Karen L. Cohen

Karen L. Cohen is a Richmond-based partner whose practice focuses on real estate, land use and zoning, solar and renewable energy, data centers, environmental matters, and local government law. She helps developers secure approvals for solar and energy storage projects. Karen also advises developers, landowners, businesses, and municipalities on real estate transactions, entitlement matters, environmental concerns, and general corporate issues.

Karen earned a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in R.E.D. from George Mason University School of Business. She later received her J.D. magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. Her background in architecture, real estate development, and law gives her a practical understanding of planning, property development, regulatory requirements, and the legal issues that affect complex projects.

Karen represents clients in mixed-use, industrial, data center, and solar developments. Her experience includes zoning analyses, vested rights reviews, purchase and sale agreements, title issues, complex easements, site plan approvals, and administrative permits. She also assists landlords and tenants with shopping center, office, industrial, and medical building leases. Her municipal work covers zoning ordinances, land use regulations, constitutional concerns, and performance and bonding agreements.

Karen L. Cohen co-chairs the Land Use and Environmental Committee of the Virginia State Bar Real Property Section and previously chaired the section. Her professional involvement also includes organizations focused on commercial real estate and renewable energy. Karen has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law and was named a 2025 Go To Commercial Real Estate Lawyer by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP
• Co-Chair, Virginia State Bar, Real Property Section

Licensed State

• Virginia
• District of Columbia

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• George Mason University School of Business
  Master of Science (MS)
• University of Virginia
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)