Massachusetts Debt Collection Laws: The Spirit of America

Today, March 5, 2013, The National List of Attorneys published the white paper on debt collection law in Massachusetts, written by Jeremy Cohen, founder of Cohen & Associates, PC. The firm has been a member of The National List since 2008.

In 2008, after managing global recoveries for several years on behalf of General Electric, attorney Jeremy Cohen established Cohen & Associates as a debt collection law firm. Now, with a staff of 25 and 95 percent of the practice devoted to debt collection, Cohen & Associates is receiving nationwide recognition for its commitment to collections.

A lifelong Bostonian, Jeremy can experience “The Spirit of America” (the Massachusetts state slogan) in that historic city on a daily basis. He graduated from Clark University, and then he followed in the footsteps of his father and brother and got his J. D. from Suffolk Law School. He has previously co-authored an article about international recoveries for the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP). Jeremy has also spoken at seminars regarding collections in Massachusetts as well as on the impact of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on the industry.

Volunteerism is a huge component of the culture at Cohen & Associates. As a board member for the Northeast Arc, Attorney Cohen participates in governance and fundraising for the non-profit organization committed to helping citizens with intellectual disabilities learn life skills. The firm hires clients of the Arc for paid positions in the administrative unit. He is also a Corporator for the Salem Five Bank.

Jeremy has some interesting observations on the business of debt collection: “Everyone from the witches of Salem to representatives in government are owed money and owe money,” and “Judges love pleasing a crowd of debtors.”  With regards to his work, he says, “I am most energized and happy when I am in the middle of negotiations on a matter.”

In the white paper, Jeremy tells us, “Attorneys not licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth, who regularly engage in or whose principal purpose is debt collection, must obtain a license as a debt collector.  In this situation, the unlicensed attorney collecting debt would be conducting business as a debt collector and not as an attorney. If an attorney or law firm licensed to practice law in Massachusetts is also the debt buyer, the attorney or law firm would be required to obtain a license as a debt collector. The attorney exclusion would no longer apply, as the attorney would neither be acting as a passive debt buyer nor collecting on behalf of a client.”

Jeremy Cohen

In 2012, Jeremy was voted “Rookie of the Year” from Resurgent. He is a member of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA), the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP), the New England Adjustment Managers Association (NEAMA) and the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA).

Jeremy is a “newlywed” who was married on Martha’s Vineyard in 2012. He and his wife live in Marblehead, MA, a quaintly beautiful and historic seaside suburb of Boston. When not working, Jeremy enjoys going to Martha’s Vineyard, walking their dog and going to Celtics games.

The National List thanks Jeremy for submitting this paper and for telling us something about himself and his firm. You can access the paper at http://www.nationallist.com/white_papers/massachusetts.