Michael Cogen is a member of the State Bar of California. He studied law at the University of Southern California and has participated in the American Bar Association and the bar associations of Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, and Contra Costa Counties. He has been a member of the family law, ADR, mediation and collaborative law sections of various bar associations and is a member of the Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration Sections of the state Bar of California and EBTEL (East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers), and served as a court panelist to settle probate disputes.  He has served as a staff member of the Northern California mediation center. He is a retired real estate broker and has provided mediation services in real property and partnership planning and disputes.

Cogen holds a doctorate in social-clinical psychology with an emphasis in dispute resolution and interpersonal dynamics from the Wright Institute. He is currently participating in Marin County's Bench Bar program in which attorneys settle disputed family law cases at the eleventh hour prior to trials. Cogen has served as a Special Master in family law and estate matters involving custody and property issues. He has conducted research in the manner in which a professional's underlying attitudes affect their choice of resolving clients’ problems.

Cogen states, "The desired outcome of mediation is to preserve valued relationships. Usually in a divorce the husband and wife are each other's oldest and often dearest friends. Although they are moving apart, they will remain connected. When there are children, long after separation they will need to co-parent. During estate mediations, family members are trying to reach agreements without alienating each other." Mediation and collaborative law approaches reduce the emotional and financial costs of separation and divorce, real estate and probate disputes. It permits the parties the time and setting to craft settlements that are specific to their goals and needs.

Hourly Rate: $500