Atty. Deborah E. Lans
Deborah Lans has divided her practice between complex commercial and marital litigation for more than 40 years. She was a founding partner of Morrison Cohen LLP in 1984 and was the head of its Commercial Litigation Department for 15 years, until she left in 2000 to serve as the Executive Director of Mentoring USA, a non-profit organization founded by Matilda Raffa Cuomo to provide one-to-one mentoring to at-risk youth.
Commercial Litigation & More Attorney · Serving New York, NY
Profile Summary
About Deborah E. Lans at a Glance
Deborah E. Lans is a family law, business, and litigation attorney based in New York, New York, practicing at Cohen Clair Lans Greifer & Simpson LLP. Educated at Boston University School of Law (J.D., 1975). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Family Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus: (2026). Serves clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Deborah E. Lans
- Deborah Lans has divided her practice between complex commercial and marital litigation for more than 40 years
- She was a founding partner of Morrison Cohen LLP in 1984 and was the head of its Commercial Litigation Department for 15 years, until she left in 2000 to serve as the Executive Director of Mentoring USA, a non-profit organization founded by Matilda Raffa Cuomo to provide one-to-one mentoring to at-risk youth
- In 2003 she co-founded Cohen Lans LLP, where she continued to concentrate on the mediation, arbitration, trial and appellate litigation of sophisticated business and family matters
- She continues that practice now at Cohen Clair Lans Greifer Thorpe & Rottenstreich LLP. Ms. Lans has served on or chaired, among others, the New York Supreme Court Departmental Disciplinary Committee
- the Executive, Judiciary, Bioethical Issues and Young Lawyers Committees and the Council on Judicial Administration of the City Bar (formerly, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York)
- and she is a member of the American Bar Association and New York State Bar Association
- Ms. Lans is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Columbia Memorial Health, a hospital and health care system serving Columbia and Greene Counties in upstate New York and an affiliate of Albany Medical Center, the Capital Region’s largest healthcare provider, where Ms. Lans also serves as a Board Member
- She served for three years as Chair and six years as a trustee of the Columbia Land Conservancy, a land trust active in preserving the rural and agricultural character of Columbia County, New York
- and for ten years as member (and formerly Vice-Chair) of the Board of Literacy, Inc., a non-profit that employs grass-roots tactics to enhance early literacy
- She was a member of the Claims Committee of Terrafirma RRG, a risk retention group providing conservation defense insurance to more than four hundred land trusts throughout the country
- Ms. Lans is also a member of the Planning Board of Austerlitz, New York and Treasurer of PS 21, an arts organization dedicated to bringing cutting edge performances of dance, theater and music to Columbia County and providing arts education and experiences for children
- Ms. Lans has been rated AV Preeminent, the highest possible rating reflecting the opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary, by Martindale Hubbell, in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards
- Ms. Lans has often been on the faculty for CLE classes, has authored chapters that appear in Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts and Successful Partnering (both West publications) and International Trust and Divorce Litigation and has published numerous articles on legal and education subjects
- A profile of Ms. Lans appears in Nancy Carson’s Believing in Ourselves: A Celebration of Women, a book about 38 distinguished women who give back in ways that help to build a healthy world
- Her profile appears in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law, and she has been consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America and New York Super Lawyers as a business and matrimonial litigator
Practice Areas Explained
Deborah E. Lans's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Deborah E. Lans handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in New York.
Family Law in New York
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Deborah E. Lans is one of 185,688 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in New York →
Business & Corporate Law in New York
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Deborah E. Lans is one of 497,491 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in New York →
Civil Litigation in New York
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Deborah E. Lans is one of 450,751 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in New York →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in New York
Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in New York are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
New York Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a New York-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in New York Choose Deborah E. Lans
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Deborah E. Lans's practice in the field of family law, business, and litigation.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering family law, business, and litigation, Deborah E. Lans can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in New York
A New York-based practice means Deborah E. Lans attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Deborah E. Lans Handles in New York
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Deborah E. Lans has experience with under New York law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Deborah E. Lans directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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Deborah E. Lans's Practice Areas & Specializations
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