About Karen
Karen Cohen is a partner at Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C., located at 9200 Church Street, Suite 400 in Manassas, Virginia. She joined the Virginia State Bar in 1994, starting a distinguished legal career. The firm specializes in various aspects of commercial real estate and business transactions, including real estate development, land use and zoning, commercial leasing, commercial lending, and purchase and sale contracts. Cohen's expertise aligns perfectly with the firm's focus — This lets the attorney provide comprehensive legal services to clients. Cohen earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 1994.
This prestigious achievement followed her earlier academic success, as she obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Architecture from the University of Virginia in 1987. Her educational background in architecture complements her legal practice, particularly in real estate and land use matters. Prior to joining Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C., she served as Of Counsel at The Coverage Law Firm and Counsel at WilmerHale, where she developed her skills in complex legal issues related to real estate. Her legal career began with a clerkship for the Honorable Leonie M — Brinkema of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This experience provided her with a solid foundation in federal court procedures and litigation.
Today, most of Cohen's caseload involves real estate development, land use and zoning, commercial leasing, commercial lending, and purchase and sale contracts. She also advises clients on negotiating various business contracts, including operating agreements, supplier agreements, asset purchase and sale agreements, and shareholder agreements. Cohen is actively involved in professional organizations that enhance her practice and benefit the community. She is a member of the Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar, where she serves on the Board of Governors and as Chair of the Land Use & Environmental Committee. Additionally, she chairs the NAIOP Government Relations Prince William Subcommittee and serves on the Board of Directors for Legal Services of Northern Virginia.
Her commitment to the field is further demonstrated through her role on the Strategic Planning Committee for the Mason Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship. Recognition for her work is evident in her accolades. Cohen has been featured in Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite" for Real Estate/Land Use law from 2018 to 2020 and again from 2023 to 2025. Furthermore, she has been named to Super Lawyers for Land Use/Zoning from 2020 and for the years 2023 to 2025. These honors reflect her dedication to excellence in her legal practice and her significant contributions to the field of real estate law.
