Cole Schotz elects NJ attorney as firm’s first female co-managing shareholder

National law firm Cole Schotz PC elected Hackensack-based employment law department chair Randi Kochman co-managing shareholder, to serve alongside Samuel Weiner and Warren Usatine.

Kochman’s position is effective immediately. She is the firm’s first female co-managing shareholder.

“Randi is an accomplished leader and dedicated mentor, who has made meaningful and impactful contributions to our culture and growth since starting her legal career here nearly 30 years ago,” said Usatine. “Randi has a deep understanding of our firm and has always been staunchly committed to our values of developing long-lasting client relationships and creating opportunities for our attorneys to grow.”

Kochman and Usatine both joined Cole Schotz as summer associates in 1994 and have spent their entire legal careers at the firm.

Randi Kochman, co-managing shareholder, Cole Schotz PC. – KATHLEEEN TELESCO PHOTOGRAPHY

Kochman has taken on a wide range of responsibilities during her tenure, including acting as human resources counsel to the firm and more recently joining the return to office taskforce. She is also on the executive committee, and has served or is currently serving on committees focusing on finance, diversity, equity and inclusion, community affairs, and employment, harassment and personnel issues.

“I am honored to have been selected by my colleagues to join an extraordinary leadership team,” Kochman said. “I look forward to continuing to help the firm navigate the novel challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, while prioritizing our commitment to building deep client relationships and developing some of the most talented lawyers in the industry.”

Kochman has been actively involved in leadership roles within the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and is a trustee of Partners for Women & Justice, a nonprofit that provides free legal representation to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Kochman succeeds Michael Sirota, who chose not to seek re-election as co-managing shareholder following more than two decades serving in that capacity.

“Mike is an extraordinary leader who has made countless contributions to our firm over the many years he served as co-managing shareholder,” Weiner said in a prepared statement. “We are incredibly fortunate to have grown under his guidance and he will continue to play a significant role as a mentor and leader of our bankruptcy department and firm.”

Sirota, who is co-chair of the bankruptcy and corporate restructuring department, will remain on the firm’s management committee in an emeritus role.