According to law firm Nixon Peabody LLP, partner Richard Cogen has been appointed to lead the firm's energy and environmental practice group. Cogen concentrates his practice in matters related to energy project development and finance. He has worked on the contractual, procurement, environmental and energy regulatory, and permitting aspects of developing and constructing major renewable and fossil energy generation, electric transmission, solid waste, infrastructure, and industrial facilities. "Recently we've seen our clients' business needs expand in the energy and environmental fields. This will only continue under the new Obama administration," said Cogen. "I look forward to working closely with our innovative team of attorneys who are well-positioned to advise our national and international clients on these important and evolving energy issues." Cogen succeeds Jean McCreary, a Rochester partner and member of the firm's energy and environmental group. She will continue to concentrate her practice in environmental auditing and Superfund, site remediation, and regulatory enforcement. Cogen is a member of the American (Natural Resources Section) and NYS (Environmental and Municipal Law Sections and Administrative Law Committee) bar associations. He received his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Rochester and earned his J.D. from Cornell Law School. Nixon Peabody is recognized as a "Global 100" law firm. With 800 attorneys collaborating across major practice areas in 17 cities, including Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rochester, San Francisco, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C., the firm's size, diversity, and advanced technological resources enable it to offer comprehensive legal services to individuals and organizations of all sizes in local, state, national, and international matters. Nixon Peabody was recognized as one of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies To Work For" three years in a row. The firm has also been named to the Human Rights Campaign's 2009 "Best Places To Work For LGBT Equality" list.