 30 years, she has represented clients with zealous advocacy and fierce compassion. After working in the Philadelphia Defender’s elite Special Defense Unit and defending capital murder cases in the deep south, Susan moved to El Dorado County where she litigated high profile cases, including the Jaycee Dugard case. Susan is certified in defense-based mitigation and has developed working strategies for sentencing in difficult cases. She is passionate about helping people move forward by seeking sentence reductions, pardons, dismissals, and record sealing. Susan is at the forefront of efforts to assist persons seeking relief from sex offender registration. She is proud to defend those accused of all offenses, from DUI to sexual assault, human trafficking to homicide.
“I am humbled to again be recognized by my peers as a “Top Lawyer” in the Sacramento area and to now have been chosen as a Northern California Super Lawyer. During my legal career I have had many victories and accomplishments. The greatest honor continues to be the trust my clients place in me as their warrior for fairness and justice.”
Barry Zimmerman
2023 Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyer
For 35 years, Barry has been one of only a handful of lawyers handling both personal injury and criminal defense cases. Barry heads the litigation department at the Cohen Defense Group and handles many of the firm’s most complex and serious cases. Barry is certified as a Specialist in Criminal Law by the State Bar of California and has a record of not guilty verdicts in cases ranging from attempted murder to driving under the influence.
“Experience is the most valuable asset a lawyer can provide a client. I have been licensed to practice law in California for 36 years. I have been certified as a specialist in criminal law by the State Bar of California for over 20 years. I have tried over 100 trials to verdict. The more experience a lawyer has the better the result we tend to get for our client. I am honored to be recognized as a top lawyer for these achievements.”
Zachary Merliss
2023 Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Star in DUI Defense
2023 Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyer
This is the second time in three years that Zachary has been chosen as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in DUI Defense and as a Top Lawyer. He has also been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, an organization which extends membership to only the most qualified attorneys of each state. Zach is a major player in DUI defense, garnering significant wins for his clients in both pre-trial and trial phases. Zach sets himself apart by educating himself about the DUI investigation process. He has undergone the same DUI training programs that police officers attend and learned firsthand how to process a blood alcohol sample in a lab. Zach seeks out special training because, as he says, “Everyone deserves protection under the constitution, but you need a skilled advocate to invoke those protections.”
“It is an honor to be recognized by these organizations, and I will continue to engage in the pursuit of justice for my clients.”
Alison Cohen
2023 Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyer
A founding partner of the Cohen Defense Group, Alison is the most experienced juvenile delinquency attorney in Placer County. She has spent more than 20 years helping children with cases ranging from low-level misdemeanors to serious felonies. Alison has successfully diverted cases out of court, protected clients from transfer to adult court, and worked to ensure that juvenile records get sealed whenever possible. This is the second time Alison has been recognized as a Top Lawyer.
“I am thrilled to see so many of my colleagues at the Cohen Defense Group being honored this year. I know from working with them every day that they are an exceptionally dedicated group, and it is gratifying to see them get the recognition they deserve. It is always an honor to be chosen for this list and I credit my CDG team who make it possible to do the work I do.”