Cohen received a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in 1976 from Emory University.

He began his career as a law clerk to United States magistrate judge Joel M. Feldman of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, from 1979 to 1981.

From 1999 to 2014, he worked at the Atlanta law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP, making partner in 2001.

[6] On November 12, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on Cohen's nomination.

On November 17, 2014, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 67–29 vote.