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.
Appellate Practice & More Attorney · Serving New York, NY · 51+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Deborah E. Lans at a Glance
Deborah E. Lans is a Partner based in New York, New York, practicing at Cohen Clair Lans Greifer & Simpson LLP. They have 51+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1975. Their practice focuses on contracts, family law, business, litigation, and adr. Admitted to practice in U.S. District Court,Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Cir (1975), New York (1975), U.S. Supreme Court (1983), and U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (1985). Educated at Boston University (J.D., 1974) and Smith College (A.B., 1971). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of American Bar Association. Serves clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from Deborah E. Lans in New York
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
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
- In 2000, she left to serve as the Executive Director of Mentoring USA, a non-profit organization founded by Matilda Raffa Cuomo to provide one-to-one mentoring for at-risk youth
- In 2003, she co-founded Cohen Lans LLP, now Cohen Clair Lans Greifer & Simpson LLP, where she continues to concentrate on the mediation, arbitration, trial, and appellate litigation of sophisticated business and family matters
- Martindale Hubbell has consistently rated Ms. Lans AV Preeminent, the highest possible rating reflecting the opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary, in both legal ability and ethical standards
- She has served on or chaired 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), among others
- She is also a member of the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association
- Ms. Lans is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Trustees of Columbia Memorial Health, a hospital and health care system serving Columbia and Greene Counties in upstate New York
- She serves as a trustee of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, which serves Columbia, Berkshire, Litchfield, and Dutchess counties
- She chairs the Planning Board of Austerlitz, New York and served for nearly a decade as Treasurer of PS 21, an arts organization dedicated to bringing cutting-edge dance, theater, and musical performances to Columbia County as well as arts education to children
- Ms. Lans served for three years as Chair and six years as a Trustee of Columbia Land Conservancy, a land trust active in preserving the rural and agricultural character of Columbia County, New York
- She was a member (and vice-chair) of the Board of Literacy, Inc., a New York City non-profit that employs grass-roots tactics to enhance early literacy, and she also has served on 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 currently a contributor to The Columbia Paper and previously contributed a monthly column, together with former New York State First Lady Matilda Raffa Cuomo, to Education Week
- She has served as faculty for CLE classes, authored chapters that appear in Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts and Successful Partnering (both West publications), and published numerous articles on legal topics in professional journals
- A profile of Ms. Lans appears in Nancy Carson’s Believing in Ourselves: A Celebration of Women, a book about 38 women who have distinguished themselves in a variety of fields and give back in ways that help to build a healthy world
- Her profile also appears in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law
- Ms. Lans 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.
Contracts in New York
Deborah E. Lans is one of 76,101 contracts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse contracts attorneys 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 450,750 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in New York →
Mediation & Arbitration in New York
Mediators and arbitrators for civil, commercial, family, and employment dispute resolution.
Deborah E. Lans is one of 73,315 adr attorneys indexed nationally. Browse adr 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.
Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in New York or all attorneys in New York.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About Deborah E. Lans
Where is Deborah E. Lans's law office located?
What practice areas does Deborah E. Lans handle?
How long has Deborah E. Lans practiced law?
Where did Deborah E. Lans go to law school?
How can I contact Deborah E. Lans for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Deborah E. Lans received?
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 contracts, family law, business, litigation, and adr.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Deborah E. Lans brings 51+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in U.S. District Court,Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Cir, New York, and U.S. Supreme Court, Deborah E. Lans can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering contracts, family law, and business, 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.
Search Reference
How People Find Deborah E. Lans Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in New York commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like Deborah E. Lans.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with Deborah E. Lans directly.
Deborah E. Lans's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Awards & Professional Honors
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — Deborah E. Lans
No reviews yet.